This spiced pumpkin bites seed cycling recipe is a super fun and tasty way to spice up your snacks - and some say seed cycling can help regulate your hormones! Pumpkin seeds are one of my favorite ways to get a little extra boost of protein - they're super affordable and taste amazing roasted. Pair them with warm spices and you'll take them to another level!
Recipe: $3.73 | Per Serving: $0.23 | Yield: 16
Years ago, I hosted a women's health event where we spent some time talking about seed cycling as a way to help balance your hormones. The science has varied since then, and Tik Tok has made the concept of seed cycling take off, so I wanted to share some information about seed cycling, along with a yummy recipe if you'd like to give it a try!
If you like this one, you're definitely going to love my Unsweetened Tahini & Sunflower Seed Fudge (Seed Cycling) recipe, so be sure to check it out!
How to Seed Cycle
This is not the best place to do a deep dive on the science side of things, but I'll give a quick summary: seed cycling is the protocol of consuming...
- 1 Tablespoon of each pumpkin seeds and flaxseeds (raw, ground) during your follicular phase - period to last day before ovulation.
- 1 Tablespoon of each sesame seeds and sunflower seeds (raw, ground) during your luteal phase - ovulation to last day before period.
...all to help balance hormones. Although it is recommended for nearly all hormonal issues, it is considered especially helpful for those who are without periods (amenorrhea), without ovulation (anovulatory cycles), or with short luteal phases (Source).
Is Seed Cycling Scientifically Supported?
We know enough to know we don't know everything - and we don't know all of the exact mechanisms of action, but research and clinical evidence show us that lignans, especially rich in flaxseeds, do have a very specific effect on the actions of sex hormones.
However, there's a good chance that the actual benefits of seed cycling simply come from the added consumption of these nutrient-dense seeds, which provide key elements that are also shown to promote hormonal balance. Including:
- fiber
- magnesium
- zinc
- calcium
- potassium
- and protein!
Although we do have plenty of clinical and anecdotal reports, this practice comes primarily from Traditional Chinese Medicine, which has been around a lot longer than Western Medicine.
It is hard to use the Western scientific method to assess efficacy of these traditional Chinese protocols, so the body of evidence is insufficient. We don't want to make the mistake of assuming it does work just because it is trendy or that it doesn't work just because we don't have enough evidence.
Whether you're on hormonal birth control, having painful periods, trying to conceive, or simply interested in having easier cycles, seed cycling is an extremely safe option if it sounds like it might be a good fit for your diet and lifestyle. You can learn more about seed cycling here!
Pumpkin Bites Seed Cycling Recipe
Even if you're not seed cycling, these spiced pumpkin seed bites are DELICIOUS. They're pretty easy to toss together, and there's no baking required. You can add collagen for extra protein, or maca for "calming energy," which so many of us need. I would also recommend these for kiddos who need extra fat, fiber, and protein, but can't have nuts.
The basic ingredients for this recipe are pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds, and coconut sugar. Then you're going to spice up your bites with cinnamon (or pumpkin pie spice), cardamom, and ground ginger. Mix in some sea salt, coconut oil, and vanilla, and you've got yourself an easy no-bake recipe that is loaded with nutrients.
Personally, I think they're a pretty balanced snack option, but you can also have them for breakfast. They're fast, easy, and delicious.
Step By Step Instructions for Spiced Pumpkin Bites
Step 1: Grind Seeds
If you're starting with whole flax seeds grind them up first and set them aside. Then, add your pumpkin seeds to your food processor and blend until coarse flour forms. Combine the ground pumpkin seeds with the rest of the dry ingredients, including your ground flax seeds.
Step 2: Combine Wet Ingredients
Stir in the wet ingredients and mix well. Your mixture will start out pretty dry, so to reach the desired consistency, add water in small amounts until the dough sticks together.
Step 3: Divide and Roll
Depending on your size preference, divide the dough into roughly 16 or 32 balls. Roll them into cute little bites and then stick a pumpkin seed on top of each bite! Store your pumpkin balls in the fridge or freezer.
FAQs
Some of the most commonly used seeds for seed cycling are pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, and flax seeds.
You can consume seeds as a part of a normal balanced diet indefinitely.
No! Seed cycling add nutrients to your diet, but there are no known negative side effect to consuming these seeds.
Paleo: Yes
Vegetarian: Yes
Low-FODMAP:
More Recipes To Try
- Plaintain Brownie Bites
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Coconut Bites
- Salted Butter Pecan Date Bites
- Lemon Larabar Bites
- Healthy Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites
- Snickerdoodle Date Bites
- Blender Pumpkin Spice Muffins
- Chocolate Almond Chia Seed Bites
I hope you enjoy this yummy snack as much as I do - and if you make it, please be sure to leave a ⭐️ review and comment below!
For videos of different recipes from my blog, please check out my YouTube channel and Instagram!
Spiced Flax & Pumpkin Seed Bites (Seed Cycling)
Ingredients
- 1 cup pumpkin seeds
- 1 cup flaxseeds or ¾ cup ground
- 3 Tablespoons coconut sugar
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
- ¼ teaspoon cardamom
- 1 pinch ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 2 Tablespoons coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2-4 Tablespoons water as needed - for mixing
Instructions
- If starting with whole flaxseeds, I recommend grinding them first and setting aside.
- Add pumpkin seeds to food processor and blend until a somewhat coarse flour forms (you don't want it TOO powdery). Combine with the remaining dry ingredients: ground flaxseeds, coconut sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, and sea salt.
- Stir in the coconut oil and the vanilla. You will have a slightly dry dough, so add water as needed until you have a firm dough that sticks together.
- Divide into approximately 16 or 32 balls (depending on size preference). For looks: press a pumpkin seed into the top of each bite! Store in the fridge or freezer.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition Label is for 16 Servings
I've been really curious about seed cycling recently! Thanks for this