The Seeds of Hormonal Health

With busy schedules, late nights and snoozing alarms, breakfast can be the last thing on our mind in the morning, and coffee the first. The thing is, breakfast is such a great meal to pack in much needed fuel for your day and an opportunity to fill your plate, bowl or cup with foods that get you what you need. For women these fats are especially important as they support our hormone health and ensure we are providing our body with the appropriate building blocks.

I find that through my cycle my needs at breakfast can change. As I move through Ovulation and approach PMS I need a fattier more sustaining breakfast that is satiating and filled with good healthy fats. Throughout my Period/Menstruation my appetite changes and a simple smoothie with some ground flax and hemp protein is what my body needs. Whatever it is your body is asking for, be sure to listen and to incorporate a variety of these fats, specifically Essential Fatty Acids- these are the building blocks of our Hormone Health and essential for women throughout their cycle! EFA’s are found in all sorts of nuts and seeds and are a simple addition to our daily meals.

I love to keep a variety of seeds stocked in my pantry and fridge to easily throw into salads, on top of toast, in my oatmeal and ground into my smoothies. They add awesome crunch, fibre and provide a great source of these EFA’s our bodies crave! A few of my favourites are

• Hemp Seeds, I keep mine in the fridge or freezer for freshness, also Canadian grown and a sustainable crop

• Flax Seeds , be sure to grind these little guys, otherwise it’s difficult for our body to absorb

• Pumpkin Seeds, awesome on salads and pretty much anything

• Chia Seeds, my favourite for making jams and toppers with leftover fruit

• Sesame, awesome on sweet and savoury foods and even better when toasted!

• Sunflower Seeds, my go to for making salad dressings, for that creamy texture without the nuts and dairy

Oatmeal to me is the ultimate blank slate for creating a delicious and hearty breakfast. I use rolled oats as they are less processed and still maintain their texture and chewiness! I cook them with nut milk for creaminess, add cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg and a finely chopped apple. I top them with all sorts of seeds, nut butter (another great healthy fat) and some type of chia jam to add flavour. I often keep these chia jams in my freezer in the winter as a simple addition to my meal!

If you don’t already, I highly recommend adding seeds to your shopping list. They are often quite affordable in bulk sections, or Costco, have a long shelf life and provide women with much needed nutrients!