E.150 Why we should all be cycle syncing with Olivia Brierley

In my kitchen this week, I’m joined by the lovely Olivia Breirley to dive deep into the world of cycle syncing and her inspiring journey to pregnancy while managing endometriosis, PCOS, and adenomyosis.

In this raw, honest, and empowering chat, Olivia shares how being told she might never have children led her to completely rethink how she approached her body, her health, and her hormones. She opens up about how working with her cycle — instead of against it — became the game-changer in her pregnancy journey.

One area that Olivia and I deep dive into is seed cycling and how it's a natural way of regulating your hormones due to the nutrients and lignans in these seeds helping regulate estrogen and progesterone levels. Below we have explained how you can seed cycle:

Follicular Phase (Day 1–14)

(From the first day of your period to ovulation)

Seeds to eat:

• 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseeds
• 1 tablespoon of ground pumpkin seeds

These seeds are rich in lignans and omega-3s, which can help support estrogen production and metabolism. They also contain zinc, which is great for egg quality and overall reproductive health.

Luteal Phase (Day 15–28)

(From ovulation to the start of your next period)

Seeds to eat:

• 1 tablespoon of ground sunflower seeds
• 1 tablespoon of ground sesame seeds

Why:

These seeds help support healthy progesterone levels. Sunflower seeds are high in vitamin E and selenium, which support progesterone production, while sesame seeds contain lignans that can help modulate estrogen levels if they get too high in this phase.

The other topics we dive into are:

• Olivia's journey and experience with endometriosis, PCOS and adenomyosis
• The power of cycle syncing and how you used it to change your fertility trajectory
• The effects of hormonal contraception, particularly the pill, on your cycle and fertility — and Olivia’s honest, thoughtful views on it after years of navigating it herself
• Societies impossible expectations of women vs the reality 
• Why understanding and connecting with your cycle is so empowering, whether you’re trying to conceive or simply want to feel better, more balanced, and in tune with your body
• Wellness non-negotiable that have helped you deal with endometriosis and PCOS

This episode is a beautiful reminder of how powerful our cycles are, and how making small, intentional shifts to support your hormones can change everything.

Whether you're currently dealing with hormonal issues, curious about natural contraception options, or wanting to learn how to better support your body through every phase — this one’s for you.

Sponsors:

This episode is sponsored by Tea Huggers - you can check out their delicious range of blended tea here

Catchups15 - will give you 15% off all Tea Hugger purchases at check out 

This episode was hosted and produced by Georgia Symonds

Georgia’s Instagram - click here!

For more information and other interesting articles check out our website: www.catchupsinmykitchen.com 

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