Interview with Wellflower Founder Asha Carroll

We’ve all heard the phrase, “you are what you eat,” and know the affect that your diet can have on your health, wellbeing and hormones. There is an undeniable link between nutrition and women’s menstrual cycles. Women's nutrition brand Wellflower has studied this link and provides hormone healthy nutrients to support each phase of a woman’s cycle. We recently spoke with Wellflower founder Asha Carroll to learn more about the ways we can eat our way to better feminine health, and "feed our cycle".

HP: Tell us a little bit about your background.

AC: I always had an interest in functional nutrition. I was an opera singer for 10 years, from the ages of 15-25 and I was the person that people came to for remedies for teas, or foods to avoid for acid reflux, and more. Inspired by my great grandmother, who lived to the age of 103, I began working as a pastry chef and pursuing natural foods and baking.

What started your interest in seed cycling and what is the inspiration behind Wellflower?

Several women in my family have endometriosis, and I always had difficult cycles, with really painful and heavy periods and mood swings. I remember having to cancel voice lessons or postpone performances to get around my cycle.

I had experienced menorrhagia, an extremely painful period while on the birth control pill that made me go to the ER.  I was on the pill for almost a decade and once I went off of it, I was left experiencing my real cycle for the first time. This was inconsistent periods and extreme mood swings, not ovulating, my period disappeared then it would return and be really painful and heavy. I was preoccupied with figuring out what was wrong. I found out I had high-grade lesions on my cervix- and my doctor was testing for PCOS, and cysts, anything possible to explain what was going on with my period. Finally, my doctor recommended I take a business break to reduce my stress.

After this, I spent time in LA and Bali and got into raw and functional food and became certified in holistic nutrition. I had always looked for answers in food and I fell in love with seed cycling.

Our nutritional needs in our cycles change from week to week. The first phase of your cycle is nutritionally different from the second. I connected with herbalists in Vermont and the inspiration for Wellflower grew from there.

I realized there was a huge opportunity to use food as activism to help women have a more educated relationship with their cycles.

What is something you wish all women knew about their hormones and menstrual cycles?

Understand that your cycle is not static and it’s not something to push against. Once we begin to listen to our cycles, you understand that you’re going to feel differently on Day 1 of your cycle than you do on Day 14. Instead of feeling the shame or guilt that society has conditioned us to have, we can approach our cycles with trust. Our bodies know best. We can continue to improve the conversation and stigma around it. The more we share our experiences with other women and with men for that matter, we can each be activists for our own cycle. The more we normalize periods it will remove at least that much pain from our cycles.

How can we begin to incorporate seed cycling into our diet?

Seed cycling is very versatile. I prefer to grind my seeds, but our blends come as whole seeds so that you can put them in a smoothie, toss them on a salad, OR grind them when you’re ready. it’s important that they are fresh ground when you use them, this is how they are the most beneficial.

Consume 2 tablespoons of the seeds daily. Pepita and flax seeds during the first half of your cycle. Sesame and sunflower seeds during the second phase of your cycle.

Our blends also contain chia and hemp which provide great protein, healthy fats and Omega-3S which we really need to balance our hormones.

This is available for all ages, it’s whole foods there’s nothing weird or unknown in the ingredients. I recommend it not just for cycle regularity, but also for conditions like endometriosis or PCOS. It can also help with fertility and peri-menopausal and menopause symptoms.

We have heard of certain foods for PMS. Can you suggest a recipe for us, something to help support the crummy feelings of PMS?

SESAME SUNFLOWER COCONUT BUTTER SNACK BALLS

 1 pouch Wellflower Phase 2 Sesame Sunflower Snack Ball Mix

1/2 c coconut butter, melted

1/4 c pure maple syrup

2 tbsp oatmilk, to bind (optional)

Melt coconut butter by simply placing your coconut butter jar in a bowl of boiling water. Stir until fully melted and smooth. Combine coconut butter and maple syrup with Wellflower Phase 2 Sesame Sunflower Snack Ball Mix. Stir until fully incorporated and roll into balls. If needed, add oatmilk in tablespoon increments until desired consistency is reached. Chill in refrigerator. Keeps refrigerated for up to 2 weeks or frozen for 1 month. Thaw before eating and use to top smoothies, crumble over yogurt bowls, or snack on the go.

To order Wellflower products and to learn more visit them at:

https://www.wellflower.co

Instagram: @wellflowerco