Archives for January 2019

I meant to touch on this subject in my Favorite Product of 2018 article, but completely spaced so I figured “Why not just devote an entire article to the subject?!”…It has been a life changing revelation over the course of 2018 and into 2019. 

The true impact of blood sugar levels on the human brain is still yet to be determined. However, through a process of trial and error I have slowly been able to piece together what I consider to be a breakthrough observation and what I hope will also be a breakthrough for anyone reading this article. 

Low blood sugar levels can cause the brain to become vulnerable. In-between the standard meal time (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) is actually the most dangerous time period for me, personally, because it seems to be the time when I am most prone to seizure activity. I have a mix of Grand Mal seizures and Partial seizures, but the partial seizures have increased to a level that surpasses my annual amount of Grand Mal seizures. 

While there are some positives to this development, such as my brain becoming stronger and, therefore, being prone to a less intense form of seizures. I take no pleasure in any seizure activity, big or small, because it means my body is still struggling internally. 

So how do we supplement this internal struggle???

The answer is simple…with food. But not just any food will do the trick, you need food that will be able to build your body back up when it begins doing a nose-dive at those in-between times of the day. 

For me, that food product is Late July’s Buttery Flaky Crackers. And this is yet another reason why these crackers are my favorite product of the year. So, for those of you without gluten sensitivities, I highly recommend snacking on 3-4 crackers in between meals. This gluten-rich snack is like no other when it comes to re-establishing my blood sugar levels. There have been many moments where I believe these crackers have actually prevented a Partial or Grand Mal seizure. Allowing one’s blood sugar levels to drop means allowing one’s brain to drop to a level of vulnerability. Keep your brain at a strong level by implementing a small snack to your daily diet or whenever you feel especially drained, which can easily happen throughout the entire day. You just might find a decrease in your overall seizure activity and an increase in your stamina and mood! 

I have found that when my energy becomes depleted, my mood shifts along with it…I become irritable, impatient, and just plain grumpy. So, for the sake of those around you I highly recommend giving these small snacks a try. 

For those of you with gluten sensitivities, a small snack to try instead of the crackers is guacamole and corn chips. Though this snack is a little more work than a simple box of crackers, it is a well-balanced and delicious mini-meal! Late July also makes a fabulous corn chip product available at a variety of grocery stores including Vons, Whole Foods, and Sprouts. The ingredient label consists of only three ingredients…Organic Whole Ground Corn, Organic Expeller Pressed Safflower Oil and/or Organic Expeller Pressed Sunflower Oil, Sea Salt.

Check out my super simple recipe for guacamole now! 

By implementing the avocados, you are providing a fantastic source of healthy fats for your body. Your body simply cannot have too many healthy fats and using the nutrient rich avocado as your snack will also work to supplement your total-body health. 

If you aren’t a fan of guacamole and chips, you can also try a more leafy-green oriented snack such as arugula salad with a drizzle of olive oil (sea salt and cracked pepper to taste). Arugula is filled with numerous nutrients, but is especially known for being particularly beneficial for the brain and promoting overall brain function. It is key that you include the olive oil drizzle in this snack because this is your source of healthy fats amongst a snack dominated by greens. For those of you who can tolerate dairy, parmesan cheese shavings are also a delicious addition to this mini-salad. 

If you still want something different to use as your snack, that’s okay too! Lucky for us, sweet potatoes make an excellent french-fry or potato chip type of snack. If you decide to go this route, I highly recommend making these in advance so that when you’re feeling fatigued you don’t have to go to a lot of work to make something that is meant to help build your body back up instead of further contributing to your exhaustion. As much as I enjoy baking, it is no secret in my house that this activity can be draining on my energy levels. You know your body best so I would just listen to what it tells you and make these French fries or potato chips when you know you can handle it. That way, when a moment of low blood sugar does strike, all you have to do is access your pantry. Another great characteristic of sweet potato fries or chips is that they mix very well with olive oil (healthy fats). Adding a drizzle of olive oil to your snack is delicious and it boosts your total-body health. 

Life does get busy, but you can always carry around a ziplock bag with the snack of your choice. I like to do this so that I can still maintain a healthy blood sugar level even when I’m On-The-Go. 

Check out Seize the Day Blog for my favorite recipes for Sweet Potato Fries & Sweet Potato Chips!

Sources:

1. Late July Products: https://www.latejuly.com

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