Seize The Day Blog

Health & Wellness Articles & Recipes

Archives for March 2020

From My Recipe Box to Yours: Healthy Homemade Trail Mix

Finding healthy and tasty snacks when you’re both sugar-free and gluten-free can be a tad challenging. However, this trail mix is the perfect mix of savory and sweet for those moments when that “case” of the munchies turns into a full-blown investigation…

Plus, if you decide to try the recommended products for the almonds and cashews you will be getting an added bonus from the soaked nuts. Dr. Linda’s products are soaked in saltwater making these nuts an excellent source of magnesium! If you’re deficient in this particular mineral, like me, then you’re definitely going to want to try this product! I speak from experience when I say that these soaked nuts are very tasty and pair well with the flavors of the dried fruit products included in this trail mix recipe!

I used the dried apricots from Made In Nature which you can find on Amazon (link provided) and dried cranberries from Albertson’s O Organics product line, which you can find in Von’s, Albertson’s, or Safeway stores.

You can find Dr. Linda’s products on her website: www.DrLindas.com

Epilepsy Insight #3: Post-Seizure First Aid

One of the biggest challenges of living with a condition like epilepsy is dealing with the unconsciousness or absence that accompanies most seizure activity. Whether it is a Tonic-Clonic seizure (completely absent, full convulsion and/or shaking limbs) or a Partial/Absent seizure (still absent, but it is a much more mild type of bodily action; only blanking out rather than a full convulsion with shaking limbs). Partial/Absent seizures also tend to last for a shorter amount of time (mere seconds, usually) than Tonic-Clonic seizures which can last for seconds, minutes, or in some extreme cases, hours.

My point is, the epileptic has little to no control over his or her limbs during a seizure. The result of this fact is unfortunate, but it is something to be aware of…post-seizure first aid isn’t always optional. For those instances when you need to treat bumps, bruises, or scratches, be sure to check out some of my recommendations from this week’s Epilepsy Insight. Epilepsy Insight #3 focuses specifically on this topic of post-seizure first aid because of my own recent need for treatment. I scratched my face with only my fingernail, but it looks pretty bad. So, I am sharing recommendations that I have used personally and I have found that each product mentioned in this video promotes quick healing. Let’s be honest, when you have a scratch across your face like I do in this video you don’t just want it to heal quickly you NEED it to heal quickly so that people will stop staring at you with extreme pity.

So, watch the video and check out my recommendations for Sovereign Silver Colloidal Silver, Bach’s Rescue Cream, and Himalayan Sea Salt.

If you have any questions about the content in the video, please feel free to email me at katie@seizethedayblog.com or DM me on Twitter or Instagram (@seizethedayblog for both). For those of you living with epilepsy, stay strong! Even when it doesn’t feel like it, you still have lots of fight left! Today is not the day we let epilepsy win, today is the day we conquer epilepsy together!

Epilepsy Insight #2: Seizure Triggers

Seizure triggers seemed like a good first step with this series. If you are struggling with epilepsy then you must be familiar with seizure triggers and the great inconvenience these ingredients can cause…

According to the Epilepsy Society, seizure triggers are “situations that can bring on a seizure in some people with epilepsy…Triggers can differ from person to person, but common triggers include tiredness and lack of sleep, stress, alcohol, and not taking medication” (https://www.epilepsysociety.org.uk/seizure-triggers).

Although triggers do differ from person to person, some common triggers do exist that seem to provoke seizure activity in the majority of epileptics.

Personally, I have found the following food ingredients to be seizure triggers: rosemary, cloves, nutmeg, mint (peppermint and spearmint), rosehip, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, monosodium glutamate (MSG), soy, and chili (seasoning). These are only a few of the many seizure triggers that exist. Watch Epilepsy Insight #2 to get my full list and more info on how to avoid these seizure triggers in your daily life. Full Video available in the link above and below.

You can also view Epilepsy Insights on Instagram and Twitter. Please email me via katie@seizethedayblog.com or DM me on Instagram (@seizethedayblog) with any questions about seizure triggers. I’m always happy to help! 🙂

For more information on seizure triggers check out the following articles:

6 Common Seizure Triggers that May Be Lurking in Your Kitchen Cabinet

3 Seizure Triggers Every Epileptic Should Be Aware Of: Caffeine, Alcohol & Processed Sugar

Epilepsy Insight #1 – New Video Series

 

Hello Seize the Day Blog readers!

I recently began a new video series on my Instagram account (@seizethedayblog) called Epilepsy Insights. The series is pretty self-explanatory…I have been living with Catamenial Epilepsy (a form of epilepsy caused by a hormone imbalance) for 11 years now and I wanted to share the insights I have learned from my personal experience with the condition. My hope is that these insights will help others to avoid the same mistakes I have made while on my journey with epilepsy. The trial and error process of learning what to do and what not to do is a tedious one at best so if my knowledge can aid another with their own personal journey with epilepsy then I will be able to consider this series a success.

As per usual, I am no doctor, but I am a Catamenial Epilepsy patient. I know how it feels to hit rock bottom. I know how it feels to want to give up. However, I also know how it feels to have some support during these difficult times. It makes a huge difference to know you are not alone in your battle. So, I am sharing these insights with the hope that they will offer you, my readers, some much-needed support. If you have any questions about any of the content in the videos, please feel free to email me your questions at katie@seizethedayblog.com or DM me on Instagram. These videos are simply my way to offer those of you also struggling with epilepsy a little support. Every insight is simply a suggestion from me to you and you should always consult a doctor before making any changes to your daily routine.

Click here to view Epilepsy Insight #1