Seize The Day Blog

Health-Related Articles & Recipes

  • Home
  • Articles
  • Recipes
  • Alternatives
  • Epilepsy
  • About
    • About Me
    • About Blog
  • Book

Archives for May 2020

May 6, 2020

Homemade Peach Tea (Sugar-Free)

May 6, 2020

It’s 93 degrees in SoCal right now, the sun is shining and I’m craving some summer!!! Unfortunately, June is still a month away so I’m settling for the next best thing…

Homemade Peach Tea!!! I really love to experiment with beverages when it gets super hot outside and this year is no exception. I have a soft spot for herbal tea, especially chamomile tea and it got me thinking one day…How would this chamomile tea (that I normally drink hot) taste on ice?? I was hoping for a refreshing beverage and that is exactly what I got! I love love love this tea cold! But I didn’t stop there…

First, I have a question for you. What is the best thing to do with an overripe peach that smells amazing and would probably taste amazing too, but has a mushy texture that would be pretty gag-worthy if you tried to eat it??? You cut that sucker up and stick those pretty little slices in the freezer! Don’t let that sweet peach flavor go to waste! If it isn’t moldy, it doesn’t need to go in the trash can just yet. Get the most from your overripe peaches and add them to your iced chamomile tea! Plus, the overripe sweetness is going to remedy the lack of sugar that typical peach teas tend to have. I used to love the Bellini Peach Tea at the Olive Garden up until I found out they used syrups for both the peach flavor and the sugar. This option here on Seize the Day Blog is much healthier and still just as refreshing! It makes me feel like it’s summertime during those times that I just do not have the patience to wait for the official start date of the season.

I usually add 2-3 peaches to the bottom of my glass, add lots of ice cubes, and then I fill the glass with chilled chamomile tea. Drinking the Peach Tea with a straw works best so that you can continually stir the peach and chamomile flavors together. I also like to poke at the peaches (which will thaw pretty quickly) to release even more delicious peach flavor! Lots of mixing is the best way to get the perfect mix (no pun intended ;)) of both the herbal tea and the fresh fruit.

I prefer Stash Tea’s Organic Chamomile Tea and Whole Foods Market has had the most amazing Organic fresh peaches so far this season!

Two ingredients are all it takes to make a sweet, flavorful, and refreshing drink for people of all ages! The recipe is below, Enjoy!!

Homemade Peach Tea (Sugar-Free)

Print this recipe
SeizeTheDayBlog
May 6, 2020
by SeizeTheDayBlog
Cuisine Beverage
Category Articles Recipes
Serving Size
1 cup
Prep Time
5 minutes
Total Time
5 minutes
Homemade Peach Tea (Sugar-Free)

Notes

It is best to occasionally mix all ingredients as you drink so that the flavor of the peaches continues to disperse throughout the tea. 


Ingredients

  • Organic Overripe Peaches, sliced & frozen
  • Chamomile Tea, chilled

Instructions

  1. Add two-slices of frozen peaches to the bottom of your cup, top with ice cubes, and fill with chamomile tea.
  2. Stir all ingredients together using a straw and enjoy!

Tags

homemade,
peach tea,
recipe,
seize the day blog,
summer,
yummy

Share this:

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Posted by SeizeTheDayBlog
Filed Under: Articles, Recipes Tagged: homemade, peach tea, recipe, seize the day blog, summer, yummy

May 3, 2020

Epilepsy Insight #10: Make Your Own Lotion

May 3, 2020

 

It’s lotion, you NEED this product! Dry skin is not exactly a good look for anyone nor is it preferred! Especially if you’re like me and you live in the desert region of Southern California! Seriously though, processed lotion is one of those products where I am always disappointed whether it’s organic or non-organic.

The ingredient labels for both types of lotion are atrocious! If you choose non-organic, you’re getting tons of chemicals and other synthetic ingredients, but if you try organic you’ll get soy-based tocopherols in your lotion. Trust me when I say that most organic lotion products contain either “Tocopherols” or “Vitamin E” which are commonly derived from soy in organic products. It is incredibly difficult to find a lotion product that consists of clean ingredients only in today’s market. I have searched high, low, and everywhere in between trying to find one! Unless I want to make it myself…

If I’m being completely honest, the idea of making my own lotion was super intimidating at first! I automatically assumed it would be an impossible task to do all by myself. I mean, massive companies are usually the masters of producing these types of products! However, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it is perhaps one of the easiest recipes I have ever encountered! And I LOVE the way this lotion smells!!! It only consists of almond oil, coconut oil, shea butter, and vanilla essential oil. Yep, that’s it! You can make it at home without the need for any special tools or equipment. Say goodbye to the days of being disappointed with your processed lotion product and take matters into your own hands! You do not have to expose your body to the toxins in many lotions and if you’re epileptic, like me, you can also reduce your exposure to seizure triggers. Watch Epilepsy Insight #10 below to hear my thoughts on this subject and to receive a few tips for cleaning up your daily regimen.

The lotion recipe I discuss in my video below is adapted from Wellness Mama’s Luxurious Lotion Recipe.

Click here to read my full article on this lotion recipe.

 

Sources:

https://wellnessmama.com/3765/homemade-lotion-recipe/

 

Medical Disclaimer:

The information posted on Seize the Day Blog, including but not limited to, articles, images, recipes, text, and other material are shared for informational purposes only. None of the writings should be looked upon as advice meant to replace that of an actual medical professional. If you suspect you have a serious medical condition you should seek help from a healthcare professional immediately. Please be aware that the author of this website is posting information simply to inform NOT to recommend others about health-related topics. Before following any information (i.e. undertaking a new healthcare or diet routine) found here on Seize the Day Blog, you should always consult a medical professional first. Please be sure to never disregard any medicinal advice because of something you have read on this website.

 

 

Share this:

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Posted by SeizeTheDayBlog
Filed Under: Articles, Epilepsy Tagged: catamenial epilepsy, chemicals, DIY, epilepsy insight, excitotoxin, lotion, seize the day blog, seizethedayblog, seizure triggers, seizures, soy, tocopherol, toxins, Vitamin E

May 1, 2020

Homemade Lotion Recipe

May 1, 2020

When it comes to ingredient labels you want to know as much as possible about each and every ingredient listed in “said” product label so that you can fully comprehend what it is you’re about to eat or slather onto your body. You know what they say about not judging a book by its cover?? Forget it all! 

When it comes to products in the cosmetic arena, the ingredient label is the symbolic cover of your book. Reading the label is going to give you insight, but researching ingredients individually will expose the truth about the quality of any product. This list of ingredients will determine whether or not you want anything to do with a certain product. It could be a food, cosmetic, toiletry, the list goes on and on…and so should your knowledge about the quality of any product you’re about to put in or on your body if you truly want to maintain your good health. 

Personally, I found a very unfortunate pattern begin to develop every time I read a processed product’s label…it was the pattern of disappointment. 

Without fail, I would be extremely disappointed with the poor quality of whichever product was in my hands at the moment. Lotion still remains the one product I was absolutely unsuccessful at finding. I did the “organic products only” for a while, hoping that this would be the solution I was seeking, but I’m sorry to say that things got even worse for me and my seizures. 

I was faced with a huge increase in seizure activity and it is because of the ingredients used in a large majority of the organic lotion products available on today’s market. It turns out that organic companies often use soy as the vegetable source for the Vitamin E or Tocopherol ingredients listed in their product. Soy isn’t used every single time, but your odds of soy being a derivative for an ingredient grow substantially when it comes to organic companies.

First, let’s clarify something about soy…it is NOT healthy for the human body. Contrary to popular belief, soy and soy-related ingredients such as soy lecithin will actually wreak havoc on the human body, especially where hormones are concerned. 

Second, soy is a common seizure trigger for most epileptics, myself included. So when I began using a lotion product that said it only contained Vitamin E or Tocopherol, I was too naive at the time to realize that you have to further research certain ingredients in a label to know for certain that it is actually safe for someone with seizures. In this case, I needed to contact the company to double-check exactly what their source was for the “Tocopherol” listed on their product’s ingredient label. 

While I originally assumed I would have fewer seizures once I began using the organic products, I was sorely disappointed with my actual result of increased seizure activity. I now avoid organic lotion products like the plague because their ingredients just cannot be trusted. I returned to using a generic lotion brand who’s ingredient label was absolutely atrocious, but shockingly did not trigger any extra seizures. I had to pick and choose my battles at this point…do I use an organic product that, on paper, should be healthier for me, but causing my seizure activity to increase or do I use a generic product that contains very poor quality ingredients, but does not cause an increase in my seizures after application?

It is quite a dilemma, but ultimately it is always going to be a Catch 22 type of situation no matter which product I choose. I may win when I do not have any seizures triggered by a product, but I’m losing in the long run when I expose my body to toxic ingredients.

I live in a desert region of Southern California so lotion is definitely a necessity around my house. The thing is, I just couldn’t justify applying carcinogenic ingredients onto the surface of my skin on a daily basis. Nor could I find a product with a clean ingredient label…

So what’s a girl to do??? How do I make this situation a win-win scenario?

I tried doing alternative moisturizers such as coconut oil, but it was just way too greasy for me. I like the healthier aspect, but the coconut oil was inconvenient in the mornings when I would apply it, then basically have to towel most of it off my skin because I wouldn’t be able to get dressed without getting grease all over my clothes. 

Finally, I found a lotion recipe from Wellness Mama and it is fabulous!

The recipe below is completely adapted from her recipe, I simply doubled the ingredients and added vanilla essential oil for the scent. Feel free to adjust the recipe to fit your preferences, swap out the vanilla essence with any other flavor(s). 

Here’s the thing about this lotion: it is nourishing, it absorbs quickly, and it smells great!  

Unlike the straight coconut oil, my skin actually absorbs this lotion and it leaves a sweet smell that lasts all day long. Instead of a greasy texture that only makes me long for a dry washcloth to wipe away the excess coconut oil, I am left with smooth skin. If you’re like me and you prefer soft, nourished skin you might want to give this recipe a try.

The lotion can be stored at room temperature for up to 6 months. I prefer to store mine in a mason jar. Avoid a pump whenever possible, this lotion is best when scooped out of the jar with a spoon due to its thickness. 

This recipe usually lasts me about 2 months. A little goes a long way! It is very nourishing (I know I keep saying that, but it is!) so you only need a tiny bit to satisfy your dry skin! As was mentioned on Wellness Mama, “This lotion works great for diaper rash on a baby, eczema, and for preventing stretch marks.” 

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! It is a must-have in my house AND it’s healthy! I can also confirm that it has never caused any increased seizure activity. I always count this as a huge win!

 

Homemade Lotion Recipe

Print this recipe
SeizeTheDayBlog
May 1, 2020
by SeizeTheDayBlog
Category Alternatives Articles Epilepsy
Serving Size
1 cup
Cook Time
20 minutes
Total Time
20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup almond oil
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup beeswax
  • 4 TBSP shea butter
  • 2 tsp vanilla essential oil

Instructions

  1. Combine the almond oil, coconut oil, beeswax, and shea butter in a double boiler or a glass bowl on top of a simmering pan of water.
  2. Stir occasionally as the ingredients melt.
  3. When all ingredients are completely melted (this might require some extra stirring), add the vanilla essential oil.
  4. Pour into a glass jar or tin for storage. Small mason jars work perfectly this lotion.
  5. Use as you would a regular lotion product. This lotion can be stored at room temperature. Use within 6 months of making.

Tags

alternative,
catamenial epilepsy,
clean ingredients,
cosmetics,
dry skin,
good quality,
ingredient label,
lotion,
seize the day blog,
seizure activity,
seizures,
soy,
soy lecithin

 

Sources:

Wellness Mama: https://wellnessmama.com/3765/homemade-lotion-recipe/

 

Medical Disclaimer:

The information posted on Seize the Day Blog, including but not limited to, articles, images, recipes, text, and other material are shared for informational purposes only. None of the writings should be looked upon as advice meant to replace that of an actual medical professional. If you suspect you have a serious medical condition you should seek help from a healthcare professional immediately. Please be aware that the author of this website is posting information simply to inform NOT to recommend others about health-related topics. Before following any information (i.e. undertaking a new healthcare or diet routine) found here on Seize the Day Blog, you should always consult a medical professional first. Please be sure to never disregard any medicinal advice because of something you have read on this website.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Posted by SeizeTheDayBlog
Filed Under: Alternatives, Articles, Epilepsy Tagged: alternative, catamenial epilepsy, clean ingredients, cosmetics, dry skin, good quality, ingredient label, lotion, seize the day blog, seizure activity, seizures, soy, soy lecithin

Search

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to Seize the Day Blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.


About Me

Hi, I'm Katie! I was diagnosed with Catamenial Epilepsy when I was 16 years old. What started out to be an impossible struggle has now become a journey toward healing thanks to natural/Holistic methods.
For the last 6 years, I have continuously gone through a trial and error period where I have been discovering for myself the true quality of various foods, products, and lifestyles.
I am going to share everything I have learned with the hope that it will help you to begin your healthy lifestyle that much faster. Read More…

SAYhello

Connect

Follow

Seize the Day Blog

Seize the Day Blog

Theme by 17th Avenue · Powered by WordPress & Genesis

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.