Name: Baking Soda & Maple Syrup Cancer Protocol
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 3 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 3 T Grade B Maple Syrup (Be sure to use Organic, Grade B maple syrup because it is the most pure!); 1 T Baking Soda (aluminum-free is best, Arm & Hammer or Bob's Red Mill are great options)

December 2, 2015

Baking Soda & Maple Syrup Cancer Protocol

December 2, 2015

Today is December 2nd, which means there are only 23 days until Christmas! I think it’s safe to say that the holiday season is now in full swing! Many people associate this time of year with widespread happiness. All of the department stores certainly deck their halls with a lot more than just bows of holly. Merry Christmas music can be heard playing EVERYWHERE, and commercials on TV tend to have a much more holly theme to them (my favorite are the ads involving talking gingerbread men, they’re just so cute!).

When we are constantly surrounded by these festive displays, it can be very easy to forget about those who, despite the goodhearted atmosphere, do not have the luxury to be completely joyful no matter how much they want to be. Take, for example, those suffering from serious medical conditions. The Christmas season does not provide these people with a pass during the month of December. Unfortunately, any suffering that may occur must still be endured. Obviously, there are MANY serious medical conditions that people are suffering from worldwide, but I want to focus on one that is incredibly prevalent within societies across the globe, most especially here in my own home country, the United States…Cancer.

Whether you live in America, Europe, Africa, Asia or somewhere else entirely, it seems like everyone knows at least one person who has cancer or has had cancer in the past. Personally, I know a handful of people who are currently battling cancer. Some are only acquaintances, a few are family members, but most are close family friends. As I sit here writing about these people, I can’t help but get the same tight feeling in my chest I also got when I first received the news of their diagnoses. Do you know what feeling I’m talking about? The one where 10 different emotions are all trying to co-exist inside you…sad, mad, frustrated, devastated, and confused (in addition to many other emotions).

The most interesting part about this emotional rollercoaster is the fact that the ride is never a lonely one. You and I are not the only ones feeling this way! And I have a hypothesis as to why…the most frustrating part of learning about someone’s cancer diagnosis is that helpless feeling that always seems to accompany this type of news. Helpless because you can’t really do anything to help get rid of the cancer! All you can do is sit by, be supportive, and hope that the chemotherapy or surgery will do its job at eliciting entrance into the remission stage…right? Wrong! There actually is something more you can do to help and it is really quite simple! Share this recipe with whomever you may know to be battling cancer:

Baking Soda & Maple Syrup Cancer Protocol

Baking Soda & Maple Syrup Cancer Protocol

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Cook Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

3 T Grade B Maple Syrup (Be sure to use Organic, Grade B maple syrup because it is the most pure!)
1 T Baking Soda (aluminum-free is best, Arm & Hammer or Bob's Red Mill are great options)

Instructions

Place all ingredients into a stainless steel sauce pan, stir together, cook over low heat, stirring constantly for 3 minutes. Do not overcook. If cooked for the correct amount of time it will taste like caramel with a strong hint of baking soda. If overcooked, there will be a bitter aftertaste.
Take 1 teaspoon three times a day or 1 Tablespoon twice a day, everyday. It's best if taken immediately after your meals.

https://www.seizethedayblog.com/2015/12/baking-soda-maple-syrup-cancer-protocol/

**Side Note: This treatment is not limited to any one kind of cancer, it works for every type of cancer!

My mom originally discovered this recipe when she was dealing with some serious skin cancer and wanted to eradicate the source of the problem, but hoped to avoid surgery since it was located on the side of her face. Let’s be honest here, doctors may have gone to medical school, but judging by the gnarly scars left behind by these procedures, it would appear as though they all skipped class on the day they were supposed to learn how to make small, clean incisions. The reason this particular solution seems to work so well is because cancer feeds on sugar. The maple syrup draws the cancer cells in, and then the baking soda destroys them.

**To learn more about the benefits of baking soda and maple syrup for cancer, visit this very helpful article: Baking Soda and Maple Syrup Cancer Treatment – IMVA

Anyway, the woman my mother got the recipe from was battling an aggressive type of stage 4 cancer located in a major organ, quit her chemotherapy, and decided to try Holistic methods instead. Please understand that I am not recommending for anyone to do exactly what this woman did and quit chemotherapy. It just so happens that this decision worked for her and I think it important for everyone to be aware of.

The fact of the matter is, this Holistic treatment can be done along with chemotherapy, radiation, etc. This recipe has worked wonders within my own home and for the woman who is the source of this simple solution. She was at the point where doctors had “done all they could” and any hope for her survival had been severely depleted. Yet, here we are years later and she is now a cancer survivor all because of the Baking Soda & Maple Syrup Cancer Protocol.

**Side Note: Those of you who decide to use the Baking Soda & Maple Syrup Cancer Protocol to help overcome your cancer or people who have already successfully overcome cancer would benefit greatly by continuing with a maintenance program as a preventative measure against potential cancer cells. It truly would be wise for everyone to continue this program as a weekly regimen to fight against cancer.

People aren’t always open to Holistic methods, trust me, I know! Nevertheless, it doesn’t hurt to at least share this information because you never know how a person might react. If you do try “extending an olive branch” and happen to receive a negative reaction then the mistake in decision making belongs to the other person, not you. But, if you receive a positive reaction, your act of kindness may have just helped to save this person’s life!

So, if you know someone battling cancer, what are you waiting for? Seize the Day and share this recipe while you still have the opportunity to do so!

Photo Credit: Seize the Day Blog

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.

November 16, 2015

From My Recipe Box to Yours: Sweet Potato Fries

November 16, 2015

“As if being one of the top vegetable sources of beta-carotene weren’t enough, sweet potatoes are also rich in vitamins C and E. These are potent antioxidant vitamins that play an important role in disease prevention and longevity.”

– Danna Norek, naturalnews.com

Sweet potatoes are one of those foods that many people eat exclusively around the holidays, when they really should be eating them much more often! Incorporating sweet potatoes into your regular diet might be a bit of a challenge because most of us only know one way to prepare this delicious and incredibly healthy vegetable….covered in marshmallows. I don’t know about you, but I usually only feel like eating this dish around Thanksgiving or Christmas.

While eating at a foodie restaurant in Los Angeles, I discovered a genius and conventional way to prepare sweet potatoes…in fry form! Top these babies with a little bit of sea salt and rosemary and you’ll get your new favorite side dish! I also recommend coating the sliced sweet potatoes in Coconut Oil before sticking them in the oven for the full 30 minutes.

Just remember to pull the fries out at the 15 minute mark and flip them with a spatula so that one side does not get well done while the opposite side is only slightly done. You can cook the fries on a baking sheet or in a glass pan, just be sure to spread them out evenly over multiple pans. The fries won’t cook right if they’re all crammed together in one pan.

From My Recipe Box to Yours: Sweet Potato Fries

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

6-8 Sweet Potatoes, medium
4 T Coconut Oil
1-2 T Sea Salt
2-3 T Dried Rosemary

Instructions

Preheat oven to 450F. Wash potatoes, slice into your desired shape and set aside in a large bowl.
Drizzle coconut oil over sweet potato fries and toss to coat. Spread evenly over multiple glass pans or baking sheets.
Once your fries are evenly dispersed, sprinkle half of the sea salt and rosemary to season.
Place in pre-heated oven for 15 minutes.
After 15 minutes, take all pans out of the oven (fries should be about halfway done at this point) and use a spatula to flip the fries. Once all the fries have been flipped, place pans back into the oven for another 15 minutes.
Your sweet potato fries should cook for a total of 30 minutes. They should be soft with slightly crispy edges. Add the other half of sea salt and rosemary. You may need to add more to taste.
Serve with ketchup, ranch or blue cheese dressings, or BBQ sauce.

https://www.seizethedayblog.com/2015/11/from-my-recipe-box-to-yours-sweet-potato-fries/

Sources:

www.naturalnews.com/035739_sweet_potatoes_beta-carotene_nutrients.html

November 2, 2015

Myomin: Control Your Hormone Imbalance, Manage Your Catamenial Epilepsy

November 2, 2015

Many different women worldwide have been and continue to be diagnosed with Catamenial Epilepsy…so why is such a prevalent disease also incredibly difficult to manage?

***Side Note: If you have only recently been acquainted with Catamenial Epilepsy, it is important to know that the primary cause of this condition is a hormone imbalance. It is precisely this imbalance, which causes the spike in seizures during and/or around the menstrual cycle. Yep, just when you think you menstrual cycle can’t get any worse, your brain stops that kind of thinking right in its tracks and decides to get involved.

While there are a multitude of possible ways to go about managing your Catamenial Epilepsy, actually succeeding in this task can feel impossible at times. You can take the “Modern Medicine” route where your options will be medication and more medication. Or, you can take a slightly less toxic path more formally known as the “Holistic” route where your options will originate from natural rather than chemical sources.

The innumerable amount of varied opinions concerning the merit of each of these incredibly dissimilar routes made determining exactly which option will prove to be the best choice quite challenging for me. In all honesty, how does one truly determine the answer to this question when every medical website and each neurologist I visited would tell me something different? It is precisely this dilemma that can cause even the most experienced epileptic to find herself in a bit of a pickle.

During my first few years with Catamenial Epilepsy, I was constantly on the lookout for that one solution that would actually cure my condition and allow me to return to normal life. Living in Southern California meant having convenient access to many reputable doctors and medical institutions. However, no matter whom I went to see, this so called “solution” seemed to be about as real as Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny. So, when the opportunity to visit the legendary Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota presented itself, I of course jumped at the chance. A medical facility famous for its Department of Neurology should be able to do something to help me successfully manage my seizures, right? Wrong.

After an entire week of blood tests, brain scans, and basically almost every other medical test known to man, I simply received their definition of a “solution” at the recommendation of the hospital OBGYN…birth control (A.K.A. more medication!). But, the unfortunate truth is, whether you visit the Mayo Clinic or your local neurologist, the standard suggested solution continues to be birth control or hormone replacement therapy. Both of which have the potential to make things go very, very wrong for your health.

Take the birth control prescribed to me by the Mayo Clinic, for example. After using it for only one month, my body reacted to the synthetic hormone base of the birth control by having 15 Grand Mal seizures in the span of 7 days. Compared to my typical seizure frequency, which was 1, 2 at the most, every couple months, this was quite extreme!

Now, there are some people who have found success going this route and if you’re included in this group than more power to you! However, seeing as though this was not the case for me, I was prompted to begin exploring the Holistic route after 2 years of dealing with Catamenial Epilepsy based solely on the methods of modern medicine.

It was during this exploration of the Holistic path that I discovered what I consider to be a key component of managing Catamenial Epilepsy. It is a natural herbal supplement by Chi’s Enterprise Inc. called “Myomin.” Its Proprietary Herbal Extract Blend is composed of 3 ingredients: Astragalus membranaceus, Curcuma zedoaria, and Cyperus rotundus. The sole purpose of Myomin is to stabilize the Estrogen levels in a woman’s body. However, the real brilliance of this product is its ability to maintain a healthy level of estrogen once it’s been stabilized. Whether you’re estrogen dominant or deficient, Myomin will not allow your body to face either of these health complications as long as you take the supplement as directed.

All it takes is 2-3 capsules 2-3 times a day after meals. 2 capsules 3 times a day works best for me! Please remember that I am not a doctor, therefore, it is important to take the proper precautionary steps before using any new medicine. I have been taking Myomin for over 6 months now and it has made a world of difference in my hormone levels!

You will be amazed at how much easier it is to manage your Catamenial Epilepsy once your hormones are where they’re supposed to be! In addition to the Myomin, I have found that Raspberry Leaf Tea is another fantastic alternative method that helps to improve your hormones, as well as your menstrual cycle! Click here to read my article dedicated entirely to this tea and its many health benefits!

If you know of any solutions or methods that will successfully help other women to manage their Catamenial Epilepsy, please comment below! I, personally, would love to hear your success stores and learn of any new solutions! Thank you for sharing!

Interested in purchasing Myomin?? The links provided below will take you to either Amazon (where you can purchase it from reputable sellers like Vitamins Express, Pure Essence Health, Sun Organics and Chi’s Enterprise Inc.) or the official Chi’s Enterprise Inc. website.

I received great service and quick shipping from both websites so it’s really all about your preference.

Amazon : http://www.amazon.com/Myomin-Promotes-Healthy-Hormone-Levels/dp/B00B2PX388

Chi : http://www.chi-health.com/Products/MYOMIN.html

October 21, 2015

Attitude Is Everything

October 21, 2015

Attitude Is Everything…

…when it comes to dealing with any type of health issue, whether it’s cancer, an injury, or Catamenial Epilepsy. Having a positive attitude through these kinds of circumstances can be incredibly challenging because, let’s be honest, being sick is no ride on the merry-go-round. If you or someone you know is struggling with their health at the moment, I would like you to do something for me…think about the task of maintaining a positive attitude despite the negative circumstances. Does this “challenge” seem worth the effort? I hope you answered “Yes” to this question because the truth is, having a positive perspective on your situation and life, as a whole, is the key to living with any health condition.

I feel like this is such a valuable piece of information because it has helped me to not lose myself in the middle of what can sometimes be a pretty chaotic environment. Having this positive outlook has also allowed me to actually improve upon my overall health. Any neurologist will present epilepsy as a long-term condition that you will have to deal with for the rest of your life. Now, if you decide to take the path suggested by the neurologist then, yes, you are going to deal with epilepsy for the rest of your life because the medication does NOT treat the cause of your seizures; it only treats the symptoms.

But, for argument’s sake, what if you made a change in your reasoning and began treating your epilepsy with the #1 objective being to cure the cause? Whenever I think long and hard about this question, I always come to the same conclusion: by treating and healing the main cause, recovery is inevitable because you are fixing the problem. Modern medicine may try to squash this hypothesis by pushing more pills our way, but it will always continue to reappear, sparking curiosity amongst various groups of people. Why, you might ask, is the dismissal of this hypothesis seemingly impossible despite the numerous efforts put forth by modern medicine? Simple, because it is a logical theory. This postulation doesn’t require you to blindly trust the pharmaceutical companies; it simply requests that you let logic be your guide when making decisions for your health.

I, unfortunately, never had anyone explain this to me after I was first diagnosed with Catamenial Epilepsy in 2009. Everything in this article (and on this whole blog, really) I learned firsthand through a continual process of trial and error. I may not be a doctor, but I can guarantee that I have the experience necessary to write about the topics you’ll find on Seize the Day Blog. But, that is also the beauty of this blog…when I write about the importance of keeping a positive attitude during both the ups and the downs of your medical condition, it isn’t because I read about this as a successful method somewhere on the Internet…it’s because I have had to live through those same ups and downs for the past 6 almost 7 years and I have learned firsthand that it is a very beneficial approach!

I see so many people dealing with conditions similar to my own, but never experiencing the same improvements, because instead of aiming to fix the cause they are merely treating the symptoms with who knows how many different medications. It is always very tempting to blurt out my entire medical story with the hope that something I learned along the way could also be helpful to this particular person, but it can be so hard to do so without coming off like I know best. The truth is, I don’t know best, but I have learned what medicinal methods are more successful than others for epileptics…will it actually help anyone? I certainly hope so!

For those of you struggling to deal with your epilepsy, my advice is to reassess your methods for handling your circumstances. Could you maybe approach your condition with a more positive attitude? It can be so easy to get caught up in the struggles that are associated with epilepsy. For me, I know that this can hinder my ability to maintain a positive perspective and, therefore, attitude, which is why I think a second piece of advice is also necessary: try to take life one day at a time. There is no reason to start concerning yourself with tomorrow, next week, next month, or a few years from now. Whenever you start to get ahead of yourself, take a deep breath and remind yourself that you only need to be concerned about things that require your attention today. You’ll find it’s much easier to have a more positive attitude when you’re not completely overwhelmed and/or stressed.

Life can be overwhelming and crazy when the hand you’ve been dealt includes a serious medical condition, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be. Beyond those rare and unpredictable moments that pop up from time to time, life can be more of a blessing than a burden if you have the right recipe for success. It has been my experience that this recipe consists of three ingredients: a positive attitude, taking life one day at a time, and striving to cure the main cause of your health condition.

So, whether you have Catamenial Epilepsy, regular epilepsy or some other type of health condition…seize the day and take advantage of this recipe for success!

Quote Sources:

Quote #1- www.amazon.com/How-Do-You-Eat-Elephant/dp/159526040

Quote #2- FamousQuotesAbout.com

Quote #3- Biblehub/com/Matthew/6-34.htm

Images:

All images found in this article were photographed or created by Seize the Day Blog and are, therefore, property of Seize the Day Blog.

October 7, 2015

Calendars & Journals: The Key to Managing Your Catamenial Epilepsy

October 7, 2015

“Catamenial epilepsy is a menstrual cycle-related seizure disorder that affects up to 70% of women with epilepsy.”¹

-Advanced Biomedical Research Journal

As part of that 70% of epileptic women with Catamenial Epilepsy, I prefer not to sugar coat the truth about my condition. Living with Catamenial Epilepsy can be quite the grueling task! Uncontrollable seizures are no walk in the park and I think all epileptics will agree with me when I say that they’re a very inconvenient interruption in daily life.

So, ladies, when your hormones start playing a role in your epilepsy and the obstacles connected with these circumstances are immediately amplified…what do you do? You have been extended an exclusive invitation into that 70% category of women, an invitation no woman wants, but, unfortunately is one that does not give one the option to decline (so unfair, I know)…how do you accept this unexpected life change, but continue living a somewhat normal lifestyle?

Vintage Blossoms Notebook Set ($14)

Due to the fact that no woman is the same, there are obviously many different answers to this question. Living with Catamenial Epilepsy for close to 6+ years has allowed me to develop my own answer to these questions based upon my own personal experience. Over the years, I have learned what lifestyle choices work well if you happen to be living with this condition. Therefore, I would like to share with you the tried and true methods used by yours truly, with the hopes that it will help every woman to adjust to, and improve upon this crazy lifestyle.

I do not know the extent of your experience with the disease, but if you’re anything like me, then building a solid foundation of understanding of your body is the best place to start. So, how does one go about building this type of foundation? By getting organized, of course! Dealing with any type of health issue can be incredibly overwhelming. For me, it was like trying to navigate the unknown with little to no help from my neurologists. In order to successfully achieve this task without having a panic attack (or more seizures), I adopted a system of organization through keeping a journal. I found it to be the simplest way to keep all of my health related details, both big and small, together in one easily accessible location.

Tapestry Everyday Memoir Notebook ($15)

It still amazes me how something as simple as a journal has made such a tremendous difference in the quality of my condition. Hands down, it is by far the best decision I made for my health because it allowed me to finally make progress with Catamenial Epilepsy, which felt like quite the impossible task at the time.

Due to my inexperience with the disease in the beginning, I kept things broad and analyzed everything I suspected could be contributing to the frequency of my seizures. So, I kept my main focus on four potential contributing factors: diet/nutrition, sleep, stress levels and my menstrual cycles.

In addition to the journal, I also recommend purchasing a wall or desk calendar to use for recording information. I have found it very helpful to be able to look back on an entire year of seizures and menstrual cycles in a monthly format. The journal works best for recording your diet/nutrition and sleep information because you have plenty of space for every detail (big or small) you feel is absolutely essential to include. The calendar provides a much more convenient layout for recording information on menstrual cycles, seizures occurrences and stressful behavior. I’ll further explain my reasoning behind this when I go into detail about what information you should be recording in each resource.

Let’s start with the journal, all you really need is a simple notebook, but I’m a huge Rifle Paper Company fan so I like any excuse to buy a super cute journal. If you’re like me in this way, I have provided examples of a few absolutely adorable journals and calendars throughout this article to give you some ideas. If you find that you absolutely cannot live without one (or more!), I have provided links to the seller websites where you can purchase them!

***Note: I am not affiliated with any of the companies that sell the calendars/journals I am recommending nor do I receive any kickback for advertising, I simply wanted to share with my readers some of my favorite products!

In my own journal, I record a detailed breakdown of each of my meals for the day. Food allergies can significantly contribute to the number of seizures your body has, so it is extremely important to determine if you have any food sensitivities that may be seizure triggers (external factors that can provoke seizures). The sooner you find them, the sooner you can eliminate them, so be sure to keep an eye out for patterns in your diet and seizure activity. Soon after I began doing this for myself, I discovered a sensitivity of my own to Monosodium Glutamate (MSG). Once I eliminated this food ingredient completely from my diet, my seizure activity immediately decreased. It has been my experience that, by putting good into your body, you are actually healing yourself from the inside out.

2016 Appointment Everyday Wall Calendar ($26)

In addition to sensitivities, monitoring your diet also allows you to see whether or not you’re getting the correct nutrition necessary for your body to be healthy. Your brain needs brain food, feed it properly so that it can function properly. Altering my diet allowed me to stabilize and improve my Catamenial Epilepsy, which is why I highly recommend every woman with the same circumstance to consider doing the same.

***Here’s a quick tip I learned while keeping my journal: Having a protein rich diet improves brain health. When I say “protein” I mean naturally occurring protein found in fish, chicken and red meats. These foods act as major energy sources for your brain, promoting optimal brain function.

Secondly, keeping track of your sleep patterns can be helpful because lack of sleep is a notorious trigger for seizures. Instead of giving a detailed description of each night’s sleeping pattern (let’s be honest, that would get monotonous), simply record the number of hours you slept the night before. It’s always good to be aware of all the factors (even the potential ones!) whenever you have a seizure. Being tired makes your body susceptible to more seizures, so be sure to maintain a healthy sleep schedule! Hopefully keeping track of your sleep patterns in the journal will help you to determine whether or not your current sleep schedule could be improved upon.

New York-Paris Everyday Memoir Notebook ($15)

Here’s what one of my typical journal entries looks like:

Monday, October 5th 2015

Breakfast: 1 egg, whole-wheat toast, watermelon, OJ

Lunch: Yogurt (Plain, Greek), granola, strawberries, water

Dinner: Chili, cornbread, water

Sleep: 8 hours

Moving onto the calendar, I like using this to keep track of the other information because it is convenient for looking at recorded data over a large span of time. If I put it in the journal I would need to refer to a calendar at some point anyway, so for the sake of efficiency I combined the two.

2015-2016 Chalkboard Calendar ($26.95)

***Side note: It was the very first calendar I used to keep track of my seizures and menstrual cycles that inspired the name of this blog! It happened to be brand new and just lying around the house so I figured, “hey perfect!” After using it for a few months, I realized the humor in the title of the calendar in comparison to my circumstance. And it’s still serving a purpose six years later! What better calendar to record seizures in than one named “SEIZE THE DAY”?

The calendar that inspired the name for this blog!

Because I’m recording 3 different types of information in the calendar, I like to color coat everything so that I don’t get confused and mix things up, thereby defeating the purpose of the calendar. So, for a seizure, I mark a blue star in the box of the day it occurred. For my menstrual cycle, I write my initial in the upper right hand corner of each date with a pink sharpie.

***Side note #2: Have you ever heard about the possibility of women’s menstrual cycles becoming synced if they spend a lot of time around each other? This is not a myth! Your own hormones can substantially impact the hormones of other women around you and vice versa, which is why I like to keep track of the menstrual cycles of the other women living in my house, as well. By doing this, I have discovered that my mom’s and sister’s menstrual cycles have occasionally contributed to a few of my seizures. Marking menstrual cycles with an initial instead of a star, for example, also makes it very easy to distinguish between cycles (i.e. “K” for me, “E” for my mom and “L” for my sister).

As for emotional details (stress, PMS, etc.), I like to use a yellow highlighter and highlight the date number in the upper left hand corner of each individual box. So far, this method of color coating has worked exceedingly well at keeping everything clear and concise. Because Catamenial Epilepsy is caused by the menstrual cycle, it is so helpful to continually record even the smallest of details in a calendar, which is why I recommend for every Catamenial Epileptic to adopt this method.

Thanks to every calendar and journal I have kept for the past 6+ years, I can look back over the extent of my condition and actually see every bit of progress I have made. This is why making the time to keep track of my Catamenial Epilepsy has been worth every bit of effort made on my end. The truth is, possessing extensive records such as these has been nothing but helpful over the years. Most importantly, both the calendar and the journal have allowed me to see the improvement I have made up to this point while dealing with my condition. When dealing with something like epilepsy, it can be so easy to become discouraged and throw in the towel. For those of us with Catamenial Epilepsy, we’re probably PMS-ing anyway, so giving up will seem like the most convenient choice regardless of the long-term effects.

2016 Paper Source Art Grid Calendar ($24.95)

Keeping a journal and calendar is also a great decision to make because it helps you to kick both discouragement and hormones to the curb. How can you get discouraged when you have every detail record that will, no doubt, display more improvement than you actually realize? Thanks to my calendar, I know the exact number of seizures I’ve had annually since 2009 (when I was first diagnosed). Therefore, I also know that each year my total number of seizures decreases. Even when I don’t feel like things are improving, my calendar and journal provide me with concrete proof of the exact opposite. So, for all you ladies out there striving to keep a positive perspective while living with Catamenial Epilepsy, simply Seize the Day and buy yourselves a calendar//journal!

References:

¹Najafi, Mohammadreza et al. “Progesterone Therapy in Women with Intractable Catamenial Epilepsy.” Advanced Biomedical Research 2(2013): 8. PMC. Web. 4 Oct. 2015.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3732888/

Image Sources:

***I do not own any of the images above advertising Paper Source or Rifle Paper Co. notebook & calendar products. According to the order in which the images appear in this blog post, I have provided the image source and owner information below.

“Vintage Blossoms Notebook Set” image: Rifle Paper Co. (www.riflepaperco.com)

“Tapestry Everyday Memoir Notebook” image: Rifle Paper Co. (www.riflepaperco.com)

“2016 Appointment Everyday Wall Calendar” image: Rifle Paper Co. (www.riflepaperco.com)

“New York-Paris Everyday Memoir Notebook image: Rifle Paper Co. (www.riflepaperco.com)

“2015-2016 Chalkboard Calendar” image: Paper Source (www.papersource.com)

“2016 Paper Source Art Grid Calendar” image: Paper Source (www.papersource.com)

Medical Disclaimer:

September 3, 2015

Hydrating with Extraordinary Flavor: Strawberry, Lime, Cucumber and Mint Water

September 3, 2015

I am constantly trying (and usually failing) to drink more water throughout the day. It should be a daily essential in every person’s diet. For those of you who, like me, live in Southern California or some other region with a dry climate, keeping water with you both at home and on the go is as important for your health as a good night’s sleep. Unfortunately, life gets in the way and before you know it, you’ve gone the entire day without drinking even one full glass of water. Why is something that should be so simple such a challenge to manage? Because we’re in the habit of not drinking the amount of water we should be! This task has dropped on our list of priorities, therefore, we’re also in the habit of forgetting to maintain this act.

Could we also not drink enough water because there are so many other drinks available that taste much better than water? It’s undeniably tempting to choose the sugary soda bursting with flavor over the mundane water. Your taste buds might thank you, but your body certainly won’t. What if I could make it easier for you to choose the healthier option instead of the “tastier” option? While exploring a blog called, Back to Her Roots, I stumbled across a recipe for Strawberry, Lime, Cucumber and Mint Water. I, of course, had to try making this delicious sounding water and the results were anything but mundane!

I’m a huge supporter of clean eating (Organic, no synthetic or toxic ingredients like MSG and GMOs) so being able to flavor my water with natural ingredients is a huge triumph for me! You need four ingredients for this recipe: strawberries, cucumbers, limes and fresh mint leaves (in addition to the water, of course). You will be amazed by the refreshing flavor your water will have after adding these simple ingredients! Plus, it’s too pretty not to pour yourself a glass instead of grabbing a can of soda.

Happy Hydrating!

Strawberry, Lime, Cucumber and Mint Water

Ingredients:

1 cup sliced strawberries

1 cup sliced cucumbers

2 limes, sliced

1/4 cup fresh mint leaves

Ice cubes

Water

Instructions:

1. In a half-gallon jar, or a 2 quart pitcher, layer the strawberries, cucumbers, lime slices, and mint leaves with the ice cubes. Fill Jar or Pitcher with water. Let chill for 10 minutes, and then enjoy!

Recipe courtesy of Back to Her Roots

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Medical Disclaimer:

August 23, 2015

Quality of Foods: The Key to Healthy Living Begins With Your Diet

August 23, 2015

American cuisine…some people might say it’s pretty great while others could not disagree more. Up until my diagnosis of Catamenial Epilepsy, I was one of those people who thought American food was fantastic! In my defense, I was completely unaware of the poor quality ingredients commonly found in processed foods.

It wasn’t until I experienced an allergic reaction to Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) that I began making the lifestyle changes necessary to get me on a path toward better health. The truth is, many foods these days don’t even contain actual food ingredients anymore, instead they’re packed full of chemicals, imitation products of the real thing. The line has to be drawn somewhere, so why not let it be drawn here? Put your foot down to Genetically Modified (GM) food products and cook the way our ancestors used to, from scratch! A microwaveable meal might be easier, but from-scratch baking really saves you in the long run!

“Scientists have discovered a number of health problems — like changes in reproductive hormones, testicular changes and damage to the pituitary gland — related to genetically modified foods, however these studies have been repeatedly ignored by both the European Food Safety Authority and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). GM foods are typically regarded as equivalent to their conventional counterparts. This, however, is flawed logic because GM foods contain foreign genes that have never before been introduced into the food supply, and are universally contaminated with toxic GMO-specific herbicide residues.” (Dr. Mercola)¹

These health problems continue to plague United States consumers and will worsen in time if people do not switch to Organic foods and cage free meats and dairy products. The difference between foods in Europe and the United States is quite extraordinary. Did you know that the U.S. is currently unable to import meats into European countries because of all the hormonal and chemical additives?

“Europe is much stricter than our country about what kinds of chemicals get into the food chain. Europeans don’t find many — if any — artificial dyes in their food. They can also rest assured that their cows aren’t shot up with artificial growth hormones. The EU also banned the use of an arsenic-laden drug in chickens long before the United States finally followed suit. More recently, the EU enacted a moratorium on the pesticides responsible for massive bee die-offs.” (Alternet.org)²

Clearly, the EU is taking precautionary steps exactly where they need to be taken! The U.S. could learn a thing or two from their actions concerning food standards. According to VegNews³, the ban on American meats exists in more than 160 countries and “this is not the first time that American animal products have been banned on the ground of public safety — hormone-fed beef is prohibited in the EU, and other United States trading partners such as Japan have outlawed the hormone bovine somatotropin in dairy cattle, which is commonly used in America. While these drugs fatten the food industry’s wallets, they have been shown to skew hormone levels in consumers and lead to health issues including prostate, breast, and reproductive organ cancer.” (Vegnews.com)³

As if these effects aren’t devastating enough all by themselves, it actually gets worse. In recent years, there has been a gradual decline in the amount of naturally occurring nutrients found in vegetables, fruits, and meats. “The way our food is grown is guaranteed to give us beautiful, tasteless, nutritionally deficient food with long shelf lives…the unhealthy result is that our meals are dense in calories, but sparse in nutrition and flavor, so our bodies crave more nutrition and pleasure than is found on our plates.” (Psychologytoday.com)⁴

In this day and age, we have full access to vitamin supplements and other health food products, yet millions of people across the United States suffer from numerous deficiencies. How is this possible???

“According to the World Watch Institute, farmers today can grow two to three times as much grain, fruit, and vegetables on a plot of land as they could 50 years ago, but that food contains 10 to 25 percent less iron, zinc, protein, calcium, vitamin C, and other nutrients. In simple terms, you would have to eat eight oranges today to derive the same amount of Vitamin A as our grandparents would have gotten from one.” (Psychologytoday.com)⁴

Due to the current circumstances, finding nutritionally rich foods can be a bit of a challenge. Therefore, it is very important to help strengthen your body by building up nutrients through multiple sources. The best way to accomplish this task is to minimize your intake of processed foods and replace it with whole natural foods, preferably Organic. I know that processed foods like Oreos and Cheetos Puffs are yummy, but they really have no nutritional value to offer your body. By replacing these foods with fruits and veggies, you are doing your body a huge favor! These energy-boosting foods will go above and beyond your typical processed foods by actually satisfying your nutritional needs. “To protect your health and the environment, strive to make 90 percent of your diet non-processed, whole organic foods; it may cost more to eat this way initially, but the amount it will save you in the long run is immeasurable.” (Dr. Mercola)¹

If you’re reading this article and would like to make some lifestyle changes as far as your diet is concerned, but you aren’t quite sure where to begin, don’t fret; it’s actually much easier than one might think! It’s all about going back to the basics; just regular whole foods that aren’t processed and only contain natural ingredients. The best places to find foods like these are at Organic food stores such as Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe’s and Sprout’s Market. If one of these stores is not located near you then I recommend you check out your local Vons, as they happen to have a very impressive Organic section, as well. We can’t control what companies put into our foods, but we can control what foods we choose to put into our bodies.

I was diagnosed with Epilepsy when I was sixteen years old, the main cause being a hormone imbalance (which I’m sure my diet contributed to). However, I don’t plan on living with this condition forever. I am confident that one day I will conquer it through Holistic methods. I took my first step in accomplishing this task 4 years ago when I changed my diet for the better. It was the best decision I could have made for my health and it is so exciting to be able to see the improvement in my overall stability. My annual number of seizures continues to decrease and I know that it is partly because of my dedication to a healthy diet. So, if you’re someone who is struggling with a health condition, I challenge you to try changing your diet just so you can experience, firsthand, the difference it is guaranteed to make in your life. Or, if you’re a perfectly healthy individual I recommend you take preventative measures and alter your diet so that you may continue to remain healthy. Whichever you may be, seize the day and take control of your health, today!

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Sources:

¹Dr. Mercola. “Americans Eat the Cheapest Food in the World, But What is It Really Costing.” Mercola.com. n.p., 2012. Web Accessed on August 17, 2015.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/04/14/eat-well-without-spending-more.aspx

²Richardson, Jill. “Bon Appetit! Why Food Is So Much Better in Europe Than the U.S.” Alternet.org. n.p., 2014. Web. Accessed on August 17, 2015.

http://www.alternet.org/food/bon-appetit-why-food-so-much-better-europe-us

³Dean, Tommy. “Why 160 Countries Say “No” to US Meat.” VegNews.com. VegNews, 2013. Web. Accessed on August 17, 2015.

http://vegnews.com/articles/page.do?pageId=5537&catId=1

⁴Cummins, Denise. “How American Food Makes Us Fat and Sick.” Psychologytoday.com. n.p., 2013. Web. Accessed on August 17, 2015.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/good-thinking/201306/how-american-food-makes-us-fat-and-sick

Medical Disclaimer:

August 12, 2015

From My Recipe Box to Yours: Lemon and Blueberry Cupcakes

August 12, 2015

Okay, so a bowl of fruit might be much healthier than a batch of cupcakes, but it’s Tuesday and a little sugar pick me up may be just what the doctor ordered. Plus, the recipe I am going to share with you all (courtesy of Ree Drummond from the Food Network) derives most of its flavor from natural fruit sources, lemons and blueberries to be exact.

What I love most about this recipe is that it provides directions on how to make both the batter and the frosting completely from scratch. Recipes made 100% from scratch increase your odds of keeping MSG and synthetic ingredients out of the foods you eat.

So, skip the store bought can of greasy frosting filled with hydrogenated oils and make your own instead. Here are just a few of the many health benefits of using lemon as a main flavor ingredient in cupcakes: vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin A, vitamin E, folate, niacin thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, copper, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, phosphorus, and protein (organicfacts.net). A cupcake that is both yummy and healthy…what more could one ask for?

From My Recipe Box to Yours: Lemon and Blueberry Cupcakes

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Yield: 12 cupcakes

Ingredients

Batter:
1 1/2 sticks Unsalted Butter (let stand at room temp)
3 Eggs (let stand at room temp)
1 3/4 cups All-Purpose Flour
1/4 tsp Baking Powder
1/4 tsp Baking Soda
1/4 tsp Salt
1 1/4 cups Granulated Sugar
1/4 cup Milk
3 T finely shredded lemon peel
1 1/2 cups blueberries, coated w/ flour
Frosting:
3-4 cups Powdered Sugar
1 stick Unsalted Butter (let stand at room temp)
1 stick Cream Cheese
2 T fresh Lemon Juice
2 T Lemon Zest
Decoration:
Lemon Peel
Blueberries
Sprig of Fresh Mint (here's a piece of advice: wait to the mint on top of the cupcakes until right before serving to avoid shriveling)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350F.
For the batter: Mix the butter and eggs. In a medium bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together.
Mix the granulated sugar, milk and lemon peel together.
Combine the flour mixture with the wet mixture, stirring thoroughly.
Place cupcake liners into a pan and fill each cup three-quarters full with batter. Drop the coated blueberries on top. Bake for 18-20 minutes.
For the frosting: Combine the powdered sugar, butter, cream cheese, lemon juice and zest together until light and fluffy. Pipe onto the cupcakes and decorate with lemon peel, blueberries, and mint leaves.
Cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator.

https://www.seizethedayblog.com/2015/08/from-my-recipe-box-to-yours-lemon-and-blueberry-cupcakes/

Sources:

“Health Benefits of Lemon.” Organicfacts.net. Organic Information Services Pvt Ltd., 2015. Web. 11 August 2015.

15 Evidence-Based Benefits of Lemon

Recipe link: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/missys-lemon-and-blueberry-cupcakes-recipe.print.html#

Medical Disclaimer:

August 6, 2015

Recipe for Recuperation

August 6, 2015

Battling a Summer cold? Drop the cough syrup and grab the blender! Pump your body full of immune boosting fruits and veggies instead of those nasty chemicals found in most cold medicines. If it’s the healthier option, why not give it a try? Here are 4 recipes (Courtesy of all-about-recipes.com and Hellonatural.co) for juices that are packed full of the ingredients your body needs when you’ve got a bit of a bug.

Recipe #1:

1 medium butternut squash, peeled & seeds removed

2 lemons

2 inch piece of ginger, peeled

2 tsp turmeric powder

Directions: put all ingredients into the blender and blend on high for 30-60 seconds.

*Warning: this juice combo is not for the faint hearted! The flavor is extremely bitter by itself, which is why I recommend adding a green apple if you like your juice on the sweeter side.

Recipe #2:

2 cups fresh pineapple

1 frozen ripe banana

1 cup coconut water

2 T shredded coconut

1 cup kale

Directions: Put all ingredients in with the banana at the top, pour liquid in, blend on high for about 30-45 seconds.

Recipe #3:

2 oranges

1 grapefruit

1 lime

1/2 cup of cranberries

Directions: Put all ingredients in and blend on high for 30-60 seconds.

Recipe #4:

1 cup pomegranate seeds

2 grapefruits

1 lemon

1 fresh bunch of kale

Directions: Put all ingredients in and blend on high for 30-60 seconds.

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Sources:

http://hellonatural.co/healthy-juice-recipes-for-colds/

http://www.all-about-juicing.com/common-cold.html

Medical Disclaimer:

August 2, 2015

I’m on Bloglovin!

August 2, 2015

I am super excited to announce that Seize the Day Blog is now on Bloglovin! If you’re already on this wonderful site please visit the Bloglovin Button in the menu to the right of the page or search for “www.seizethedayblog.com” and follow me, I would really appreciate it! If you’re not then I recommend you sign up! It is blog junkie heaven AND you could keep up to date with my posts! Thanks! <3 Katie

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Strawberry, Lime, Cucumber and Mint Water

Recipe courtesy of Back to Her Roots

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