Name: Zucchini Bread Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 1 Loaf or 12 muffins
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cup Almond Flour; 2 T Coconut Flour; 1 tsp Sea Salt; 1 tsp Baking Soda; 4 tsp Cinnamon; 1 cup Walnuts, chopped; 4 Eggs; 1/4 cup Coconut Oil; 1/3 cup Honey; 1 tsp Vanilla; 1 cup Zucchini, grated; Ghee, for greasing the pan

September 27, 2019

Perfume: Avoid this Product if You Are Seeking Balance for Your Hormones

September 27, 2019

For as long as I can remember, my grandma has generously shared with my brother, my sister, and I the importance of perfume and cologne. I do believe my sister and I are experts in the correct application methods as well as where to find the perfect (And what I mean by “perfect” is her personal favorite) perfume at discount prices. I know what you’re thinking…How many ways are there to apply perfume? You just spray and go right? I would never tell my grandma this, but Yes this has always been my preferred method despite her advice.

However, according to my grandma there is an important balance to create with your perfume by applying on the neck, wrists, and behind the ear. The amounts in each location also differ so that adds a completely new tier of information that I can guarantee is of great length. My grandma graciously shared and continues to re-share this information about perfume with me because that’s just my grandma and she has a special place for perfume in her heart. I was probably still in diapers when she first introduced me to the fancy and sweet-smelling spray, but her determination to share her love for the product also made me love it as well. I have been using perfume since I was in middle school, maybe even elementary school. I was young so it started off with the cheap perfume from somewhere like Target. As a pre-teen/teenager I upgraded to fragrances from stores like Victoria’s Secret, Hollister, and Abercrombie & Fitch. It didn’t take long before I was using the high-end fragrances from department stores like Nordstrom.

It was always a large part of my daily beauty regimen because I was raised to use and appreciate the product. Unfortunately, my grandma never realized just how dangerous perfume can be in relation to hormonal balance. To be honest, I didn’t even realize the dangers until very recently and I only realized them because it was absolutely necessary for my current circumstances.

I have a severe hormone deficiency and hormone imbalance, they coincide with one another and wreak lots of havoc on my body’s ability to function. And while I do everything I can on a daily basis to combat both, it is kind of hard to be successful in this battle when I am not fully aware of the frequency in which I inflict synthetic hormones upon my own body.

My diet is incredibly strict in order to prevent exposure from foods. Believe it or not, it is actually uncommon to find a processed food product that doesn’t contain some type of synthetic hormone ingredient (usually these ingredients are some form of phytoestrogen or xenoestrogen) or endocrine disruptor. You can read more about Phytoestrogens and Xenoestrogens here.

Like my diet, my beauty routine is equally strict and much more minimalistic than I would prefer in order to avoid hormones. So what else can I do to avoid extra synthetic hormone exposure??

Although a multitude of answers exist, my particular answer for the sake of this article is to avoid perfume. Applying it and inhaling it. I know, this is a very unfortunate suggestion for a lot of women out there. It was a huge downer for me when I realized my continued use of perfume would only worsen my hormone levels as well as inhibit my body’s ability to heal. Perfume contains mostly synthetic chemicals for starters and on top of this news, a large number of these chemicals are endocrine disruptors. “Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that may interfere with the body’s endocrine system and produce adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune effects in both humans and wildlife. A wide range of substances, both natural and man-made, are thought to cause endocrine disruption…endocrine disruptors may be found in many everyday products—including plastic bottles, metal food cans, detergents, flame retardants, food, toys, cosmetics, and pesticides” (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)). Ingredients known as endocrine disruptors are often found in perfume and cologne products.

So, for people of all ages who want to avoid synthetic hormones and endocrine disruptors, I highly recommend removing perfume from your beauty routine completely. The use of perfume will only hinder your body’s ability to heal.

Perfumes are applied topically therefore your skin is absorbing the product through your pores, one of the most direct pathways to your bloodstream. Your thyroid is also located in your neck, directly across the windpipe, aka the location that takes the brunt of the perfume application.

So basically, whenever you apply perfume to your neck/throat area, your thyroid is covered in a nice layer of chemicals. This becomes even more problematic when you learn the true purpose of the thyroid…

“The thyroid secretes several hormones, collectively called thyroid hormones. The main hormone is thyroxine, also called T4. Thyroid hormones act throughout the body, influencing metabolism, growth and development, and body temperature. During infancy and childhood, adequate thyroid hormone is crucial for brain development” (WebMD).

The thyroid is responsible for regulating ALL of your hormones! And, if you couldn’t tell already, it is key in proper bodily development. Here’s our main issue: When it comes to perfume, we are continuously hindering proper thyroid function because this is a prime source of endocrine disrupting ingredients.

It is filled with synthetic hormones that enter into the body and confuse your ability to process and distribute hormones to the proper locations. So how are these synthetic hormones supposed to be metabolized when they technically cannot be broken down by the body???

Your body knows it is supposed to be breaking down the type of hormonal components found inside the thyroid…natural hormones produced by the body. The hormonal components found in perfume are not formulated inside the human body, therefore, they have no right to be there. These are imposter hormones…hormones designed to disrupt your natural hormone processes.

Once I learned about the harmful effects of perfume, I cut perfume completely out of my beauty regimen. This may not be the path chosen by everyone, but it is an idea to consider when you are seeking hormonal balance.

To give you a better idea of the types of ingredients found in perfumes, I will break down three different perfumes. First, will be Chanel Chance Eau Tendre, which happens to be my favorite perfume or used to be…way back when I used the product. Second, will be my Grandma’s favorite fragrance Amazing Grace by Philosophy. Third will be one of Nordstrom’s best selling perfumes, Viktor&Rolf Flowerbomb Eau de Parfum Spray. Here are the ingredient labels for each, which I found on the brand websites and you can also view for yourself by visiting the links provided in the “Sources” section below…

AMAZING GRACE BY PHILOSOPHY:

Alcohol Denat., Parfum/Fragrance, Aqua/Water/Eau, Benzyl Salicylate, Polysorbate 20, Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol) Citrate, Alcohol, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Alcohol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Limonene, Linalool, Bht.

CHANEL CHANCE:

VIKTOR&ROLF FLOWERBOMB:

Alcohol, Water/Aqua/Eau, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ci 17200/Red 33, Ci 19140/Yellow 5, Citral Coumarin, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ext. Violet 2 (Ci 60730), Limonene, Linalool, Parfum/Fragrance, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate

Individual Ingredient Overview:

Parfum/Fragrance is an ingredient found in all three of these products and it also happens to be a known human immune toxicant or allergen, EWG has over 6,578 studies proving this fact.
Benzyl Benzoate is also an ingredient found in every product listed above. It is used as a preservative as well as an antimicrobial agent for the liquid. Although this sounds necessary in order for your perfume to keep, it is actually a “possible human immune system toxicant or allergen as well as an endocrine disruptor” (EWG). Side Note: “The endocrine system is a network of glands in your body that make the hormones that help cells talk to each other. They’re responsible for almost every cell, organ, and function in your body” (WebMD). Your thyroid is part of your endocrine system. Therefore, when you’re trying to attain hormonal balance, it is best NOT to disrupt this system.
Benzyl Salicylate – This ingredient is found only in Amazing Grace and Flowerbomb, but it too is associated with endocrine disruption. It is also a known human immune system toxicant or allergen according to the EWG.
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane – this is an ingredient commonly found in sunscreen, it is used as an UV Filter and claims to offer protection from harmful sun rays, however, it is a carcinogenic (cancer-causing) ingredient. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather have the sun burn over cancer.
Citronellol is an ingredient included for scent purposes only, however, it is also a human immune toxicant or allergen. PubMed has 412 studies including results proving the toxic characteristics of this particular ingredient. It is derived from plants such as rose, geranium, and lemongrass (EWG). This poses yet another dilemma for those of us with a progesterone deficiency because certain types of rose products such as Rosehip will increase estrogen levels. So, if these estrogenic types of rose products are being used within a product, there is a very good chance that they are having a negative effect on your endocrine system, as well.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate & Ethylhexyl Salicylate – evidence exists suggesting this ingredient to be a strong human endocrine disruptor. However, the larger concern is actually the fact that it “produces excess reactive oxygen species that can interfere with cellular signaling, cause mutations, lead to cell death and may be implicated in cardiovascular disease” (EWG). This ingredient is only found in the Chanel Chance and Viktor&Rolf Flowerbomb fragrances.
Ext. Violet 2 (Ci 60730) – this is a synthetic colorant and it may be derived from animals. To honest, I haven’t trusted a synthetic colorant since I learned Red 40 is actually from boiling a type of beetle that turns red upon heat exposure. It is disturbing in general and I hate to think of any part of a beetle coming in contact with my skin. Eww. There have been quite a lot of negative results regarding synthetic dyes in food lately, but there hasn’t been a lot of attention on dyes in cosmetics. The truth is, these synthetic dyes are bad for every human body whether exposure comes from food or cosmetics. Before you purchase a product containing any dye, remember this key characteristic reported by the EWG: human skin toxicant or allergen.
Geraniol – This ingredient is found in Chanel Chance and Amazing Grace. It is a fragrance from a variety of essential oils, including rose oil and citronella oil (EWG). Once again, you have to be extra careful when it comes to rose because this can be a hormone disruptor. It is also a known human immune system toxicant or allergen. PubMed has 1,096 studies proving the toxicity of this chemical.
CI 14700 (Red 4) & CI 17200 (Red 33) – Red 4 is found in Chanel Chance and Red 33 is found in Flowerbomb, but both synthetic dyes are produced from petroleum. Yep, thats right. Petroleum, as in the product that is commonly known to be a carcinogen. Red 33 is even known to come from coal tar sources, as well. Although these synthetic dyes are not classified as toxic or harmful by the EWG, it is hard to deny that they are anything but exactly that when you look at the source.

The most important characteristic to notice about all three of these fragrances is the names of the ingredients found in each label above. The only non-chemical ingredients are Alcohol and Aqua/Water. Even then, we still do not know the quality of either products. It could be pond water for all we know! Okay, that might be a little dramatic, but it is hard to deny the fact that each fragrance is basically a bottle of chemicals mixed together. What ever happened to the days when essential oils were used to make perfume and cologne? I miss those days! Essential Oils are my go-to alternative for those days when I want a little boost in the fragrance area.

Some people might justify their use of perfume or cologne by saying that it’s only applied once a day and it isn’t even a large amount. However, over a long period of time, each use begins to add up. Daily exposure to toxic chemicals will begin to affect your overall health negatively. It is inevitable for this to happen as long as the exposure continues. But, it is a choice someone needs to make for himself or herself. The information is here on Seize the Day Blog and I hope it guides you toward a decision for better health. However, please remember that the articles posted are merely here to inform. You should always consult a medical professional before making any changes to your daily regimen.

SOURCES:

Amazing Grace by Philosophy Perfume Ingredients:

https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/philosophy-amazing-grace-eau-de-parfum-spray/2912633?country=US&currency=USD&mrkgcl=760&mrkgadid=3350527141&utm_content=80476326674&utm_term=pla-811917221993&utm_channel=shopping_ret_p&sp_source=google&sp_campaign=6468914330&rkg_id=0&adpos=1o1&creative=379957622812&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=EAIaIQobChMInKb5uL_i5AIVg8pkCh3AQg3rEAQYASABEgJNr_D_BwE

Chanel Chance Perfume Ingredients: https://www.chanel.com/en_GB/fragrance-beauty/fragrance/p/women/chance-eau-tendre/chance-eau-tendre-eau-de-toilette-spray-p126310.html#skuid-0126320

EWG – https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/700698/BENZYL_BENZOATE/

http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/700701/benzyl_salicylate/

http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/700596/avobenzone/

https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/701389/CITRONELLOL/

https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/704203/octinoxate/

https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/702394/EXT_D%26C_VIOLET_2/

https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/702568/GERANIOL/

https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/702429/FD%26C_RED_4/

https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/701803/D%26C_RED_33/

https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/700295/ALPHA-ISOMETHYL_IONONE/

NIEHS (Endocrine Disruptors): https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine/index.cfm

Nordstrom – https://shop.nordstrom.com/c/best-selling-perfume

Viktor&Rolf Flowerbomb Perfume Ingredients: https://www.skinsafeproducts.com/flowerbomb-by-viktor-rolf-eau-de-parfum-0-05-fl-oz

WebMD – https://www.webmd.com/women/picture-of-the-thyroid#1

WebMD – https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/endocrine-system-facts#1

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.

September 14, 2019

Catamenial Epilepsy: Birth Control is NOT Your Only Solution

September 14, 2019

Alright ladies, I know we try very hard to deny it, but it’s time to embrace the ugly truth…we are hormonal, all the time.

So when your husband called your reaction to his words the other day “very emotional and irrational” he was probably more on point than you’d care to admit. The fact of the matter is, our hormone fluctuation has more highs and lows than your average roller coaster.

So what does this have to do with Catamenial Epilepsy?? Well, this particular condition is emphasized as a gender-specific type of epilepsy due to the seizure patterns that typically occur around a woman’s period, but there is never any elaboration on WHY these seizures are happening at this particular time. The majority of women aren’t having seizures during those 7 days that make up their periods so what makes those of us with Catamenial Epilepsy so different??

Hormones.

Whenever a woman notices a correlation between her menstrual cycle and her seizures my first piece of advice is to get lab work done to explore her hormone levels. Particularly her progesterone and estrogen levels because a hormone deficiency most likely exists. I prefer the OATS lab test because it gives an incredibly thorough examination of your hormones, vitamins, and minerals. You can order this lab work through Dr. Jocker’s by visiting the following link:

https://drjockers.com/lab-testing/

Progesterone is known to be the calming hormone while estrogen is known to be the excitable hormone. When balanced, the menstrual cycle works just fine. The two hormones keep each other in check when there are healthy levels of each present in the human body. Our main concern is with the outcome of imbalanced hormone levels. Particularly too much estrogen and not enough progesterone. When there is not enough progesterone present to keep the effects of the estrogen in check, a build up of excitable energy begins to collect inside the brain. The brain knows it needs to get rid of this stored energy, but the conventional methods aren’t an option due to the lack of progesterone. So, instead the energy is released in short, but hurried waves of activity or what is clinically known as a seizure.

If an EEG is administered on the average person with perfectly normal brain activity, you will receive a horizontal recording of a wave-like line across a piece of paper. The existence of activity, but at a calm and consistent pace. When an EEG is done on someone during a seizure, you will see a wave-like line, however, it will be interrupted by sharp and hurried lines. These lines look very similar to the lines you see on a heart monitor machine. Each time the heart beats it sends a pulse of energy through the body, a pulse that is recorded by the heart monitor. Once again, this is a jolt of energy just as seen on an EEG reading during a seizure. Those sharp lines marking the beat of the heart pumping blood throughout the body are a sign of necessary energy where as the readings on the EEG are evidence of built-up excited energy.

The energy is not being released in smooth, consistent patterns instead it is accompanied by unexpected bursts that occur depending on how quickly the excitable energy is being transferred to the brain. For some women, this may be only during those 7 days of bleeding. Or it may be more often. This is completely dependent on the individual. However, the four phases that make up this 28 day cycle mean that our hormones are constantly shifting before and after our period. This is also why it is not uncommon for some women with Catamenial Epilepsy to experience more seizures during the estrogen peak time, which is during those first fifteen days of the cycle. This is the phase of ovulation.

“Steroid hormones such as estrogen and progesterone circulate throughout the brain and have been shown to have effects of neuronal excitability. Estrogen has been shown to increase seizures, whereas progesterone has anti-seizure effects. Hence, imbalances in estrogen and progesterone levels might lead to seizures.” (Epilepsy Foundation).

I am providing this brief history because it is important to understand and acknowledge this connection before you can truly begin to find a solution. Solutions for Catamenial Epileptics may be limited, but you still want to be aware of the entire situation at hand before making any drastic or life-changing choices.

Catamenial Epilepsy as defined by the Epilepsy Foundation is “a gender-specific type of epilepsy in which seizure frequency intensifies during certain phases of the menstrual cycle. An increase in seizures in parallel with the menstrual cycle in some women with epilepsy has been noticed since ancient times.”

It is also mentioned that “traditionally used anti-epileptic drugs typically do not have an effect on seizures in Catamenial epilepsy” (epilepsy foundation).

So basically, women suffering from Catamenial Epilepsy have quite the problematic condition, but they are left empty-handed where solutions are concerned. Too often, medical professionals fail to mention the underlying causes of seizure activity during a hormonal time of the month. The key word here is hormonal. The unfortunate fact of the matter is that, despite popular belief, those 7 days comprising a period are NOT the only peak in hormones we females experience each month. Those 7 days are simply a facet to a hormonal cycle that, if on track, lasts 28 days every single month.

There are four phases that comprise this 28 day cycle of menstruation and each can have quite the effect on the human body. Menstrual phase (bleeding), Follicular phase (ovary is getting ready to release an egg), Ovulatory phase (egg is released), Luteal phase (time between egg’s release and the start of menstruation).

These days, the majority of women do not have a completely normal 28 day cycle. This is because of our constant exposure to synthetic hormones in our daily lives. These can come from the foods we eat, the beauty products we use, and even the environment.

Processed foods are filled with synthetic hormones, dominantly estrogenic ingredients, that wreak havoc on our body’s natural ability to produce and process estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, serotonin, norepinephrine, and Vitamin D.

Fun Fact: Vitamin D is called a vitamin but it behaves more like a hormone because of the way it is received and processed by our bodies.

These synthetic hormones are often known as Phyto-Estrogens and Xeno-Estrogens. And they can dominate your body if you are exposed too many times. The thing about these synthetic hormones is that the human body does not know how to digest these ingredients because they are not real food ingredients. They are chemical compounds created in a lab, therefore your body places these into a sort of “Unable to Process” category. The problem with this category is that it is like the “in-between” inside the human body. Since the body cannot process them, they are also not being detoxified from the body. Instead, these ingredients just sit there inside your body until they are absorbed into your cells. Once absorbed into your cells, it can take years before the synthetic hormones are actually carried out of the human body. If you are consistently exposed, which the majority of us are, then that stash of built-up synthetic hormones becomes a collection and before you know it the rest of your body is slowly crumbling from the toxic exposure.

These synthetic hormones will actually interrupt your body’s natural ability to produce the proper amount of all of your key hormones. This is when the real problems begin. This is when we face the start of hormone imbalances and in extreme cases, hormone-related seizures.

For those of you battling Catamenial Epilepsy, I’m sure the majority of you have sought real solutions that will target a hormone balance.

Have you ever been recommended to try birth control as a means to balance your hormones???

In most cases, birth control does come up as an option. However, the tough question is should you try it? And, if you do try it, will it actually work? Will this successfully contain your seizures? Based upon my own personal experience with birth control, my answer to each of these questions is a resounding NO.

For starters, each birth control pill is like a tiny hormone grenade waiting to explode inside your system. And the shrapnel that is leftover from this explosion is an absolute mess to clean up! Realistically, it is the exact type of thing every Catamenial Epileptic should avoid! Synthetic hormones will not balance your hormones they will only further prevent your body from producing these hormones naturally.

Birth control comes in two forms…a progesterone base or an estrogen base. Both are completely synthetic and both are only more inflammatory. In my case, I suffer from a severe hormone imbalance where my body has too much estrogen and too little progesterone. The even scarier thing is that in addition to the imbalance, I’m deficient in both hormones, my levels in each are dangerously low. However, despite not having healthy levels of estrogen I still have more estrogen in my body than I do progesterone. And here we see the problem of too much excitable hormone and not enough calming hormone to keep my menstrual cycle balanced. Birth control cannot offer you a healthy balance of hormones, it can only fan the flames of an existing fire. It further deepens the extent of your hormone imbalance.

Unfortunately, I was completely unaware of this fact when I was sixteen. I was so young at this point in time, so I wasn’t aware of all of the available options for possible solutions. I sat in a hospital waiting room at the Mayo Clinic every day for seven days with complete faith in the doctors I had evaluating my case of Catamenial Epilepsy. A gynecologist was brought on to examine the undeniable hormonal connection with my seizure activity. It was my first time visiting a gynecologist so I had no idea what to expect, but what I didn’t see coming was a pregnancy accusation. She purposely met with me without my parents present because she was absolutely certain I was pregnant and that was the explanation for my hormone related seizures.

Despite my protests, she would not put any stock into my words until a quick examination was done along with a sonogram. The absence of a fetus and the evidence of my virginity shut her accusations down real quick. But I wish I would have realized at this point that my gynecologist wasn’t there to listen to my take on my current circumstances. She wasn’t there to help me. Frankly, I think she was just there for a paycheck and at the end of my visit to the Mayo Clinic she only worsened my circumstances.

Her medical advice was birth control. It wasn’t my first choice solution, but I was desperate and out of options. It was clear that my hormones were severely imbalanced and she seemed to think the birth control would “solve” this issue for me. It was only after I began the birth control that I realized she prescribed me an estrogen based pill.
After 7 days of constant hormone evaluation, evaluation that explored in great depth my Progesterone DEFICIENCY and Estrogen dominance, the gynecologist still prescribed me a birth control that would only increase my estrogen levels. I wouldn’t trust any birth control to solve a hormone imbalance, but the least she could have done was prescribe me a progesterone based birth control pill.

I had hoped to leave the Mayo Clinic with a newfound hope for the future, maybe even a real solution to my problem. Instead I left with an official diagnosis of “Catamenial Epilepsy” instead of simply “Epilepsy” and birth control. Something I already knew and didn’t need the Mayo Clinic to confirm and something I didn’t even want. When did life become so complicated? That plane ride home was only scratching the surface of complicated.

Upon my return, I began implementing the birth control into my daily regimen. Up until this point, I had previously had only 3 gran Mal seizures over the course of one year. Once I began the birth control, my seizure activity skyrocketed. I went from 3 seizures in 365 days to 14 seizures in 7 days.

I had only just finished my first year with epilepsy so to experience such a drastic increase was completely overwhelming for both my family and I. Eight of those 14 seizures happened in one night, an event that actually landed me in the back of an ambulance. Anyone with epilepsy knows that one gran Mal seizure is enough to steal all of your energy and turn you into a couch potato. So the eight consecutive seizures left me completely unconscious.

The worst part for my family was the realization that 9-1-1 was necessary to bring my body to a stable state. Hence, the need for the paramedics who could give me a quick shot of phenytoin to calm my brain down and then 1000 mg more when I got to the hospital. Over the next week, I continued to experience an increase in my activity and had 6 more gran mals before I finally decided to stop the birth control.

In total, I was on the birth control for two weeks. During those two weeks, I experienced an increase in my estrogen levels and saw zero improvement where my hormone imbalance was concerned. I actually needed immediate progesterone supplementation to try and heal the damage done by the birth control.

My warning against birth control is not done so randomly or with a biased outlook on the product. I made the mistake of giving birth control a chance…I took a leap of faith on the wrong product. Today, I constantly wonder about the true extent of the damage that was done, but I will never know just how much damage was done because I cannot undo my actions that day at the Mayo Clinic. I do not know exactly how different my life would be today if I chose a holistic solution from the very beginning, but my success with holistic medicine has taught me one thing…the damage from conventional medicine solutions like birth control is probably greater than I realize.

So, when I warn others about the risks of birth control I do not do it lightly. Someone considering birth control needs to realize one very important fact…there are other ways to alter hormone levels. One in particular is Wild Yam. This is my go-to method for healing hormone imbalances and supplementing progesterone. It comes in both a liquid form and a capsule, I prefer the liquid form because supplements are most easily absorbed under the tongue. The best part about this natural supplement is that it has the exact opposite long-term effect of birth control. Instead of hindering your body’s ability to produce hormones naturally, Wild Yam acts as a support for this production. Consuming this product will actually help your system to process the proper amounts of hormones so that balance can be maintained.

I like the Wild Yam by Herb Pharm, which you can find here. If you would like something else, Google has lots of options as well!

This is yet another reason why it is such an amazing option for progesterone supplementation. You aren’t actually pumping hormones into your body like you would with other hormone supplements such as Progesterone liquid drops. You are consuming a vegetable that simply promotes natural hormone production. No interruption, no synthetics.

At the end of the day, what you need most is proper production so that you can rest assured that your body is producing the correct amount of every hormone in your body. Only then will you be able to maintain balance.

What no doctor ever tells you at your diagnosis of Catamenial Epilepsy is just how challenging your hormones can be to change. If you’re estrogen dominant like me, the doctors will also fail to mention just how drastic a simple rise in the estrogen hormone can be. It must be done with great care and an abundance of patience. It is challenging, but it is not impossible if you choose a method that supports your body’s natural production of hormones.

Birth control has proven to be successful for some women so even though it did not work for me as a solution for Catamenial Epilepsy, maybe it might work for others. Just be sure to consult your doctor before making any changes to your daily regimen. Be sure to keep in mind that there are multiple methods for treating hormone imbalances.

If you would like to read more about some these other methods here on Seize the Day Blog you can do so by reading any of the following articles below:

Vitamin D: A Prime Cornerstone of Your Total Body Health

Hormone Overload: Phytoestrogens & Xenoestrogens

Raw Honey: The Sweet & Sticky Side of Natural Skincare

Calendars & Journals: The Key to Managing Your Catamenial Epilepsy

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

Catamenial Epilepsy

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG): The Ingredient That Should Come with a Warning Label

Sources:

Epilepsy Foundation: https://www.epilepsy.com/article/2016/10/basics-about-catamenial-epilepsy

Medical Disclaimer:

September 6, 2019

Epilepsy Insight: 5 Things I Would Do Differently at Diagnosis

September 6, 2019

Looking back on the past always seems to be a tricky business. There are bound to be a few things you wish you could change…if only you knew then what you know now!

There is a very long list of things I would do differently at the time of my initial diagnosis with epilepsy. With all of the knowledge I have gained thanks to 10+ years of living with Catamenial Epilepsy, I have grown a lot as a person and as a patient. Most of all, I wish I had pursued holistic medicine from the very start. I have found so much success through these methods of healing, I can’t help but wonder if I would be completely healed today if I chose holistic methods back then…

The truth is, I don’t know. I may wonder from time to time about the answer to this question, but despite my regrets I am still grateful for the knowledge I have gained through the uncertainties part of living with epilepsy.

That lack of understanding I started this journey with has now become a well-curated collection of information. And not just any information, but information derived from personal experience. Those trial and error processes can be terribly frustrating…they’re time consuming, challenging, and usually have a 50% chance of failure. It is the other 50% chance of success that keeps me going…You don’t know until you try, right?? Not everyone shares my enthusiasm for risk, but I am determined to find my own recipe for recuperation. Each day of my journey continues to perfect this recipe so, in the meantime, I thought it might be helpful to my fellow Epileptic Warriors out there to share some of the things I have learned whilst carving my own path. Who knows? Maybe it will help someone else avoid the same mistakes I made…I certainly hope so! More than anything I hope my upcoming insights serve as a guide to help others establish a foundation for their own trek toward healing.

My biggest goal will always be to help others in similar circumstances avoid the same mistakes I made. Therefore, I would like to share the top 5 things I wish I had done differently at the time of my initial diagnosis. These also happen to be the fives things I would recommend other epileptics to do as well. These upcoming words are simply a suggestion, of course, for those willing to listen since I am not a medical professional. Whether it is the very first day of your diagnosis or 10 years later (like me), you are never too late to pursue total body healing.

That being said, let’s get to it, shall we?

1. Blood work

It is incredibly overwhelming to be diagnosed with a medical condition like epilepsy, therefore getting in-depth blood work completed isn’t always at the forefront of a person’s mind. Especially when he or she is simultaneously trying to figure out how to prevent his or her life from being turned completely upside down. I know, I’ve been there.

This is my first recommendation and the action I wish I took when I was 15 years old because it is the key to discovering exactly why your body is having seizures. Seizures are misfires in the brain, therefore they are not supposed to be happening, but when they do happen there is always a cause. It’s up to you to find this cause and blood work is the best way to see what’s going on inside your body. You will be able to identify deficiencies, inflammation, and other issues that may be contributing to your seizure activity.

So, I suggest you get thorough blood work completed, the Organic Acid Test from Great Plains Laboratory is a wonderful urine test that will give you a comprehensive examination of the current condition of your body’s vitamin and mineral levels at a metabolic level. You see, deficiencies are usually part of the problem. Where there are deficiencies there is also over-compensation happening within the body to supplement these deficiencies. However, this constant over-compensation usually results in even more deficiencies because, before you know it, all of your vitamin and mineral sources have been depleted in order to maintain balance.

In the end, no balance has been achieved and now we have multiple deficiencies to fix instead of just the one. So, get a blood work panel and/or the OAT completed so that you will have a thorough examination of your levels…if you have deficiencies, pinpoint these so that you can work to heal them through food and vitamin supplements. Before attempting a “Plan for Healing” you must first understand what it is that needs to be healed. It will save you time and it will prevent lots of unnecessary trial and error. To read more about my deficiencies and why I wish I found them sooner, click here to read my experience with Vitamin D.

2. Holistic Medicine

In 2009, at the time of my diagnosis, I had full and complete faith in the doctors of modern medicine. That is, until the only solutions they could provide me with were anti-epileptic drugs, birth control (for the hormone imbalance), and brain surgery. I wasn’t happy about any of these options, but what else was I supposed to do? At this point in time, you couldn’t even find a keyword match in Google for “Catamenial Epilepsy.” The only place my mom could find the slightest mention of “Catamenial Epilepsy” was in a medical journal written by a neurologist from the Mayo Clinic. It wasn’t much, but it was a lifeline for my family and I when we felt like we were going crazy over the possible hormone/seizure connection.

One year after my diagnosis, I was received as a patient at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for one week of special testing and doctor appointments. I had already been placed on their general waitlist for the opportunity to come to the Mayo Clinic so it felt like a miracle when a spot unexpectedly opened for me. The prospect of having my particular case reviewed by some of the most highly-respected neurologists within the U.S. inspired a hope for normalcy for the first time since being diagnosed.

However, when I sat down to discuss my circumstances with my neurologist, she had nothing new to add regarding Catamenial Epilepsy. The organization that authored a medical journal regarding the elusive subject failed to pass the knowledge on to the rest of their neurology department. At the end of my week of testing, her only solutions were more drugs and brain surgery with a success rate of 60%…not exactly ideal when we’re talking about the human brain. I’m not that keen on risk! The gynecologist’s only solution was birth control. Once again, a disappointment.

I was met with a disappointing reality during my final consultation…

My solution does not lie within modern medicine.

The birth control was the last straw! Previously, I had only suffered 3 gran mal seizures over the period of one year. After beginning the birth control, I had 14 gran mal seizures in one week. It turns out, the gynecologist from the Mayo Clinic prescribed me an estrogen based birth control despite my blood work results showing I was estrogen dominant and suffering from a severe progesterone deficiency. But sure, add in even more of the “excitable” hormone. Naturally, the seizure activity spiked due to the additional flow of estrogen.

Immediately following this terrible increase of seizure activity (seizure activity that actually landed me in the back of an ambulance) holistic medicine finally became a serious consideration for me. I stopped taking the birth control, began pursuing holistic methods, and I haven’t looked back since.

Visiting the Mayo Clinic is one of my biggest regrets from my past. What should have been an incredible opportunity to find healing instead left me worse off than I had been before. I constantly wonder what state my body would be in if I hadn’t taken that birth control. It definitely hasn’t been the same since! But it was definitely the push I needed to begin researching Holistic solutions.

3. Diet Change

I had no idea just how bad my diet was when I had my first seizure. I was actually trying out the Special K diet at the time to supplement my workout schedule and to help support my body nutritionally. HA! If only I knew how little nutrition exists in any processed food product. This is the primary reason why our bodies struggle to fight off deficiencies from malnutrition…we are not eating the proper foods to supply much-needed vitamins and minerals naturally. So, of course deficiencies are rampant right now!

Cut out the processed products such as frozen foods, chips, candy, cereal, sauces, etc. as soon as possible! Take charge and supply your body with foods composed of natural ingredients. Foods made from scratch in your own kitchen and made 100% with real ingredients. I know, this sounds scary AND I’m sure it sounds like a lot of work…but trust me on this one, every minute of your time you dedicate to your diet will benefit your body in the long run. In fact, your body will rejoice to have real food instead of chemical ingredients that typically compose the ingredient labels of those processed food products. I have three words for you, Made From Scratch. Need recipes in order to do so? The internet is your best ally where this is concerned because it is filled with lots of yummy recipes! Just check out some of the recipes I have here on Seize the Day Blog.

People don’t always realize the reality of the internal damage that ensues from malnutrition. It is too easy to think, “Oh, everybody eats these food products, they’re fine! If they were really SO bad there is no way the FDA would approve these ingredients!” I used to think the same thing, then one night I woke up on the floor unable to speak, unaware of my location, and unable to recognize my own brother…do not wait for a drastic life event to inspire healthy change. Pursuing a healthier lifestyle is always a good idea!

4. Go Organic

Because I had no clue about the dangers of processed food products, I also failed to realize the necessity for Organic food products. In my eyes, there were never any particular characteristics that caught my eye because I never took the time to research the difference. It just seemed like a trendy diet choice to be “healthier.” I could not be more wrong! Harmful and cheap pesticides are used by the majority of non-Organic farms, therefore protecting one’s body from these chemicals should always be a priority whether you’re struggling with a health condition or not. The fact is, Organic foods are better for you. The Organic growing methods eliminate pesticides and they are typically Non-GMO. Personally, I find these two characteristics vital for every food group because I’d rather not consume something that holds the potential to harm my body.

Preventing the build up of chemicals within your cells will actually be possible by saying NO to non-Organic foods and YES to Organic in every area of your diet. The average grocery stores, such as Vons, are consistently their Organic food selection, which is incredibly convenient! Lucky for those of us seeking organic diets, there are lots of wide spread specialty Organic grocery stores such as Whole Foods Market, Sprouts Market, and Trader Joe’s (if you are in the U.S.). Whole Foods is definitely my favorite, but each of these stores carry an amazing selection of organic foods! Sprout’s Market offers coupons too, so if you’re looking to purchase organic groceries and not break the bank…this place is for you! I understand how expensive these products are so do as much as you can, but also be sure to meal prep before you grocery shop so that you do not make any unnecessary purchases.

5. Research Seizure Triggers

The mind/gut connection has always been a highly debated subject in modern medicine. Why people are so eager to refute this theory is quite baffling to me because my own personal experience has shown me firsthand that more than a connection exists between the brain and the digestive system. The foods you eat can affect more than just your midsection, they can also impact your seizure activity. Every person is different, therefore some amount of trial and error will be necessary to determine any seizure triggers unique to You. In the meantime, information on foods known to be trigger seizures in epileptics of all ages is available and it is best to make yourself aware of the potential risks as soon as possible.

I often feel like I am much more sensitive than other people since being diagnosed with epilepsy. Food can be my best friend or my greatest enemy. There is no in between, unfortunately, so it is important to be aware of the typical foods that tend to increase seizure activity beforehand. My goal in sharing this little tip is so that I can help other epileptics to actively avoid these same foods in their own diets. It is also a great first step in working toward a healthier diet overall. I know that I am always working to minimize my seizure activity so just in case some of my readers are also interested, keep reading for a few foods you should always say NO to!

In particular, soy, caffeine (this includes coffee and chocolate), alcohol, sage, cloves, grapefruit, fermented foods, and refined sugar are ingredients that consistently impact epileptics. These are only a few of the most basic triggers, therefore I highly recommend doing your own research on the full list of foods.

Soy is my prime seizure trigger. If I had known this sooner I would have cut all soy-related products and food types from my diet immediately. Since this is one of my recommendations for other epileptics I obviously did not do it for myself back in 2009. Instead, it took a seizure in the middle of a P.F. Chang’s Restaurant to wake me up to the severe food allergy/seizure trigger I had acquired along with my diagnosis of epilepsy. One thing is for sure, life is never boring! In this case, however, I would prefer boring and I would like to help prevent any chaos for those also struggling with epilepsy…take the time to do some research, knowledge is always worth the time spent!

Throughout this journey with Epilepsy I feel like I have always and will continue to learn something new everyday. I’m no genius on the subject nor am I a medical professional. I would simply like to help prevent some seizure activity for my fellow Epilepsy Warriors across the globe by sharing my personal experience. Although I cannot change my past decisions, hopefully my recommendations above will help those of you reading this to avoid the same mistakes I made. I am incredibly grateful for all that I have learned through the trial and error experiences, but what good is this knowledge if I do not share it with others?

So, best of luck to each and every one of you! You are not alone in your battle! If you have any questions about the information I provided above, please feel free to email me at katie@seizethedayblog.com.

Thank you for reading!

June 21, 2019

Vitamin D: A Prime Cornerstone of Your Total Body Health

June 21, 2019

What comes to mind when I mention Vitamin D??? Probably sunshine, milk, and maybe even fish. For me, I always think of the milk jugs at the grocery store. Especially the one with the cute little logo of a cow and the huge balloon letters above announcing “Vitamin D Added” and basically screaming to the consumer “Yes, this is healthy, please buy me!!!” Society has taught us to associate Vitamin D with milk or sunshine, however, it has failed to convey that Vitamin D is so much more than spotted cows and sun rays. For starters, Vitamin D isn’t a vitamin at all! This so-called “vitamin” is actually a hormone and it is a crucial part of your well-being…

We’re always told that we need Vitamin D to be healthy, but we’re never informed of the reasons why. Why is it so important that I drink milk, eat fish, and spend time out in the sunshine?? As a child, I always figured that Vitamin D is necessary because it is called a Vitamin so my body must need it…that seems reasonable enough, right? The answer to this question is always YES. Your body does need Vitamin D to function properly. However, your body needs the correct amount and the correct form of Vitamin D in order to supplement your body’s need for this important nutrient.

In my case, I simply believed that my body was getting ALL of the necessary vitamins and minerals through the chewable Flintstones vitamins I had every morning as a child. Little did I know these supplements are actually equivalent to sidewalk chalk in both texture and nutritional value. Plus, my eating habits at the time were terrible! My intake of chemicals from processed food products was higher than my intake of good old fashioned vitamins and nutrients. Unknowingly, I was prepping my body for disaster…

I assumed my body was super healthy because, on the outside, it did appear that way. However, on the inside I was deteriorating and a lot of that had to do with my lack of Vitamin D. Not the synthetic Vitamin D that is added to products like milk, but the natural kind of Vitamin D that is found in organic food products such as dark leafy greens and wild caught fish.

So, why is the need for Vitamin D so important?? Well, not only does this vitamin/hormone provide the foundation for the human body’s ability to absorb and assimilate other key hormones, but it also contributes greatly to proper brain function.

I only recently learned that a Vitamin D deficiency alone is enough to cause epileptic seizures. In fact, it is highly recommended by holistic doctors that any person experiencing seizures should get a blood test done to check their bodily levels of Vitamin D. Here is a question for my fellow epileptic warriors out there…Have you ever been told by your neurologist to have your Vitamin D levels checked??? If your answer is “Yes” than Yay for you and I’m super jealous of the amazing neurologist you apparently have! Unfortunately, for the majority of people the most common answer to this question is NO.

I recently met with my own neurologist and he was genuinely surprised at the possibility of a Vitamin D deficiency being the cause of my epilepsy. He had no knowledge of the connection between Vitamin D and the brain.

Vitamin D was never even mentioned to me by any of the medical professionals I visited over these past ten years of living with epilepsy. Whether it was at my local hospital or the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. There was always zero mention of “Vitamin D.” This is why I am so eager to share my personal experience with Vitamin D in relation to epilepsy. It is necessary for proper brain function and, if you are struggling with epileptic seizures, it may be just what you need!

Take a look at my own deficiency and my body’s reaction to the holistic Vitamin D supplement I began just three months ago…

In January, I finally found a Holistic doctor who prompted me to get blood work done that specifically measures my levels of Vitamin D. As per usual, the blood work results presented a helpful numerical zone indicating the general “Healthy” level for all human beings. In this case, the ideal level was somewhere between 30 and 100. With 30 being considered as a deficient level and, therefore, concerning.

I expected my levels to be low, but I never expected what the test results displayed…

I literally did a double take when I checked my result page and found my level to be “1.” Yep, that’s right numero uno. Basically, I have no Vitamin D whatsoever in my body.

My first thought was, “How can a person’s body even function with that amount of Vitamin D?” Or lack thereof I guess I should say. I’m living proof that a body can function without Vitamin D, but it definitely cannot function properly. I should have known something was amiss when my actual neurologist (as opposed to his office staff) contacted me to both announce the arrival of my test results and to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. During my appointment, he immediately began discussing ways to help treat my extreme deficiency…I had passed the level of concern and landed somewhere in the region of emergency.

According to Healthline, “In the US, current guidelines suggest that consuming 400-800 IU (10-20 mcg) of vitamin D should meet the needs of 97% – 98% of all healthy people.” This would equal out to 5,600 IU of vitamin D per week if doing the 800 IU dose. Apparently I fell into the 2% – 3% that requires a different level…

My neurologist recommended I begin a weekly dose of 50,000 IU of Vitamin D immediately. I was wide-eyed when he announced that dose, I mean fifty thousand…is a dose that large even possible?? His prescription was for an over-the-counter synthetic Vitamin D supplement that I would take once a week. This is always an option, of course, but I have plenty experience with synthetic vitamins to know that this is not the best option. I was also concerned that 50,000 IU of Vitamin D all at once might be a bit of a shock to my body.

When introducing any new supplements to my daily regimen, I move like a turtle to avoid increasing my seizure activity. If the dose calls for 2 tablets, I begin with 1 tablet for at least a week (sometimes even a month) before adding in the second tablet. Lucky for me, there are other options for Vitamin D supplements besides pharmaceutical drugs that will not only allow me to apply my turtle-like pace, but will also supply my body with vitamin D in its natural form.

I am currently using “Seeking Health Optimal Vitamin D Drops,” which is an organic liquid supplement. One drop contains 2,000 IU of Vitamin D3. So, I began by slowly introducing one drop, waited for a week and introduced another drop until I reached the recommended dose of 50,000 IU. It took a month to reach the full dose (like I said, I move at a turtle’s pace), but I finally did it. Currently, I am taking 4 drops and 8,000 IU of Vitamin D daily, which brings my weekly total to 56,000 IU of Vitamin D.

I frequently read warnings about giving your body too much Vitamin D and, therefore, creating other issues. However, due to my extreme deficiency, my body has been loving this extra-large dose! I began taking the Vitamin D on 3/16/19 and it only took ten days before my body began showing evidence of absorption. I had one more gran mal seizure on 3/26/19 before I began seeing a decrease in my seizure activity, both gran mal seizures and partial seizures.

Here is a brief summary of my seizure activity over the past three months since beginning the Vitamin D3 supplement:

March 2019 (I began Vitamin D on 3/16/19) – 11 Gran Mal Seizures, 13 Partial Seizures

April 2019 – 0 Gran Mal seizures, 9 Partial Seizures

May 2019 – 0 Gran Mal seizures, 9 Partial Seizures

June 2019 (so far) – 1 Gran Mal seizure, 4 Partial Seizures

I was so excited to share my experience with Vitamin D particularly because of the immense success I have experienced. If I’m being honest, 2017 and 2018 were my most difficult years I have ever experienced as an epileptic. Not only was my seizure activity at an all time high, but I had also reached a point where improvement seemed impossible to obtain. I understand what it feels like to hit rock bottom, so if this is the case for anyone out there Do Not lose hope just yet! Something as simple as a vitamin supplement has made a world of difference for me and I believe it is something worth exploring for every epileptic.

Yes, I just recently had one gran mal seizure in June, however, prior to that occurrence I went 80 days without a single seizure. Almost three months. My seizure activity hasn’t been this low since the very first year I was diagnosed with Epilepsy.

To fix any deficiency in the human body takes time. My body went fifteen years depleting itself of Vitamin D (and a number of other vitamins too!), therefore, it is going to take time to build those same levels back to a healthy point. Not everyone requires such extreme Vitamin D supplementation, but for those who are deficient I recommend getting a jump on this sooner rather than later. I certainly wish I had! Oh the things I wish I knew during those first years of diagnosis…

The natural form of Vitamin D is something that every person needs to understand before they can go about supplementing their bodies correctly…

For starters, let’s debunk those silly stereotypes that have been associated with Vitamin D. It took me years to discover that I am NOT eating healthy when I drink a glass of milk with my breakfast. Why? Well, the added Vitamin D is not the kind of Vitamin D you want in your body because it is a synthetic form of the hormone. The corporations claiming to offer a better quality product are actually doing the exact opposite. Dairy products come from pregnant cows, therefore milk is already swimming with plenty of hormones in its natural state. No extra hormones are required to improve milk’s effect on your long-term health, especially synthetic forms of a vitamin! As is the case with every other hormone, consuming synthetic hormones will actually disrupt your body’s natural ability to produce said hormone. Drinking milk infused with synthetic Vitamin D will only disrupt your body’s ability to function properly and naturally. What I’m trying to say is that even though the jug of milk may scream “Vitamin D” and “Healthy,” you’re actually buying into a societal lie. Milk is not your #1 source for Vitamin D.

If you are a big fan of milk, but you don’t want the synthetic hormones in your body, try Organic Raw Milk. Unfortunately, you will usually have to purchase this type of milk through a private farm to guarantee that it is truly raw. This may sound like a total inconvenience, but there are actually many private farms just here in the United States who are capable of shipping items cross country.

My favorite is Miller’s Organic Farm, it is a Private Membership Association therefore you must pay a fee to become a member in their farmshare before you can purchase any products. Once a member, you can order as many products as you wish and they offer a wonderful variety! I actually purchase all of my dairy products through this farm because everything is raw! Nothing is added, it is straight from the cow just as it should be! The farm is located in Pennsylvania and they have no trouble shipping my groceries all the way to California. To get in contact with Miller’s Organic Farm visit the link above or call (717) 556-0672.

Even though raw dairy products are filled with lots of wonderful nutrients, I have found that they are not your best source for Vitamin D. And No, drinking milk on a daily basis will not provide your body with all of the vitamins it requires.

Next, we have the sun. The lengthy list of people who have told me that sunshine is my best source for Vitamin D has probably surpassed my own height and continues to grow. The sun is a wonderful source of Vitamin D, however, it is incredibly difficult to absorb large amounts of Vitamin D from sunshine. Direct sunlight must be on the skin in order for any Vitamin D to be absorbed. It cannot penetrate clothing and seep into your skin below the fabric. The areas covered by clothing are blocked from Vitamin D absorption. In addition, cosmetic products such as makeup, lotion, body oils, and sunscreen or tan lotion block your body’s ability to absorb Vitamin D from the sun. So, in order to absorb a large amount of Vitamin D you must sit out in the sun for hours without any clothing on. Does anyone have the time for this? And what if it is Winter? Yikes! Not your best source of Vitamin D either. Although sunshine and fresh air for other purposes are always great ideas!

The truth is, Vitamin D is sourced in numerous foods, however, a large amount of people aren’t consuming organic food products. Nowadays, if you actually want healthy food you really have to work for it! Those organic prices are no joke! However, I have found the benefits of foods without pesticides and other horrible chemicals greatly outweigh the cost.

Lastly, I would like to discuss the hormonal side of Vitamin D. The human body naturally interprets every hormone it receives through hormone receptors. You have estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, testosterone receptors, and Vitamin D receptors (just to name a few). The source of these different hormones varies and, unfortunately, a lot of these hormones may be synthetic due to dirty hormones existing in processed food products, skincare, the environment, etc. It is these dirty hormones that we need to avoid as best we can in our personal regimens due to the fact that the human body cannot interpret something that is not meant to be absorbed. Dirty hormones are often stored in our cells because our bodies literally have no idea what to do with them. This may sound harmless, but dirty hormones can be stored in the human body for years and years. If you are constantly exposed to dirty hormones on a daily basis, this storage becomes an impressive collection that will begin disrupting your body’s ability to function properly. This yet another reason why eating organic is an absolute must for your long-term health.

Dirty sources of Vitamin D exist just the same and need to be avoided in order to successfully supplement this nutrient. All synthetic versions of Vitamin D are dirty sources…that milk I discussed earlier with the cute little cow on the front happens to be the perfect example of such sources. These synthetic sources will be received by your body, however, they will be stored in your cells instead of being disbursed to the proper locations where they can be absorbed like natural Vitamin D.

Vitamin D is considered a hormone because of the way it is read and disbursed by your hormone receptors. While other vitamins are sent to a variety of locations throughout the human body, Vitamin D is sent to the area with other hormones. Not only is it sent to this location, but it is also the foundational hormone necessary to keep the rest of your hormone levels stable. Your levels of Vitamin D will determine how many of your hormones are produced and assimilated.

Personally, this has been quite the mind-blowing epiphany since my type of epilepsy (Catamenial Epilepsy) is caused by a hormone imbalance. It truly is no wonder why I am struggling with seizures once you consider my Vitamin D levels in relation to the rest of my hormones. I lacked that foundation of healthy Vitamin D levels, therefore, many of my other hormones failed to absorb correctly, as well. Currently, I am working on building my levels of Vitamin D through natural supplementation with the hope that one day soon the rest of my hormones will become stable and my epileptic seizures will finally seize (pun intended :-)).

Every human body is different, therefore, each person’s recipe for success will vary. Vitamin D seems to be working wonders for me, but this is one epileptic’s experience. My intention is not to diagnose or treat any medical condition, it is to share with anyone willing to read my blog that a solution may be out there and if I can somehow help another’s journey my goal has been reached! If you have any further questions for me about Vitamin D or anything else, please feel free to email me at katie@seizethedayblog.com. I am more than happy to provide feedback!

Sources:

Healthline: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-d-dosage#section2

Miller’s Organic Farm: www.amosmillerorganicfarm.com

Vitamin D Supplement via Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Servings-Physician-Formulated-Seeking-Health/dp/B003800UXG

Medical Disclaimer:

February 16, 2019

GAPS Diet Part 2: My Personal Experience & Insight for Epileptics

February 16, 2019

This article has been on my mind and my heart now for a few months. Since writing the very first article (Crohn’s Disease: Chronic or Curable???) where I both recommended the GAPS diet and discussed in depth exactly what this diet entails, a lot has happened to me personally because of the GAPS Diet. I’ve been unable to share this information due to circumstances in my own life lately, but I believe it needs to be relayed for the sake of other Epileptics.

When I first began thinking up titles, I strongly considered naming it a “retraction” piece for my original article. However, the more I thought about it the more I realized how extreme that action would be for everyone when, in reality, epileptics are the targeted audience here.

The truth is, this diet is a fantastic option for those struggling with digestive or stomach issues, such as Crohn’s Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, etc. It is also a wonderful method for rapid weight loss and a healthy option too if the diet is executed correctly (i.e. homemade bone broth, organic food products).

However, there are some requirements in this diet that can cause increased seizure activity. For example, Phase 1 of the GAPS Introductory Diet is Bone Broth only for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Juice, Tea, and Yogurt are the recommended snacks for this phase.

This is literally as simple as it gets when it comes to carbohydrates. While this phase can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, it took me about 2 weeks to complete based on my symptoms and how much “gut” healing I truly needed. One symptom I had from the very start of GAPS was increased seizure activity. It got pretty rough for my family and I because we literally could not figure out the cause for this tidal wave of seizure activity. Ordinarily, I can pinpoint the activity to something I’ve eaten that may have contained questionable ingredients or my hormone levels at that particular time (check out more about Catamenial Epilepsy and my personal journey with this condition here)…

Like I said before, this is my ordinary mode of operation. But, if I reevaluated my diet at this time I would find nothing but bone broth for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. So what the heck was going on???

I mean, if I simplified my carbohydrates any more I’d be reduced to consuming nothing but water and pretending that water could ever be considered a good meal substitute.

Well, as it turns out, my increased seizure activity had everything to do with my diet. Although the bone broth was incredibly healthy for me, the diet itself was too simple. As an epileptic, I face serious consequences if I do not maintain healthy blood sugar levels. I recently discussed in an article titled (The Key to Maintaining Healthy Blood Sugar Levels) just how easily my Partial seizure and Grand Mal seizure activity can increase if my blood sugar is allowed to drop throughout the day.

The simple carbohydrates that are supposed to be embraced in each phase of GAPS were just that…Too simple. Bone Broth in the first phase and stews in the 2nd phase were not enough to keep my blood sugar level up and therefore made my brain even more vulnerable to seizure activity. I needed foods that were more solid such as protein and fat. Unfortunately, my seizure activity became so intense that I literally had to quit the diet and return to my previous meal plan.

I had made it to the 3rd Phase of the GAPS Introductory Diet when I made this decision. After only 3 months of dieting, I really didn’t want to give it all up so soon. But it was clear that my body needed meals and snacks that were capable of keeping my blood sugar levels up and my brain strong. Simplifying my diet actually complicated my brain health rather than improving it like it was supposed to.

Now, I am not saying to avoid the GAPS Diet completely. If my body could have handled the simplicity of those carbohydrates, I would have tried my best to carry on to the next Phase of GAPS until I had completed every phase. I also believe that there would have been some much-needed healing to my stomach and brain.

I guess what this article is meant to be is an insight for those of you who may become vulnerable when your body’s blood sugar level drops. It is information I really wish I had known before beginning the diet because I definitely would have gone about this diet differently.

To those who can handle simple carbs without adverse reaction, I still highly recommend the GAPS Diet for healing, detox, weight loss, or whatever you may be needing that can be helped by GAPS.

You can find the links to all GAPS Diet-Related articles from Seize the Day Blog below:

GAPS Diet Reading List:

https://www.seizethedayblog.com/2016/10/gaps-diet-reading-list-continuation-from-crohns-disease-chronic-or-curable/

Crohn’s Disease: Chronic or Curable???:

https://www.seizethedayblog.com/2016/09/crohns-disease-chronic-or-curable/

The Key to Maintaining Healthy Blood Sugar Levels:

https://www.seizethedayblog.com/2019/01/the-key-to-maintaining-healthy-blood-sugar-levels/

Looking for a well-balanced meal? Check out my recipe for Chicken Tortilla Soup! It is gluten free and the base is homemade chicken broth…

If you try this recipe, please share your feedback through Twitter & Instagram (@seizethedayblog) or email (katie@seizethedayblog.com).

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Medical Disclaimer:

February 8, 2019

From My Recipe Box to Yours: Paleo Zucchini Bread (Gluten-Free)

February 8, 2019

Who knew Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free & Dairy-Free could look so good???

When you’re trying to maintain a diet that is strictly Gluten-free, Dairy-free, and Sugar-free, the mere mention of an acceptable bread recipe sounds ridiculous. I certainly wasn’t convinced that something like this actually existed! Well, I was wrong…

After lots of searching, I eventually came across this recipe by Erin Lives Whole for Paleo Zucchini Bread.

Although Erin’s original recipe is fantastic and I recommend checking it out (links can be found above for both the blog and the recipe), I made a few changes of my own to adjust the ingredients a bit so that the flavor of the cinnamon is accentuated. You can find my personal changes written below along with my baking instructions.

Not only is this recipe is a fantastic snack for those mid-meal munchies, but it also provides the perfect amount of healthy carbohydrates and fats to help you maintain healthy blood sugar levels all day long. Healthy blood sugar levels for me means decreased seizure activity so this recipe has been an excellent find for both my brain and my tummy. It’s a Win-Win no matter which version of the recipe you try! The Seize the Day Blog version can be found below.

Bon Appétit!

Zucchini Bread Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Servings: 1 Loaf or 12 muffins

Zucchini Bread Recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 cup Almond Flour
2 T Coconut Flour
1 tsp Sea Salt
1 tsp Baking Soda
4 tsp Cinnamon
1 cup Walnuts, chopped
4 Eggs
1/4 cup Coconut Oil
1/3 cup Honey
1 tsp Vanilla
1 cup Zucchini, grated
Ghee, for greasing the pan

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F and prepare loaf pan with coconut oil or ghee (a fantastic dairy-free option and my preferred method, it is much less messy than the coconut oil).
Combine all dry ingredients into a small bowl & mix using a fork. Be sure to mix thoroughly so that you do not have any baking soda chunks in your bread batter. Set aside.
In a small bowl, whisk 4 eggs until combined and smooth.
Add coconut oil, honey, and vanilla to eggs. Whisk until combined.
Add the dry ingredients you set aside earlier to the wet ingredients. Stir until combined.
Squeeze dry your grated zucchini and fold into your batter.
Pour into loaf pan (or cupcake pan, this method is especially fun for those of you with kids). If you want to add an extra crunch to the texture of your bread or muffins, add chopped walnuts to the top of your unbaked batter.
Bake for 30 minutes covered with foil and another 10-15 minutes without foil.
If you can insert a toothpick into the center and it comes out clean, your Zucchini Bread is ready to be taken out.
Let cool completely before serving.

https://www.seizethedayblog.com/2019/02/from-my-recipe-box-to-yours-paleo-zucchini-bread-gluten-free/

January 19, 2019

Keeping Up With Katie: Post #4

January 19, 2019

The newest series here on Seize the Day Blog!!!

It’s here…my very first Keeping Up With Katie post for 2019!!! If you’re new to this series here on Seize the Day Blog I recommend checking out these articles before proceeding to the fourth template below. Thanks for reading!

Keeping Up With Katie: Post #1

Keeping Up With Katie: Post #2

Keeping Up With Katie: Post #3

The Key to Maintaining Healthy Blood Sugar Levels

I hope you all enjoy my feedback on my own personal journey with Hemp Oil (also known as CBD oil) since beginning this Hemp product from the Charlotte’s Web by The Stanley Brothers corporation on July 20th 2018.

Please comment your feedback via Instagram & Twitter or feel free to email me at katie@seizethedayblog.com!

Medical Disclaimer:

Copyright Info:

All images, excluding those included in the web design, posted on [seizethedayblog.com] are taken by the owner. No images from external sources are used on this blog.

Proper credit should be attributed when republishing any material found on [seizethdayblog.com].

January 4, 2019

The Key to Maintaining Healthy Blood Sugar Levels

January 4, 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:

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

Medical Disclaimer:

Copyright Info:

All images, excluding those included in the web design, posted on [seizethedayblog.com] are taken by the owner. No images from external sources are used on this blog.

Proper credit should be attributed when republishing any material found on [seizethdayblog.com].

December 28, 2018

My Favorite Product of 2018

December 28, 2018

When I first understood the connection between my seizures and food ingredients, it was a mind-blowing moment for me. It was a moment when I realized how little I actually knew about my own body. Even after 16 years I was just beginning to understand the sensitivities I did possess toward certain ingredients and the very serious consequences that followed these “sensitivities.” The truth is, our processed food products do contain dangerous ingredients. Ingredients that can and will harm the human body.

So what are you going to do about it??? That right there is the million dollar question because it has the potential to influence the type of immune system your body develops.

The sad truth is that the majority of society chooses the path that could be labeled as “Easy Street.” It is the route where you choose to do nothing and continue on as if nothing is wrong with foods that are made from chemically-derived ingredients.

It might work better if I point out the elephant in the room sooner rather than later…it is NOT okay to consume products that essentially aren’t real in any way, shape, or form.

I had to learn this the hard way, but consuming processed ingredients is not a great way to lead your body down a healthy path. Do your body a huge favor and just say “NO” to everything processed.

There were quite a few significant products that I was forced to give up after discovering my own personal food sensitivities. Deciding to choose the route that completely detoxes everything synthetic from my diet may not have been my first choice at the time, but looking back over the past 10 years I only see positive changes. In many ways, this choice I was also forced to make actually saved my life. As a teenager, I didn’t realize the need for a change in my diet. Everything seemed just fine so I carried on like it was. It’s crazy how everything can seem peachy from an outside perspective, but on the inside a storm is actually brewing.

My storm was Epilepsy. And once the storm broke loose with that very first seizure occurring in 2009, it seemed like my body’s level of sensitivity to everything food-related just sky-rocketed. I began realizing that certain foods I used to have no problem consuming could and would actually prompt a Grand Mal seizure. As you can imagine, this was a great motivating factor to drastically change my entire diet.

I said goodbye to every processed food product I was so used to consuming and I began to do something incredibly foreign to my daily activities…I read ingredient labels. It was not an easy feat at first because some of those ingredient names are incredibly complicated! This activity has now become habit for me…I literally cannot purchase a product without first checking a label and sometimes it means double-checking (you never know when companies add new ingredients to their product). I continued this behavior because if it meant finding a product that had what I like to call a “Clean” ingredient label, it made sorting through the crazy ingredient names and individually researching the true composition of each ingredient totally worth it.

At first, I had gotten very used to giving up practically every snack food because finding a “clean” ingredient label can sometimes feel impossible. It had reached a point where it was easier to bake something completely from-scratch than try and find a healthy, clean processed food product at the grocery store. It was definitely a challenge, but it wasn’t impossible.

Late July Crackers started out as a miracle replacement for Ritz Crackers, but they have turned into a bit of a remedy for certain symptoms post-seizure. It is very strange and I have no explanation for my symptoms, but after a Grand Mal or Partial seizure I get what I would describe as “the Shivers.” It is actually very annoying because my whole body is shivering as if it is cold, even my teeth are chattering, but the temperature around me is normal. I don’t know if these same symptoms also occur for others who, like me, are coping with seizures, but if they do you’ll definitely want to keep reading!

Late July Crackers appealed to me because they taste exactly the same, maybe even a little better than Ritz Crackers. They have become a staple snack in my house because this product is clean, healthy, and a remedy of sorts for my post-seizure “shivers.” I usually eat about 3-4 crackers and without fail my shivers will stop and my brain seems to pull it together in a way that is both speedy and efficient. It is my go-to snack nowadays as well as my treatment option for post-seizure shivering.

It is worth it to research every ingredient label because clean products, such as Late July’s Crackers, do exist and they do have the potential to go above and beyond their product description.

Every person’s body is different and, therefore, reacts differently toward varying ingredient labels. So, even if this product doesn’t work the same for you at least you’ll still have a good quality, non-GMO, and Organic snack in your pantry!

Below I have provided the Late July ingredient label and the Ritz Crackers ingredient label so that you can see the massive difference between the two products…

Late July Organic Classic Rich Flaky, Buttery Tasting Crackers Ingredient Label:

Organic wheat flour, Organic evaporated cane sugar, Organic expeller pressed sunflower oil and/or Organic expeller safflower oil, Organic palm oil, Sea Salt, Leavening (baking soda, ammonium bicarbonate, cream of tartar).

Ritz Crackers Ingredient Label:

Unbleached Enriched Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Folic Acid), Canola Oil, Palm Oil, Sugar, Salt, Leavening (Calcium Phosphate and/or Baking Soda), High Fructose Corn Syrup, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor.

The Canola Oil, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Soy Lecithin, and Natural Flavor will each provoke a seizure in my brain all by themselves. To see these ingredients all mixed together in a single product is basically my biggest nightmare. Avoiding these types of ingredient labels is a must for anyone who wants to eat foods composed of REAL ingredients, not chemicals!

Sources:

Late July Organic Classic Rich Crackers Product Box: available at most health food stores
Ritz Crackers (Original Flavor) Product Box: available at standard grocery stores

Medical Disclaimer:

Copyright Info:

All images, excluding those included in the web design, posted on [seizethedayblog.com] are taken by the owner. No images from external sources are used on this blog.

Proper credit should be attributed when republishing any material found on [seizethdayblog.com].

November 14, 2018

Keeping Up With Katie – Post #3

November 14, 2018

“Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”

Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban

Trying to find the bright side in a challenging situation can feel like an impossible task for even the most cheerful of people. Charlotte’s Web Hemp Oil has been my light during the dark times that sometimes come with Catamenial Epilepsy.

I have found that despite the challenges I face with my seizure disorder, I am still discovering so many new and positive effects from CW Hemp Oil. With anything new, there is always that period of trial and error. However, I have found lately that I am discovering helpful tips that I have been searching for, but due to circumstance, have been impossible to find. Best of luck to each and every one of my readers who may have needed a little extra help, but did not know where to find it. I hope this Keeping Up With Katie article gives you the boost you need!

Product details:

Charlotte’s Web Hemp Oil, Olive Oil flavor

Keeping Up With Katie – Post #3

Sources:

Charlotte’s Web Hemp Oil, Olive Oil Flavor: https://www.cwhemp.com/cannabinoid-hemp-oil-cbd-supplement-everyday-advanced

Harry Potter Quote: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/harry_potter_and_the_prisoner_of_azkaban/quotes/

Individual Ingredient Overview:

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Keeping Up With Katie – Post #3

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