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March 3, 2021

Epilepsy Insight #16: Nutrient Power by William J. Walsh PhD

March 3, 2021

 

Nutrient Power by William J. Walsh is exactly what I wished I had access to back in 2009 when I was first diagnosed with epilepsy! Can you believe that twelve years ago not a single search engine could produce an article on the subject??? The only results were medical articles that contained keywords such as epilepsy, hormones, imbalance, menstrual cycle, etc. Many of these only discussed the general subject of epilepsy rather than the particular subject of Catamenial Epilepsy. Every once in a while we found one that seemed promising however it was always restricted to university libraries. Even if we found some information possibly related to Catamenial Epilepsy we could go no further than the synopsis and those aren’t exactly known for containing mind-blowing research. 

Thankfully, times have changed in short of amount of time and information on Catamenial Epilepsy is now readily available. So why Nutrient Power?? Well, Walsh discusses a concept that modern medicine refuses to acknowledge as relevant or true…it is the idea that every human bodily function is intertwined or connected with the other. More specifically, one function directly affects another function. Too often, we are told that two health issues in two separate parts of the body are limited to only the area where they are occurring.

As the patient, it is difficult to think about the possibility of more than one problem existing inside of your body. The truth is that these discoveries do not hinder your ability to function, they are the fuel to your fire of understanding your whole body so that you can truly find healing. I like to say that where health is concerned, ignorance is never bliss. If you are going to form your plan for recovery, I have found it is best to fist understand exactly which areas need my attention the most. 

You are unique, your case of epilepsy is filled with a blend of symptoms that only you can claim. As much as doctors like to make each epileptic seem like the same case of epilepsy, it just isn’t true. Believe it or not, you know better than your neurologist exactly what your first step needs to be on your journey toward healing because you know your body better. 

Nutrient Power has been so amazing for me because it opened my eyes to symptoms that I had previously disregarded. I wasn’t trying to picky about the symptoms I focused on, but when you’re having seizures the simpler symptoms naturally fade to the background of my mind. A good example is white spots on my finger nails. Truthfully, I hadn’t even realized this should be considered as a symptom because I had always assumed this was a consequence of scuffing my nails throughout the day without realizing it. Nope. This is actually a sign of zinc deficiency. Did you know that a zinc deficiency can lead to the manifestation of epileptic seizures??? 

It is such a small detail in the scheme of things, yet it reveals the presence of a problem in your body that can lead to a life altering disease. Could this be one of the reasons behind my own case of epilepsy?? I cannot yet answer this question, but I have added zinc to the list of supplements I am currently incorporating into my daily regimen. What I’m trying to say is, do not be so quick as I was to write off the small details because you never know when those “small” details might reveal to you an area that needs some treatment.

I began Nutrient Power at the recommendation of a friend and I am more aware of my current condition because of it. I recommend reading it with a highlighter and some sticky notes just in case you might want to save those extra special pieces of info for later. Happy Reading!  

Check out my epilepsy insight below for more details on my personal experience with Nutrient Power…

Also, click any of the “Nutrient Power” links in this article to purchase the book for yourself!

 

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.

*Attention Readers*:

This video is not intended to be a type of promotional content for the Cereset Corporation. I have no connection with Cereset except for my own personal sessions that I have completed with local doctors. My motivation behind creating this video came from my own desire to share this exciting process with others in need.

 

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Posted by SeizeTheDayBlog
Filed Under: Articles, Epilepsy Tagged: brain health, catamenial epilepsy, clean eating, convulsions, epilepsy, good health, gut health, healing, health, healthy, minerals, nutrient power, nutrients, seize the day, seize the day blog, seizures, wellness, William j Walsh

February 9, 2021

Epilepsy Insight #14: Progress Report Using Green Grove CBD Products

February 9, 2021

 

Part B to Epilepsy Insight #13…

An entire month without a grand Mal seizure thanks to Green Grove Products! I am currently using both their Vape product (pen & cartridge) as well as their All-Natural CBD-Oil Tincture. I prefer the Natural Unflavored Oil Tincture because I am incredibly sensitive to ingredients used for flavoring. 

You may notice on the vape product that the only choice is “Lite Citrus Breeze.” After multiple calls to the Green Grove company, I learned that the flavor for this product is derived from real lemons. No synthetic lemon ingredients are used. I am happy to report that after 8 months of consistent use, the Vape product has only had beneficial effects on my body. To clarify, the lemon flavor has not caused any extra seizure activity. 

That being said, I’d just like to remind my readers that I am not a doctor therefore the information shared in the video above is simply my own personal account with the Green Grove CBD products. Truthfully, I do not know how the products will work for someone else, every body is unique and is likely to react in his or her own unique way. But, I can see the physical improvements my own body has made while using these products. I have been an epileptic for 12 years now and I strongly believe that any positive observation is worth sharing!  

Check out the video below for my updated experience with CBD products…

 

 

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.

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Posted by SeizeTheDayBlog
Filed Under: Articles, Epilepsy Tagged: brain, brain health, cannabis, catamenial epilepsy, cbd, CBD Oil, epilepsy, health, healthy, seize the day blog, seizure activity, seizure triggers, seizures, vape

February 8, 2021

Healthy Granola Bar Recipe

February 8, 2021

It may be common knowledge that granola bars are a fabulous snack for people of all ages, but did you know that when done right granola bars can also be a prime source for those minerals and nutrients your body desperately needs???

When I think of commercially processed granola bars I actually think of this product as more of a dessert than I do a healthy food source. This is probably because granola bars have become packed full of unhealthy things like refined sugar and chocolate chips. Don’t get me wrong, I love a little flavor boost in my snack foods just as much as the next person, but I just can’t get on board with ingredients like Corn Syrup, Soy Lecithin, Soybean Oil, Glycerin (which is frequently derived from Soy), Invert Sugar, and Calcium Carbonate. All of which happen to be in one of the most popular granola bar products currently available on the processed foods market.

***Side Note: Calcium Carbonate is most commonly used as an antacid to prevent indigestion…Is it just me or do you also find it strange that a supposedly healthy product like a granola bar also contains an ingredient to prevent indigestion for the consumer. Hmmm….could that possibly mean that the product contains a few unhealthy ingredients that no human should actually consume??? 

The answer to this question is a resounding “YES!” The reason for this unfortunate reality is that the food corporation’s bottom line is prioritized highly above the long term health of the consumer. It is this incredibly concerning mindset in such corporations that should inspire you to read the ingredient label on every single food product you plan to consume. Trust me, it is worth it!  

It is always disappointing to discover that a product you love is actually comprised of ingredients that are the worst quality possible and (realistically) should never be consumed by any human being EVER. The reality is, you must look to yourself if you are going to overcome this challenge we all face regarding the food industry. The quality of ingredients has gradually decreased with the passing of time, most especially in the last 50 years. Society has come to rely on things like microwaveable meals and fast food restaurants to fulfill the category of “Ideal Family Meal.” What I’m suggesting when I say, “look to yourself,” is actually much simpler than it may sound…I’m only asking each person currently reading this article to consider trying the “old-school” method of cooking from scratch using real ingredients. Ingredients that are sourced from real foods and not created in a lab.

 

 

Now, I’m no professional chef nor am I anywhere close to being such, but I have had to completely change my daily diet due to my diagnosis with epilepsy. It may sound funny to some, but the day I had my first seizure was actually the day I took my first step down a path toward a healthier lifestyle. The sensitivities I suddenly began to develop while trying to fight off seizures actually turned out to be blessings in disguise because they forced me to change in ways I never would have if it wasn’t an absolute requirement in order to get through the day. Food is one of the most common seizure trigger categories because we come into contact with it so frequently. Learning how to create healthy eating habits is a wonderful way to begin your own journey toward decreasing your seizure activity (if you are an epileptic, of course). But hey, even if you aren’t an epileptic, eating healthier is a great way to make sure your body is getting the nutrients it needs in order to maintain long-term healthy brain function.

That being said, cooking from scratch has been simplified thanks to technology. There are so many simple recipes available online. Cooking tutorials are also available and in video form too so that you can get the help you need any time of the day or night. When I first began favoring homemade foods over processed food products I learned very quickly that your best skill while trying to master this seemingly large feat is to take every recipe one step at a time. If you become overwhelmed and panic, you most likely aren’t going to create something edible…I’ve been there so I know, charcoal is not a great meal option.

These Granola Bars are a favorite of mine also because they are filled with these three ingredients: nuts, nut butter, and whole grains (oats). All of which are sulfur-rich foods! A sulfur deficiency can cause a variety of symptoms, one being convulsions. If you are an epileptic, I have a question for you…Have you ever had your sulphur levels checked by a professional doctor?? If not, it might be worth looking into. I happen to be incredibly sulphur deficient so in addition to supplementing my problem, I have also been trying to consume more sulphur-rich foods in my daily diet. These granola bars are a simple and tasty way to accomplish this task. Only eight ingredients and they taste like caramel popcorn! Yes, please!

If you would like to learn more about sulphur deficiency, here is a must-read article for you.

*Recipe adapted from Gimme Some Oven’s Chewy Peanut Butter Granola Bars Recipe

 

 

 

Healthy Granola Bar Recipe

Print this recipe
SeizeTheDayBlog
February 8, 2021
by SeizeTheDayBlog
Category Articles Epilepsy Recipes
Serving Size
16 bars
Prep Time
20 minutes
Cook Time
10 minutes
Wait Time
1 hour
Total Time
30 minutes
Healthy Granola Bar Recipe

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup Almond Butter
  • 1/2 cup Raw Honey
  • 2 T Coconut Oil
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1/2 tsp Sea Salt
  • 2 1/4 cup Old-fashioned Oats
  • 1 cup Almonds, chopped
  • 1/2 cup Walnuts, chopped

Instructions

  1. Prep the bottom of an 8x11 glass baking dish using butter. Be sure to grease both the bottom of the pan as well as the sides. This granola mixture is extremely sticky before it has been chilled and you’ll need the buffer. Set aside.
  2. Stir almond butter (or the nut butter of your choice), honey and coconut oil together in a medium saucepan. Cook over low to medium heat, stirring frequently until the mixture begins to simmer. Once your simmer begins, continue to cook for 1 more minute. Be sure to watch your mixture closely and continue stirring often because it will quickly reach its burning point. After 1 minute, remove from heat.
  3. Add vanilla and sea salt, stir until both are combined. At this point you should have a fairly thick and sticky liquid mixture. Transfer mixture to a glass bowl and stir in oats until fully combined. I recommend using a large spoon to stir in order to thoroughly distribute the oats. Next, add the almonds. Using the same technique that you used with the oats, stir almonds until fully combined. Finally, stir in the walnuts. Optional: Reserve a tiny bit of chopped walnuts to sprinkle on top of your granola bars.
  4. Gently press the granola firmly and evenly into the bottom of your 8 x 11 glass baking dish that you set aside in step 1.
  5. Cover dish with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for at least 1 hour or until solid.
  6. Use a sharp knife to cut mixture into small rectangular bars (or the shape that you prefer). Typically, the size of my own bars are about 1 1/2 inches in width and 4 inches in length. Using this size guide, the yield is 16 granola bars.
  7. After slicing your mixture into individual bars, use a spatula to carefully separate and lift each bar from your glass baking dish. Individually wrap each bar in a single layer of plastic wrap to preserve freshness and also to prevent the oat mixture from becoming dry and crumbly.
  8. Store in the refrigerator for up to 7 days or the freezer for up to 3 months.
  9. Enjoy!

Tags

almond butter,
almonds,
catamenial epilepsy,
clean eating,
epilepsy,
food,
granola,
granola bars,
healthy,
healthy diet,
honey,
nut butter,
organic,
raw,
recipe,
seize the day blog,
seizures,
snack,
sulphur,
sulphur rich foods,
walnuts,
whole grains

 

 

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.

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Posted by SeizeTheDayBlog
Filed Under: Articles, Epilepsy, Recipes Tagged: almond butter, almonds, catamenial epilepsy, clean eating, epilepsy, food, granola, granola bars, healthy, healthy diet, honey, nut butter, organic, raw, recipe, seize the day blog, seizures, snack, sulphur, sulphur rich foods, walnuts, whole grains

September 12, 2020

Product Insight: What I Use & Why

September 12, 2020

 

Hello Readers,

I have received a few emails over the past couple of months from a few of you containing questions regarding some of the products I use on a daily basis such as shampoo, soap, skincare, etc. It got me thinking that I should just provide an overview of products so that those who may be searching for a different product can see firsthand some of the products that I have come to love and that work well with my body despite my epilepsy.

As an epileptic, my body tends to be extra sensitive to everything, most especially synthetic ingredients. I have searched far and wide for chemical-free products in every area of my life.
I am happy to say that I have found great success in eliminating chemicals from my diet through organic and from-scratch meals. However, the one area that continues to befuddle me is cosmetics.
I even gave organic cosmetic products a try for a short while, completely convinced that I was doing better for my body. I mean, the very term “Organic” automatically means that a product is, without a doubt, better, right? Usually, I have found the answer to this question to be “Yes.”

However, once I discovered that Soy is included in every organic cosmetic company’s definition of “vegetable-derived” ingredients; I had to rethink my “Yes.” In Organic cosmetic products, ingredients like Tocopherol or Vitamin E are most commonly derived from soy instead of synthetic chemicals like you find in non-organic products. Honestly, I’m not sure which is worse for someone like myself who happens to be extremely allergic to soy. To make matters worse, these ingredients (tocopherol and vitamin e) are used in the majority of organic cosmetics. I cannot speak for every organic company, of course, so I still hope that there are products out there despite the fact that I have never found a single one.

My problem with soy is the fact that it is commonly known as a seizure trigger for many epileptics. It has certainly been known to cause issues for me, so overall this is a really bad ingredient choice for the epileptic consumer. It definitely isn’t healthy for the human body! Soy will wreck anyone’s hormones both female and male due to the fact that it is indeed an estrogen inhibitor meaning the consumption of soy will cause the human body’s production of estrogen to increase. See why this particular increase would be detrimental to the balance of your hormones, especially a male’s hormones???

So, long story short is my attempt to cleanse my makeup, skincare, and haircare products resulted in an increase in my seizure activity. Soy-derived ingredients being the primary cause of my increase. This was pretty much the opposite reaction to what I had been expecting and it made me realize that just because a product says “organic” does not make it completely incapable of containing poor quality ingredients. As per usual, you cannot judge a book by its cover therefore more information is always necessary before one can make an informed decision.

 

Based on my experience with both organic and inorganic products, I have come to this conclusion:

 

It is best to use the product that works for you and that does not increase your seizure activity even if it does contain not-so-great ingredients. I am sharing this with you because I’d like to try to explain the logic behind my product choices despite my desire to use clean, healthy products. The products below may not be completely free of synthetic ingredients, but they are free of the ingredients that I know to be seizure triggers for me personally. These are the products that I can use on a daily basis without increasing my seizure activity. The fact of the matter is that I need to wash my hair, my face, my body, I need to moisturize, and I prefer to use makeup. So, here are the cosmetic products and toiletries that work best for me at this moment in time AND have proven to have no effect on my seizure activity.

Every person’s body is different so just because something works for me does not mean it will work successfully for you as well. The truth is, no one knows your body like you do so listen to your gut when trying something new.

I do hope that this list will prove to be helpful for some of my readers. If you happen to have extra questions about any of my product choices, please feel free to email me at katie@seizethedayblog.com.

I’m always happy to help! 🙂

Haircare:

Oribe Gold Lust Shampoo & Conditioner

Oribe Dead End Treatment

Oribe Smoothing Blowout Cream

Bumble & Bumble Bb. Strong Finish Hairspray

Body:

Soap – Silver Miracles Colloidal Silver Soap Bar (Unscented)

Body Lotion – Lubriderm Daily Moisture Lotion

Hand Lotion – Gold Bond Healing Hand Cream

Body/Hand Lotion – Handmade Lotion (from-scratch recipe from Wellness Mama, which you can also find here on the blog)

Sunscreen – Banana Boat Simply Protect Baby Sunscreen (I know it’s for babies, but because of this fact it is extra gentle on adult skin as well so it’s perfect for those with sensitive skin.)

Deodorant – Freedom Natural Deodorant Large Stick (Unscented)

*Side Note: Where body and hand lotion are concerned, I prefer to use my own Homemade Lotion product whenever possible because it is completely free of synthetic ingredients and soy. You can also find the recipe here on the blog. It smells wonderful and moisturizes my skin like no other product. However, it is difficult to travel with so those days require me to use either Lubriderm or Gold Bond. These products are also great at moisturizing and my body is okay with their formulas despite the synthetic ingredients so they have made the list.

 

Skincare:

My morning & evening routine:

Karin Herzog Professional Cleansing Gel (Cleanser)

Karin Herzog Vit-A-Kombi 1 Anti-Aging Cream (Correct)

Karin Herzog Oxygen Face Normalizing Cream (Moisturize)

Skincare Tools: Karin Herzog Small face brush (used with Vit-A-Kombi cream) & Karin Herzog Silk Towel (used with Professional Cleansing Gel)

*Side Note: You have probably noticed that every single product listed above is from Karin Herzog. No, this is not some paid promotional ad, I simply happen to love Karin Herzog’s products. The quality of each (right down to the accompanying beauty tools) is of great quality and every single product delivers noticeable results. My skin always feels fantastic and completely nourished after I’m finished with my daily skincare regimen. Thus my preference for all things Karin Herzog when it comes to my skin…just in case you were wondering 🙂

 

 

Makeup:

Foundation – Becca Ultimate Coverage 24-hour Foundation (liquid)

Concealer – Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra Longwear Concealer

Eyebrow – Charlotte Tilbury Brow Lift Eyebrow Pencil

Mascara – IT Cosmetics Lash Blowout Volumizing Mascara

Setting Powder – Becca Hydra-Mist Set & Refresh Powder

Highlighter – Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter (color: Prismatic Amethyst)

Bronzer – Tom Ford The Ultimate Bronzer (So this product is sold out everywhere, I’m thinking maybe the company isn’t making it anymore…huge bummer, I know! I can’t provide a link to the product I’m currently using, but I can say that I would use other Tom Ford bronzer products in a heartbeat. I’ve heard great things about his Soleil Glow Bronzer so here’s the link for that product instead.)

Blush – Marc Jacobs Air Blush Duo

 

Nail Polish & Remover:

Remover – Cutex Regular Strength Nail Polish Remover

Nail Polish – Nailberry, Butter London, & Smith & Cult

 

Extras:

Toothpaste – Weleda Calendula Toothpaste

Mouth Wash – Listerine Cool Mint Ultraclean Mouthwash

Floss – Glide Pro-Health Original Floss

Contact Solution – Opti-Free Pure Moist Solution

Anti-bacterial Care – Sovereign Silver Colloidal Silver Dropper

Perfume – Gya Labs Vanilla Essential Oil

Well, those are all of the products I can think of right now, but like I said above please feel free to email (katie@seizethedayblog.com) if you have any questions about the products I mentioned as well as products I may not have mentioned. As per usual, I am not a doctor therefore this list should not be considered as medical advice and you should always consult your doctor before making any changes to your daily routine. I am simply sharing with my readers some of the products I like to use in my own daily routine.

Thank you for reading!

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

 

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.

 

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].

 

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Posted by SeizeTheDayBlog
Filed Under: Articles Tagged: advice, allergies, catamenial epilepsy, cosmetics, daily regimen, epilepsy, essential oils, estrogen, good quality, hair care, hormones, ingredient label, ingredients, inorganic, makeup, organic, poor quality, progesterone, seizures, skin care, soy, toiletries

August 1, 2020

3 Tips for Epileptics

August 1, 2020

 

Guidance at the beginning of my diagnosis with Catamenial Epilepsy was practically impossible to find. It was 2009 and the very name “Catamenial Epilepsy” had not yet graduated from medical theory to medical fact. If you typed “catamenial epilepsy” into Google 11 years ago you only received medical journal articles that barely referenced seizures influenced by hormones. My family and I could only find ONE article that actually used the name “Catamenial” when describing such a mysterious type of epilepsy. I’m putting it delicately when I say that the research process was abysmal in those days.

I wasn’t even seeking a cure for my condition, I simply wanted to know how to live with catamenial epilepsy. What do I do to work toward healing? How do I return to my normal, everyday routine in a way that doesn’t put my safety at risk? What shouldn’t I do that might cause my condition to worsen?

At 15 years old, I had a lot of faith in modern medicine and their ability to help me so these seemed like simple, even expected questions from where I stood in my state of confusion. There was a pattern with the many neurologists I visited and it was a tendency to downplay my condition. Maybe it was because of the fact that each doctor saw many people dealing with seizures so it was just the “norm” for them. But it wasn’t the norm for me, not even close. I went from fretting over whether or not I was going to be able to make it to my school’s football game on Friday night to how I could still be a normal teenager while living with a potentially harmful disease. The worst part is that is was this downplaying behavior from my doctors that prevented me from realizing how truly careful I needed to be in every area of my life.

Ignorance is not always bliss and doctors can’t always be trusted. Truthfully, they can never be trusted and everything they recommend needs to be thoroughly researched before you make a decision. My own research along with my personal experience with epilepsy has taught me so much more than any doctor ever has.

I can look back now over the decisions I made early on and the majority of them I would do differently if given the chance. That being said, I cannot say that I am not grateful for all that those poor decisions have taught me. I would not be who I am today without those mistakes therefore I cannot regret them.

However, I would regret not sharing a few pieces of advice that I hope will serve as guidance for those who are dealing with similar circumstances. I may be grateful for my own growth during my journey, but I also wish to prevent others from making the same mistakes. So, for the sake of sparing another from a few gruesome trial and error processes, here are the top three actions I wish I had taken at the start of my journey with Catamenial Epilepsy.

 

#1 Diet – Go Organic, eliminate processed foods completely, and pay closer attention to ingredient labels.

The food you put into your body has a monumental effect on every area, most especially your brain. Understanding the dangers of synthetic foods is imperative to improving your seizures because synthetic ingredients will prevent the human body from functioning correctly. These influential factors will also make correcting problems an impossible task. Ingredients like Xanthan Gum (a cheap emulsifier) and Carrageenan (thickening agent most commonly found in dairy products) are formulated in a lab with chemicals and who knows what else (most of the time we don’t want to know…yes, it is that gross!). The greatest problem aside from the synthetic nature of these ingredients is a little fact that the human body cannot digest them. The body does not know how to correctly process these synthetic components found in way too many of the foods available in every grocery store. The types of foods you most likely eat on a daily basis.

Feed your body natural foods (such as a strawberry or an egg) and it knows exactly how to digest each as well as which naturally occurring nutrients to store in order to maintain your good health. But, give it a sulfated polysaccharide (carrageenan) and the body has absolutely no idea what to do with it or where to send it because, in all honesty, it is not meant to be consumed. This causes problems in digestion and the body is forced to take guesses on what to do with these alien ingredients. Sounds concerning, doesn’t it? Well, that’s only the beginning! Here’s the really concerning part about these guesses: the body won’t absorb the alien ingredient because it does not recognize it nor will it excrete the synthetic substance just in case it might be necessary for the future. So what happens to this mystery food? Well, in all of this confusion the body decides to store it. By storing it, these synthetic ingredients (which are essentially toxins) begin to accumulate in various areas, usually in the cells or the bloodstream. One toxin might not create any issues for your total body health, but synthetic ingredients are found in pretty much all processed foods these days and daily consumption will result in quite the collection of toxins. You may not realize this in the moment you’re eating those potato chips or drinking that soda, but you are slowly creating an army of toxins with each bite and every sip that can easily wreak havoc on your body.

Making food from scratch is the only way you can truly guarantee you are eating toxin-free meals. I know home cooking is a lot of work, trust me, I KNOW. But, reducing my seizure activity makes it all worth it! Not to mention, the food tastes way better! When I was eating processed foods constantly I never noticed how fake and flavorless they were, sometimes certain products can even taste like plastic…hmmm, I wonder why that is? Maybe it is because these foods contain many of the same ingredients you find in plastic products. You wouldn’t willingly eat a plastic straw or a plastic water bottle, right? So why would you willingly eat plastic disguised as food?

The truth is, “home cooking” isn’t just a term to help market Southern-Style breakfast restaurants. It is a lifestyle choice that will have a positive impact on your entire household. Luckily, we’re living in an age of technology where things like recipe blogs are easily accessible and filled with lots of fantastic recipes to get you started on this new path. Plus, you have access to thousands of healthy recipes without it costing you a dime. The question here isn’t about IF you can do this. It’s all about WHEN. When are you going to make the necessary change for better health?

Personally, I kept up with my usual processed foods diet that I had before my diagnosis with epilepsy for at least two years post-diagnosis. I hate to think of the damage I was creating by continuing to accumulate synthetic toxins from my food AND my newly added anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). Alone, each component has the ability to trigger seizures so I can only imagine what was happening to me with the two of them combined.

It took a crisis situation to wake me up enough to actually consider the idea that maybe, just maybe, my diet could be contributing to the overall state of my brain health. I was lying on the floor of a P.F. Chang’s Restaurant having a full-blown grand mal or tonic-clonic seizure. Hormonally, the time of the month did not make sense for such an occurrence. My parents were out of ideas as to why the seizure happened until my grandma suggested that maybe something in the food caused an issue. What was meant to be a simple and helpful theory actually turned out to be the revelation my parents needed in order to take that first step on the path toward long-term healing. Soy was the culprit that day and I have avoided it ever since.

 

#2 Bloodwork – Go deeper, explore the problem inside, and then work to correct deficiencies/abnormalities.

Some of you may be thinking, “Seriously?! More bloodwork? I just had every test known to man performed on me when I was in the hospital and received my diagnosis!” If someone told me to get more bloodwork done back when I was fifteen I probably would have disowned them. There is no doubt in my mind that I would not have taken the advice because I had just left a hospital and also because it takes effort to go to the lab. I was a teenager, I had much more important things to be doing with my time like texting or painting my nails.

However, when I say the words “bloodwork” I’m not talking about your average test. I’m talking about a bloodwork panel that will thoroughly analyze your primary vitamin and mineral levels. The test I have in mind is called the Organic Acids Test (OAT) and it will analyze all of these and more.

When I was first diagnosed, I trusted that my doctors had thoroughly reviewed every piece of information that could be pertinent to understanding the cause of my seizures. Nope. It turns out the doctors barely scratched the surface by doing the bare minimum. So, once again I was let down by my doctors and it was left up to me to figure out this epilepsy puzzle.

Just a little FYI for my fellow epileptics, this will happen often so I recommend keeping your expectations very low when it comes to modern medicine personnel if you wish to be satisfied with their advice.

That being said, let’s get back to the Organic Acids Test (OAT). I am such a big fan of doing this test because each human body is unique. Therefore, each is going to possess it own unique deficiencies. The sooner you find these deficiencies, the sooner you’ll be able to take yet another step on the path toward healing. And not just any healing, but healing that is customized to fit your specific needs. Once again, ignorance is not bliss where your health is concerned. Although modern medicine offers a wide variety of convincing medication for every epileptic, the reality is that a medicinal regimen needs to be tailored to the individual.

Bloodwork will help you understand how to create your own regimen. Personally, I discovered that I am deficient in the majority of my primary vitamin and mineral levels. Specifically, I found my concerning Vitamin D deficiency. If you didn’t know before, let me share that a deficiency in Vitamin D alone is enough to trigger seizures in some individuals. The healthy level should fall between 30 and 100. My level was 1 at the time of my first test. One! It might as well have said “Nada.” What good is a level of 1 Vitamin D going to do in my body? It’s barely holding on to its existence in my body, I really don’t think there will be any leftover Vitamin D to perform the duties it is supposed to according to nature.

I am happy to report that I have been able to correct this severe deficiency in a matter of months thanks to Seeking Health’s Vitamin D complex liquid drops. My levels are now at a healthy 67 and I continue to use Seeking Health’s supplement on a daily basis.

It is because of bloodwork that I also discovered my hormone deficiencies and my estrogen dominance. Obviously, there was some hormone imbalance present (hence my special diagnosis of Catamenial Epilepsy instead of simply Epilepsy), but I never understood just how seriously low my levels are. This insight has guided me throughout my entire journey with epilepsy and it has allowed me to take the necessary steps that will result in my healing. Knowledge is power when it comes to living with epilepsy. The more you know, the better equipped you will be able to handle the task at hand…Finding the source of your problem. Band-aids are for amateurs, you deserve answers! In my experience, this begins with blood work.

 

#3 Eliminate Hormones – Find and remove the common hormone-ridden products from your lifestyle.

This particular action is crucial for those with Catamenial Epilepsy because your seizures are hormone-related. Furthermore, there is a problem with your hormones; they are imbalanced and you will not find balance if you are constantly exposing your body to synthetic hormones.

Why is it so important to avoid synthetic hormones whether you have Catamenial Epilepsy or not??

Well, synthetic hormones are a bit like synthetic food ingredients (as I discussed above) they confuse the body. Your body is already hard at work making progesterone, estrogen, testosterone, cortisol, and so on. When you feed synthetic hormones to your body they disrupt this production by posing as the naturally produced hormones that are meant to be in your body. These imposter hormones cause your overall hormone levels to increase drastically.

So drastically, in fact, that your body reads the data and backs off on its natural production so as to maintain healthy levels and not create an abundance. This may not sound so bad, but in many cases, the body will stop production altogether because the hormones to maintain healthy levels are mysteriously being supplied from an outside source so why should they continue production?

The human body is logical in its decision-making process and, on paper, this may seem like the correct decision. However, synthetic hormones are not an adequate replacement for the real thing. Here’s a football analogy for all of my fellow fans out there: synthetic hormones are second-string to the starting hormones, our REAL hormones. They may appear to be good enough to handle keeping the body healthy, but they are nowhere close to the job performed by real hormones. Our natural hormones kick booty out there on the playing field by actively reading levels, making changes if necessary, and adapting to the body’s hormonal needs accurately and consistently. Can synthetic hormones do this? Not a chance! You get exactly the same hormone every single time because you are using a pre-made type of hormone. It doesn’t change or adapt to your body’s needs. When synthetic hormones begin functioning like the first-string hormones you are at risk for both an abundance or a deficiency. In short, synthetic hormones do nothing but present a lot of potential problems for your body.

Also, if you suddenly decide to stop feeding your body those synthetic hormones your body is not aware of your decision until a deficiency begins to form and it is needed to produce natural hormones again. The thing about hormone deficiencies is they can be a bit of a challenge to correct because we are constantly exposed to synthetic hormones on a daily basis. Our air, food, and cosmetics are all guilty of containing such elements.

So, although we can’t do much about avoiding synthetic hormones in our air there are other areas where we can begin to reduce and hopefully eliminate them altogether.

The first product containing boatloads of synthetic hormones is perfume. I had a hard time eliminating this product because I have so many favorite scents from various brands and, let’s be honest, it is really nice to smell nice! However, all perfumes are filled with synthetic ingredients (hormones are just one of the many). The liquid form as well as the application areas make it an easily absorbable product. Spraying the perfume on the skin gives it direct access to your bloodstream through the pores of your skin. Wearing perfume means exposing your body to a multitude of toxins that will only hurt your body and worsen your hormone imbalance. It is impossible to restore balance if you are actively contributing to the imbalance. Perfume smells good, but what is more important…Smelling nice temporarily or being healthy???

Organic essential oils are a fantastic replacement for perfumes and you can find them at a variety of stores. I highly recommend Mountain Rose Herbs for essential oils. Their products are both good quality and very affordable.

Other products to avoid are scented deodorants and pads or tampons. Once again, we have the scent issue, but when it comes to these easily absorbed products unscented is always the way to go. It can be so easy to overlook everyday products and not even realize just how toxic they are or how influential they can be upon your hormones. But sadly they both possess the ability to easily do so with consistent use. Sensitive Unscented Freedom deodorant is an excellent aluminum-free option if your current deodorant brand does not offer unscented. As for pads or tampons, you can find an unscented product from the majority of products available. If you would like to take the good health of your current pads to the next level, try organic feminine products. Rael is my favorite product because they are so silky smooth and their extensive selection is truly wonderful. Honest is another company with a good selection of organic products.

Makeup is another product to be wary of when it comes to hormones. Unfortunately, pretty much everything in makeup products is synthetic already, but you can make an extra effort to avoid scented products. Unfortunately, this is one product I have not been able to eliminate from my cosmetic regimen despite my strong desire to do so. Those baggies under my eyes won’t cover themselves and I’m still shell-shocked from that one time in high school when I decided not to wear makeup and a classmate asked me if I had a black eye. Yeah, that wasn’t a very fun experience so I do still use makeup, but I actively avoid all scented products. Liquid foundations are frequently guilty of adding a fragrance compound to their products so be wary of this and try to avoid it whenever possible. You may not be able to eliminate makeup completely but at least you can try to make the best of a not so great situation.

As far as food is concerned, there are a few products in particular that have a strong effect on your hormones and should be avoided in order to promote hormonal balance. The first is Rosehip. This herb is most commonly found in herbal teas or dessert type foods, anything with a synthetic rose flavor. It will increase estrogen production within your body, which is why it is known as an estrogen inhibitor. When you’re suffering from seizures caused by estrogen dominance, this is the last thing you want to feed your body.

Red Raspberry Leaf is similar to Rosehip. It is most commonly found in herbal tea form. I have learned the hard way that this herbal tea will greatly increase seizure activity and it will cause an increase in estrogen production. Basically, Red Raspberry Leaf will scramble your hormones even more so than they already are. Completely avoid both whenever possible.

Soy is another food to avoid. Look for codenames for soy in other products such as soy lecithin, soy protein, hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP), mono-diglyceride, glycine max, monosodium glutamate (MSG), etc. as well because you will want to avoid every ingredient sourced from soy.

Soybeans are an estrogen inhibitor and they encourage increased estrogen production when consumed. They may seem like a healthy thing to consume because they are a natural food product, but their effect on the human body is negative in more ways than one. Not to mention soy is a common seizure trigger for many epileptics, not just those with Catamenial Epilepsy.

Lastly, make sure to be extra careful with dairy products. For starters, always go organic no matter the extra cost because inorganic products are sourced from cows that have been injected with dozens of hormones. The poor cow is doing its job just fine, but the dairy big-wigs insist on thicker, thinner, sweeter, etc. products and they’re willing to practically poison the cow and therefore the consumer to get their way. It’s always about the bottom line, not the safety of the customer. Even organic dairy products have plenty of flaws that do nothing to help balance your hormones. Vitamins are constantly added even though they don’t belong because they are not naturally-occurring. But the organic companies are expected to compete with the big-wig inorganic companies so the consumer is often sacrificed for the bells and whistles. It’s really unfortunate, in general, but even more so when people aren’t aware that the amazing amount of “Vitamin D” in their product of choice is actually synthetic and will not benefit their bodies at all. Avoiding hormones in your average dairy products can be quite the challenge, which is why I recommend consuming raw dairy as often as possible. Raw means straight from the cow to you. When you go with raw products you can guarantee that your product is just as it is supposed to be…in its natural state and without additives. No synthetic vitamins, no preservatives, and definitely no hormones. Unfortunately, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has made it impossible to sell these products in grocery stores, therefore you will need to purchase such products from an individual farm. The good news is there are many of these types of farms in existence. You will want to utilize the internet in order to find one that suits your needs.

Well, there you go, these are the three actions I wish I had taken when I was fifteen and newly diagnosed with epilepsy. I know that these changes may seem overwhelming because they will alter your lifestyle, but each will benefit you greatly.

Plus, epilepsy has most likely already flipped your life upside down so what’s a few more changes in the overall scheme of things? Especially when it is a positive change that will promote healing.

The choice is yours.

As always, please feel free to email me (katie@seizethedayblog.com) with any questions you have about the information I shared here on 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.

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Filed Under: Articles, Epilepsy Tagged: bloodwork, brain health, catamenial epilepsy, clean eating, diet, epilepsy, grand Mal seizure, healthy, hormones, organic, partial seizure, seizures, tips, tonic clonic seizure

July 29, 2020

Epilepsy Insight #13: THC & Your Seizures

July 29, 2020

 

When I first began considering the CBD route as a treatment method for my seizures, I automatically assumed that THC was a necessary ingredient if the product was going to work properly. Because of these incorrect assumptions, I used a CBD oil with 4% THC for almost 2 years. My overall experience was pretty bleak…no noticeable improvement. There were times when it felt as though my seizure activity was actually increasing. If any improvement was present during that two-year span only God knows about it because I certainly didn’t feel any better and my seizure activity did not decrease. My body did the same thing it always seems to do…defy the treatment and have a seizure.

So, what’s the problem? CBD has supposedly been helping hundreds of epileptics around the globe, it should be helping me too…right??? The answer to my question is simple…THC. Although both CBD and THC have psychoactive effects, the result of each could not be more different. As opposed to cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) actually interrupts the natural release of neurotransmitters in the brain in order to produce that “high” feeling associated with marijuana products. The components of CBD have a calming effect on the body without interfering with any of the naturally occurring processes already taking place. Basically, the psychoactive effects of THC actually derail your brain’s ability to function correctly, which is why THC contains a few not so great side effects such as schizophrenia, migraines, and seizures.

Speaking for myself as an epileptic, I can safely say that more interruptions to my proper brain function are the last thing that I want. I’m already having seizures for heaven’s sake! Clearly, I have enough brain issues as it is, I do not need any more! Especially from a source that I am expecting to decrease my seizure activity. Luckily, there are many THC-free products available so that you can still experience the calming effects of CBD without any interference in your brain function.

I recently discovered that CBD oil takes around 2-3 days to reach its full effect within your brain because of the digestion process. The method for immediate effect is vaping because the CBD vapor bypasses the digestive system and goes immediately to the brain. If you experience an aura and your goal is to prevent a seizure from happening right then and there, vaping is most ideal for you. I switched from oil to vape about two months ago and I couldn’t be happier with the result! A very noticeable decrease in seizure activity! Check out Epilepsy Insight #14 to learn more about my progress using THC-free CBD Vape.

I’ve been using a 500mg THC-free vape product from Green Grove. This company is fantastic! They offer rechargeable vape pens and cartridge refills on their website. I did quite a bit of research beforehand and this product was by far the best in quality. Their product contains only real ingredients so you don’t have to worry about synthetic flavors or chemicals. Their Lite Citrus Breeze is my favorite. You can check out their products firsthand by visiting the link I provided above. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at katie@seizethedayblog.com. I’m always happy to help! 🙂

 

 

 

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.

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Filed Under: Articles Tagged: brain, brain health, calming, catamenial epilepsy, cbd, epilepsy, epilepsy insight, epilepsy insight #13, marijuana, medical marijuana, seize the day blog, seizure activity, seizures, thc, thc free, vape

July 29, 2020

Epilepsy Insight #14: Personal Seizure Update w/ THC

July 29, 2020

 

 

I have been using the THC-free CBD product from Green Grove I first discussed in Epilepsy Insight #13 and I am so pleased with the result that I am providing a little progress report so that all of you may see firsthand the progress that I have been experiencing these past four weeks! That is, I have gone exactly one month without a grand mal/tonic-clonic seizure! It has been years since I experienced that kind of length between seizures so I just cannot be happier. I also know how difficult it can be to decide which treatment route is best so for those of you who may be considering the CBD treatment route, this progress report is an excellent example of just how beneficial it can be when done correctly (that is, THC-free).

I am no doctor so the choice is yours, I am simply sharing my personal experience with vaping. Once again, I am using the Green Grove Vape Pen in the Lite Citrus Breeze flavor. All flavor ingredients are sourced from real lemons, by the way, no synthetic ingredients. I actually called the Green Grove company and spoke to a representative about the exact ingredients used in the product. The pen is rechargeable so that you can save money and the refill cartridges are readily available through Green Grove, as well. You can learn more about my experience with the Green Grove product in the video below.

If you have any questions about the information here on Seize the Day Blog, please feel free to email me at katie@seizethedayblog.com. I’m always happy to help!

 

 

 

 

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.

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Filed Under: Articles, Epilepsy Tagged: brain, catamenial epilepsy, cbd, epilepsy, epilepsy insight #14, epilepsy insights, epileptic, grand Mal seizure, health, healthy, seize the day blog, seizures, thc, tonic clonic seizure, vape, vape pen

July 21, 2020

Epilepsy Insight #12: Calendars & Journals

July 21, 2020

 

It has been my own personal experience that keeping track is key for any medical condition, particularly epilepsy. I place an extra emphasis upon epilepsy because this action will allow you to discover patterns in your seizure activity. It will also help to document those little details that are easy to forget over long periods of time but can be incredibly beneficial later on down the road (whether you realize it or not in the moment). It is because of my dad and his habit of keeping track of my seizure occurrences in relation to my periods each month that we were able to discover the monumental role hormones were playing in my condition. It prompted our extensive research on hormones in relation to seizures and helped us to discover the newly established condition called Catamenial Epilepsy. Nowadays, you can find plenty of info on this type of epilepsy, but back in 2009, the internet was scarce for even the tiniest mention of it! Only in scholarly journals or medical journals could you find a teeny tiny reference to hormone-related seizures.

I keep track of my seizures, diet, supplement & medication regimen, when new products are added to my daily regimen as well as when they are removed, and any noteworthy details that I think could be useful in the future. Sometimes when I’m recording details I think to myself, “I’m not exactly sure how this might be helpful, but I’m going to write it down anyway because you never know.” I cannot tell you how many times I have been so grateful to my self down the road that I did record what felt like menial details. These supposedly “menial” details are usually the most helpful in identifying exactly how my body was feeling at that specific time. Most importantly, this habit of writing everything down has helped me to reduce seizure activity on many occasions in the past and I am more confident than ever that it will continue to do this for me in the future.

When it comes to my own keeping track, I prefer the yearly planners that have block calendars in the front and note areas in the back where I can record extra details. A small notebook in addition to the block calendar is also helpful when recording daily meals & notes. This way you’ll have plenty of room for whatever information you choose to record.

Check out my video below for the full details on the subject as well as my article, Calendars & Journals, here on the 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.

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Filed Under: Articles, Epilepsy Tagged: calendars, catamenial epilepsy, details, epilepsy, epilepsy insight #12, epilepsy insights, estrogen, hormones, journals, notebooks, progesterone, recording, seize the day blog, seizure activity, seizures

July 12, 2020

Epilepsy Insight #11: Three Tips for Epileptics

July 12, 2020

 

What if? Apart, these two words are harmless but put ‘em together and you may just find yourself confronted with a dangerous task…self-reflection.

Looking back on the past is often avoided by people (myself included) because it can be painful, both emotionally and psychologically. We are reminded of our mistakes and even more so of the fact that we can’t change any of it.

So often, I look back over my journey with epilepsy and I wonder, “Where would I be today if I had only done “this” differently or avoided “that” completely instead of diving in so willingly like I had in the past?” I get completely caught up in the “what if’s?” of life and do you know what this does for me??  Absolutely nothing. I do not benefit from focusing on what I should have done in the past nor what I need to be doing in the future. Here’s the thing about the past, what’s done is done. I cannot change past events, but I can reflect upon my mistakes and hopefully apply all that I have learned to the person I am right here, right now.

I read once that we as humans shouldn’t try to complete our knowledge about life, but instead, we should be lifetime learners so that every moment of life is an opportunity for growth.

In order to fully embrace those opportunities today, we must take our focus off of what we wish we had done but didn’t as well as what we wish we could be doing if only “this, that, and the other thing” would work out in our favor. Instead, we need to shift our focus to today. What is it that you should be doing right now?

We yearn to be successful in all that we do, yet too often we simultaneously get ahead of ourselves AND hold ourselves back because our focus is misplaced. At the end of the day, God already has a perfect plan for your life so there really isn’t a need to obsess about planning the perfect future. By letting go of you and embracing Him you can begin to shift your focus on how you can fulfill His will. Bend your plans to match His by looking for His guidance each day and following His direction as you receive it one step at a time. More importantly, one day at a time. Trust me when I say that it is impossible to try and bend God’s will to fit your plans. Obsessing over the past and the future only distract you from God’s guidance, making it difficult to know exactly which step is the right one.

The truth is, I find myself in the boat of distraction more often than I’d care to admit, but that’s the point! We all mess up, but God always takes us back. It is easy to lose focus on the present. Living with epilepsy has prompted me to wonder how different my life would be if only I had been able to change certain decisions in my past. I know from personal experience that the choice to wander through the maze of past mistakes only leads me further away from Him. Luckily, God always rescues me by providing me with His map of guidance. He has taught me a lot about how to live with epilepsy. The temptation to ponder the notion of “what if?” will always be there, but thanks to God I feel better equipped to handle such a question…

The reality is, I am exactly where I am supposed to be according to God’s will so there is no need to wonder about the past. Okay, confession time…My greatest wish in my past is that there was more information on the subject of Catamenial Epilepsy when I desperately needed to know how to live with such a condition when I was first diagnosed.

Epilepsy Insight #11 is inspired by this wish. I may not be able to change my past, but I’m hoping I can change someone else’s present (and eventually future) by sharing 3 simple tips I have learned while living with Catamenial Epilepsy for the past 11 years. Watch the video below to learn more!

If you have any questions or comments regarding the information I shared, please feel free to contact me via email (katie@seizethedayblog.com) or Instagram (@seizethedayblog). Thank you!

 

 

 

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.

 

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Filed Under: Articles, Epilepsy Tagged: absent seizure, advice, catamenial epilepsy, epilepsy, epilepsy insight, epilepsy insight #11, God, grand Mal seizure, help, life, partial seizure, personal experience, seize the day, seize the day blog, seizures, tonic clonic seizure

May 3, 2020

Epilepsy Insight #10: Make Your Own Lotion

May 3, 2020

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

Sources:

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

 

Medical Disclaimer:

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

 

 

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

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About Me

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

SAYhello

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