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Epilepsy Insight #6: Water

 

The subject of water…at first glance, it seems like the most simple subject ever. However, if you delve a little deeper you will actually find a subject that has a lot of relevance in seizure prevention.

For starters, water is an excellent tool for gentle detoxification of your entire body. Unfortunately, our bodies come into contact with a variety of toxins on a daily basis. Whether it’s from food, environment, or cosmetics (just to name a few), we bombard our bodies with toxins that have the potential to do long-term damage. Personally, I have tried a few different tactics to rid my body of toxins, however, every attempt always ends in more seizures. Toxins can trigger seizures upon their entry and their exit if the detox method is removing too many toxins too quickly. When using green juices, fruit-infused water, or supplements for detoxification purposes, this can happen.

Don’t get me wrong, we want to remove these toxins, but achieving this feat would be best without increased seizure activity. Honestly, who wants more seizures??? Not this girl! Which is why water is my go-to tactic for this particular style of detoxification. Yes, it is going to take longer to rid large amounts of toxins from your system, but it will happen. Gentle detoxification is ideal when your body is already sustaining traumatic repercussions from each of your seizures.

In addition, replenishing your body with an increased intake of water for detoxification purposes also prevents dehydration.

Under extreme circumstances, dehydration alone is enough to cause the human body to have a seizure. Your brain needs A LOT of water every day in order to function properly. This is especially important for athletes and people who are often physically active whether this activity takes place indoors or outdoors.

Another helpful water tip people may not be aware of is the fact that there are certain types of water you want to avoid because they can act as seizure triggers. The ever-popular “Smart Water” product is one you want to avoid because it is infused with electrolytes. For someone prone to epileptic seizures, these electrolytes will accelerate your brain activity in the worst way possible that has the potential to result in a seizure when consumed.

Carbonated water, such as “Perrier” or sparkling water products, should also be avoided because they will act just like electrolyte infused water by accelerating brain activity. The result of this will be the triggering of more seizures. If you are given the options, Still or Sparkling, always choose “Still” if you wish to avoid increased seizure activity.

Watch the video below for more details on the subject of water in relation to epilepsy:

 

 

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.

New Year Resolutions: Embracing Positive Change in 2017

Since I acknowledged the arrival of a New Year in my previous article, HELLO 2017, I figured the only logical step left for me to take resides in the direction of Resolutions…cliché?? Maybe. But still worth discussing because it is a “new” year after all, and I wholeheartedly support the encouragement of making positive changes in the months to come.

Speaking of change, many people (myself included) always welcome a New Year with expectations. If we’re being honest with ourselves, we’re most likely also trying to calculate the amount of time we’ll spend on this new resolution/expectation before we decide it’s just too much work and give up entirely.

In all honesty, I’d rather not start my year off with failure…It doesn’t exactly set a positive tone for the rest of those 365 days. So, my advice to those reading this article is to think carefully about this and try to choose something you’d really like to change in your life right here, right now.

Personally, I wanted my resolution for 2017 to be something that has the potential to positively impact my body from the inside out in the long run of things rather than renewing that gym membership AGAIN.

Drumroll please….my resolution for 2017 is to drink more water. I know, I know, it doesn’t seem like much…in fact, taken at face value, this resolution can seem very minuscule, but in actuality it is a very important goal that has the potential to improve any person’s total body health in more ways than one. Drinking more water can help to flush toxins out of the body, it can promote skin clarity, and it is a fantastic habit for anyone on prescription medication. When life becomes busy, it can be very easy to neglect one’s liver and kidney health. Unless an actual medical test is administered, it is very difficult to know when these organs are struggling until it’s too late.

As someone who is used to taking prescription anti-epileptic drugs twice a day on a daily basis, I also know the long-term impact these medications tend to have on the kidneys and the liver. Therefore, if there is something else I can also do to counteract this effect it would be foolish not to pursue it! Drinking the appropriate amount of water each day can help to flush the “debris” leftover by medications out of the body completely. Now that I’m thinking about it, I guess you can say this is more of a life-long habit I would like to develop and keep, more than it is a resolution.

Plus, drinking more water just makes you feel good! As a fan of homeopathy, I have also found from personal experience that increasing my intake of water (rather than antibiotics) while I’m sick actually helps to accelerate the healing process. This is something that I absolutely love because of the aforementioned fact that I’m already flooding my body with more than enough medication on a daily basis.

In addition, I haven’t found many holistic forms of treatment, whether they be powders, capsules, or traditional remedies, that are compatible with my body due to the extreme sensitivities I have developed since my diagnosis with Catamenial Epilepsy. Hence, my supreme enthusiasm for water and the numerous healing qualities it possesses.

Taking care of a medical dilemma used to seem so simple to me before I turned sixteen. The presence of this simple outlook on the entire medical industry probably came from my whole-hearted faith in doctors and the “system” in general. Before I began having seizures, if I became sick my doctor always seemed to be able to come up with a solution in any instance…so why wouldn’t I have faith?

This is part of the reason why it came as a complete shock to sit before multiple neurologists and have each one give me that same dazed and confused look. Not one that further cements my confidence like with my previous doctors, rather, it was a look that told me something I wish I had known from the very beginning of my epilepsy diagnosis…I was completely on my own. Unless I found brain surgery or medication an ideal solution (which I did not), living with epilepsy was left up to me to figure out.

I wasted my time on multiple so-called “ brain experts” before I grasped the full meaning of this observation. It didn’t take long before the helplessness of my situation sank in and pushed me toward holistic medicine. If you read my HELLO 2017 article, I discussed my many blessings of 2016, but what I forgot to include was the (Holistic) lifestyle change that, despite making all the way back in 2010, has continued to lead me much closer to healing than any modern medicine strategy has ever managed to do. And 2017 is no different, it is only January and I have continued to reap the rewards of holistic medicine. Which is also why my resolution for this New Year embraces the very beneficial and holistic lifestyle habit of drinking lots of water each and every day.

As per usual, I cannot recommend or advise any of my readers to make any serious health-related lifestyle changes without consulting a medical professional first. I am merely informing my audience about the benefits I have already experienced by increasing my consumption of purified water and the benefits I hope to continue to experience during the rest of 2017.

That being said, please check out Seize the Day Blog next Thursday, February 2nd, for a recipe that incorporates four of my favorite healing ingredients…Purified Water, Ginger Root, Honey, and Coconut Oil.

If you have a favorite “healing” ingredient or remedy please share on Twitter or Instagram (@seizethedayblog)!

 

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.

All other Disclaimers and Policies for Seize the Day Blog can be found here: https://www.seizethedayblog.com/about/

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

Happy Hydrating!

 

Strawberry, Lime, Cucumber and Mint Water

Ingredients:

1 cup sliced strawberries

1 cup sliced cucumbers

2 limes, sliced

1/4 cup fresh mint leaves

Ice cubes

Water

Instructions:

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

Recipe courtesy of Back to Her Roots

 

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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.