10 Tips for a Successful Cleanse Day

Isagenix Newsletter, Jan 2012


We all know that incorporating regular Cleanse Days is key when you’re creating a healthy lifestyle. From the toxins in our air, food and water to our sometimes overindulgent habits, our bodies are in desperate need of a break and are yearning for high-quality nutrition.
So, how can you ensure a successful Cleanse Day so you can stick with your new Isagenix healthy lifestyle and experience energizing results?
Take a look at our top 10 tips for a successful Cleanse Day:
1. Set aside one day a week. When we’re embarking on a lifestyle change, we have to break habits. By setting aside one designated day a week, you’re setting an appointment and committing to a new schedule. Extra tip: Consider having your Cleanse Days on Mondays following the weekend when you might have overindulged a bit.
2. Review your Cleanse Day necessities. Check your pantry in advance and make sure you have enough Cleanse for Life®, Ionix® Supreme, Isagenix Snacks!™, Natural Accelerator™, IsaDelight Plus™, IsaFlush® and Ageless Essentials™ Daily Pack vitamins to get you through your Cleanse Day. Not only will you have everything you need, but it will also help eliminate any excuses.
Isagenix 100-Pound Club Member and 1-Star Golden Circle Lisa K. adds “the night before my Cleanse Days, I prepare everything—from my four cleanse drinks to my snacks. Print out the daily worksheet on IsaProduct.com (in the tab “Worksheets for Success).” Extra tip: Add your most frequently used products to your monthly Autoship so you never run out.
3. Call your health coach. We all need support and advice and that’s why you have your enrolling sponsor! Call him or her and ask them any questions you might have about your next Cleanse Day. Or, if your cleanse coach is not available, tune in to our free question and answer IsaProduct Coaching Conference Call Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. Pacific Time or Monday through Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Pacific Time with Dr. Ina Nozek.
4. Ask for accountability. Whether it’s your enrolling sponsor, a helpful friend or someone else that is using Isagenix, accountability will help you stay on track. Cleansing with a group of supportive people who also want to succeed is another extremely helpful way to help get you through tough days, shares Isagenix Star Consultant She-She K.
5. Get rid of temptations. You looked in the pantry to make sure you had your Isagenix products—did you see anything in there that doesn’t belong in your healthy foods routine? If so, grab the garbage bag and start tossing away temptation! As they say “nothing tastes better than fit feels!”
6. Follow the Cleanse Day protocol. Isagenix Founder and Master Formulator John Anderson put together the cornerstone 30-Day Cleansing and Fat Burning system protocol and he knows the keys to creating a successful Cleanse Day. Be sure to incorporate your Isagenix Snacks! on deep Cleanse Days to stay balanced.
“Start with one at the beginning of the day, have the first four ounces of Cleanse for Life and then have one of the Snacks! every two hours,” advises 2-Star Golden Circle Janet S. Extra tip: You can find helpful videos on how to use specific systems like the 30-Day System at YouTube.com/Isagenix.
7. Take your weight and measurements. Progress is motivating! Be sure to start the day off with a quick hop on the scale and take all the applicable measurements so you can see how your body transformed during a Cleanse Day. And remember, even if you don’t see your weight budge, your inches likely have, so always take your measurements.
8. Stick to a schedule. Follow the worksheets or write out a very specific schedule for your day such as “8 a.m. 4 ounces of Cleanse for Life; 9 a.m. 2 Isagenix Snacks!, etc.”
9. Stay busy. Most of the time, your body is doing great, but your mind is consumed with thoughts of eating. Stay busy with low impact exercise like yoga or walking; make plans to go shopping (what’s more motivating than trying on a swimsuit or pair of pants?) or treat yourself in a way that doesn’t involve food.
10. Remind yourself of your goals. What’s your “why?” Remind yourself daily, especially on Cleanse Days, why you’ve decided to make your lifestyle change. From fitting into your skinny jeans and feeling energetic again to fueling your body with proper nutrition to achieve your fitness goals, your “why” will keep you focused and on track. Extra tip: Consider posting pictures or powerful phrases on your fridge, in your bathroom and in your workspace to constantly remind you of what you’re setting out to accomplish.
Set yourself up for success and remember, if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!
To add an extra level of accountability and even an incentive, join the IsaBody Challenge® today! With a $25,000 grand prize, a cruise, free trips, monthly drawings for product certificates and more, you’ll enjoy your journey to “fit” and be rewarded in more ways than one. Go to IsaBodyChallenge.com for more details.

Order Isagenix Products at www.baileysonestop.com

email: brenda.bailey.1@hotmail.com 

Let me be your coach!

Epilepsy and Nutrition

Epilepsy and Nutrition

Why Nutrition is a very important health-care issue, and why Nutrition is finally being recognized for the importance it plays in the maintenance, and promotion of optimum health

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Good Nutrition is part of the key to good health, to a long and healthy lifestyle, and the well-being it creates, and good nutritional habits never get old. Many of us think of nutritional deficiencies in terms of an inadequate diet. This is often the case.  Although diet has been clearly associated with human health it is now also clear that the benefits of good nutrition have been shown to help prevent degenerative diseases. It is now believed, that all chronic diseases are accompanied by nutritional deficiencies and imbalances in the essential chemical elements that make up the body.

Diseases currently cripple our society and clog up our hospital and health care systems. It has been shown that diseases like Heart Disease and Osteoporosis can be avoided by eating nutrient rich foods and avoiding fat loaded, highly refined foods. Heart Disease in particular has been shown by research to be significantly reduced by the supplementation of high doses of Vitamin E.  And that prevention of Osteoporosis in later years starts in early childhood with daily exercise, good nutrition and adding nutritional supplements that contain all the right ingredients in the right proportions that healthy bones need. Just as Folic Acid is essential for helping to prevent neural tube defects in newborns it also helps decrease the risk of osteoporosis.

It is also quite clear that biochemical interventions with dietary modifications are useful at reducing the frequency or intensity of seizures, if not eliminating many entirely.

But as much as 50% of these many important vitamins may be destroyed during storage, food processing and household preparation. The amounts of nutrients in many vegetables are so small that their effects are minute and that supplementation with vitamins and minerals is imperative to ensure that we give our bodies the best chance to fight off, and prevent, disease.

Studies show that a vast majority of people eat less than the RDA of necessary vitamins, minerals, calcium and iron. The RDAs should be more than just the avoidance of nutritional deficiency diseases. More emphasis on what nutrients are important for preventing diet-related disease and promoting optimal health should be considered. And it gets worse as we grow older. It is very important however to continue eating a variety of foods to get necessary nutrients as we age. You need more than 40 different nutrients for good health, and no single food supplies them all.

Vitamins are essential in supplementing our diet . Due to the poor crop rotation, use of chemicals, and soil erosion, it stands to reason that our soil has become nutrient poor and chemical rich. Hundreds of studies show that our already nutrient depleted crops lose even more of their meagre supply of nutrients by the methods of storage, transport, freezing, methods of processing, and cooking, by the time it gets to our dinner table.

Most people don’t eat a balanced diet and are therefore unable to get all the nutrients they need even enough of those as low as recommended by the “Recommended Dietary Allowances” official handbook. 

The huge amount of new studies that have emerged stating that specific nutrient supplements can prevent, or cure disease, has made many health care professionals notice the error of their diagnoses and come to realize that the Western diet is a major cause of disease. Symptoms of ill health are the consequence of nutritional deficiencies and chemical imbalances in the body. Many current medications including Anti-Epilepsy Drugs (AEDs) deplete nutrients that our body needs on a daily basis. Nutrients that maintain a healthy and disease fighting Immune System.

The medical establishment, and the public at large, is at last awakening to the knowledge that Vitamin Supplements play a huge role in preventing disease and ensuring a long and healthy life. As knowledge about Nutrition and the need for increased potency of Vitamins and Minerals becomes better researched it has become clearer that a high percentage of people believe in taking supplements, and that this proactive approach to their own health, and the prevention of degenerative diseases, will save billions of dollars in health care costs.

Your daily food selection should include bread and other whole-grain products; fruits; vegetables; dairy products; and meat, poultry, fish and other protein foods. How much you should eat depends on your calorie needs. In summary, eat a variety of foods, balance eating with physical activity, eat plenty of grains, fruits and vegetables, and be moderate in your consumption of sugar, salt, sodium, and alcohol.

Nutrition is finally being recognized for the importance it plays in the maintenance and promotion of optimum health and it is surprising to see how well the body responds to nutritional correction.

Our family also has to eat "Gluten Free" so having epilepsy and diabetes along with Gluten Free can be quite the challenge.   Good nutrition is so important.

For more information contact brenda.bailey.1@hotmail.com

Epilepsy Medications

EPILEPSY MEDICATIONS

It is not a topic people like to think about.  Epilepsy can be a fatal disorder. Individuals and families should be made aware of the extent of the risk. People can handle what they know. What they can't handle is what they don't know.

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Epilepsy is treated with drugs to prevent seizures, but it cannot be cured. The goal of a treatment is to decrease the number and severity of seizures while minimizing the drug side effects to increase the quality of life for patients. Epilepsy medications have changed quite a bit over the years.

But some people have may only have one type of Epileptic seizures, while others have more than one type.

Doctors must sometimes try several medications at different doses to find the correct treatment for a patient. Some older Epilepsy medications are no longer used because they have many side effects, including drowsiness, mood changes, nausea, rash, clumsiness, slurring of speech, unsteadiness, double vision, weight gain, sleep disturbances, and hirsutism (excess hair growth).

Sometimes the drugs can actually increase the number of seizures, or a person can develop an allergic reaction to a medication.

Medication treatment focuses on reducing the frequency and severity of seizures. People with Epilepsy may take several different drugs to control seizures, as no single drug controls all types. Some of the drugs used can include phenytoin (Dilantin®), valproic acid (Depacon™), Depakene®, Depakote®) and carbamazepine (Tegretol®), are commonly given.

For absence seizures, ethosuximide (Zarontin®) is preferred. Also sometimes added to a drug regime to help control seizures are Benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam [Valium®] and lorazepam [Ativan®]). Benzodiazepines are a family of drugs used to treat seizure disorders, as well as panic attacks, muscle spasms, anxiety, and insomnia. About 10 to 20% of Epilepsy patients do not respond to treatment and may require surgery.

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Below is listed just a few of the more well known Antiepileptic medications. Brand name listed first followed by generic.  R following the brand name stands for Brand name XR following means it has extended release. Similar information can be found on www.drugs.com

ACTH : generic name: adrenocorticotropic hormone.  Treatment of Infantile spasms. ACTH has been used since the late 1950’s to treat infantile spasms although this use has not been submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for approval.  ACTH is given by intramuscular injections.

Carbatrol^®:  generic name: extended release carbamazepine.  is used in the treatment of all types of partial seizures and in the treatment of generalized tonic clonic (grand mal) seizures.

Depakene/Depakote^®/Depakote ER^®:  generic name: valproate/valproic acid/divalproex sodium.  Treatment of partial or absence seizures by itself or as add-on therapy in adults and children 10 years and older. Though not FDA-approved, it is also effective in other primary generalized seizures. It is also used to treat mood disorders and headache.

Diamox^®:  generic name: acetazolamide.  was introduced as an antiepileptic drug in 1952. It has been used to treat a variety of seizure types, including generalized tonic clonic, absence, and as add-on therapy for partial seizures. It may also be prescribed to treat catamenial epilepsy (epilepsy related to the menstrual cycle.

Diastat^® Acudial^™:  generic name: diazepam.  A gel preparation of diazepman for rectal administration in the treatment of cluster seizures or prolonged seizures in the patient who has refractory epilepsy.

Dilantin^®:  generic name: phenytoin.  was developed in 1938 as the first modern antiepileptic drug and has been used ever since as first line therapy for partial and generalized tonic clonic seizures.

Felbatol^®:  generic name: felbamate.  As single or add-on drug for partial seizures with or without secondary generalization in adults and children over the age of 14 years.

·    As single or add-on therapy for children 2 years or older and adults with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome

Gabitril^®:  generic name: tiagabine.  treatment of partial seizures as add-on therapy in adults and children 12 years and older.

Keppra^®:  generic name: levetiracetam.  was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1999 as an add-on therapy for partial seizures in adults.

Klonopin^®:  generic name: clonazepam.  It may be prescribed for a variety of seizure types and syndromes, including absence seizures, myoclonic, atonic (drop attacks) and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. It is most often used as an add-on drug to other antiepileptic drugs.

Lamictal^®:  generic name: lamotrigine. Lamictal (La-MIC-tal) is used as add-on therapy for partial seizures (with or without secondary generalization) in adults and for partial and generalized seizures associated with the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome in children.

Lyrica^®:   generic name: pregabalin.  Lyrica^® (LEER-a-ka) is approved as add-on therapy in the treatment of partial onset seizures in adults.


 Mysoline^®:  generic name: primidone.  is used to treat partial seizures with or without secondary generalization and generalized tonic clonic (grand mal) seizures. It is available in liquid and tablets.

Neurontin^®:  generic name: gabapentin.  is approved in the U.S. as add-on therapy for partial seizures with or without secondary generalization (spread to become a grand mal seizure). It is available in capsules and tablets. This drug is not metabolized through the liver. The body gets rid of the unchanged drug through the kidneys.

Phenobarbital^®:  This is the oldest antiepileptic drug in common use. A barbiturate, phenobarbital was first used as an antiepileptic drug in 1912. It is used for generalized tonic-clonic and complex or simple partial seizures in adults and children. It may also be used for myclonic seizures.

Phenytoin:  Phenytoin is an anticonvulsant drug which can be useful in the treatment of epilepsy. Phenytoin can be prescribed for those experiencing tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures. Phenytoin is prescribed as capsules, tablets, and in syrup.

Tegretol^®:  generic name: carbamazepine.  Tegretol (TEG-re-tol) is is used in the treatment of all types of partial seizures and in treatment of generalized tonic clonic (grand mal) seizures. It is usually described as a first line treatment. However, it is not effective and may even have negative effects for generalized absence and myoclonic seizures.

Tegretol-XR^®:  generic name: extended release carbamazepine.  is used in the treatment of all types of partial seizures and in the treatment of generalized tonic clonic (grand mal) seizures. It is usually described as a first line treatment. However, it is not effective and may even have negative effects for generalized absence and myoclonic seizures.

Tegretol-XR is an extended release form of the drug, meaning that its active ingredient is released slowly in the body, avoiding the need for frequent dosing and large initial doses.

Topamax^®:  generic name: topiramate.  is approved as an add-on medication for adults and children (2 to 16 years old) with partial seizures with or without secondary generalization or primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures and for seizures associated with the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. It has been reported to be successful in myoclonic epilepsy and may have a role in the treatment of infantile spasms.

Tranxene^®:  generic name: clorazepate. 

Trileptal^®:  generic name: oxcarbazepine.  is related to Tegretol, TegretolXR, Carbatrol, and Epitol (carbamazepine). It was developed in an effort to combine the effectiveness of these related drugs with fewer side effects and drug interactions.

Valium^®:  generic name: diazepam.  Because of its rapid entry into the brain, Valium is used in the treatment of status epilepticus (non-stop seizures).

Zarontin^®:  generic name: ethosuximide.  Treatment of absence (petit mal) seizures

Zonegran^®: generic name: zonisamide.  it was approved for use in the United States as an add-on drug for adults with partial seizures.


Ask yourself these questions

· How are you doing?

· Is your treatment working?

· Are you feeling as well as you'd like to feel?

· How much of an effect is Epilepsy having on your life?


Maybe you feel that it is time to check with your Health Care team to see whether there may be other medicines, new devices, or other treatments that might offer better answers to how you are feeling and coping.

Epilepsy Terminolgy

Descriptive Words Relating to Epilepsy

A description of Medical Terms and Diagnostic Terminology that you may come across when dealing with Epilepsy or seizures.

 AEDs

Anti Epileptic Drugs

ANTEROGRADE MEMORY

The ability to form new memories; memories for events occurring after a problem such as a head trauma or seizure.

AMBULATORY EEG MONITORING

A system for recording the electroencephalogram for a prolonged period (typically 18 to 24 hours) in an outpatient; the electrodes are connected to a small cassette tape recorder.

ADJUNCT

Something added to another thing in a subordinate position or use; for example, an adjunct drug is one used in addition to another drug, not alone (add-on therapy).

AUTOINDUCTION (of metabolism):

A process in which continued administration of a drug leads to an increase in the rate at which the drug is metabolized

AUTOMIC  

Pertaining to the autonomic nervous system, which controls bodily functions that are not under conscious control (e.g., heartbeat, breathing, sweating); some partial seizures may cause only autonomic symptoms; changes in autonomic functions are common during many seizures.

AUTOSOMAL DOMINANT

A mode of inheritance in which a gene is passed on by either parent; in most cases, the child has a 50% chance of inheriting the gene; the expression of the gene (that is, the development of the physical trait or the disorder) can vary considerably among different individuals with the same gene.

AUTOSOMAL RECESSIVE

A mode of inheritance in which an individual has two copies of a gene that requires both copies for expression, or development, of the trait. Both parents must be carriers (that is, they have only one copy of the gene and, therefore, do not have the physical trait that the gene confers) or have the trait (that is, have two copies of the same gene).

AXON

The part of the nerve cell (neuron) that communicates with other cells, similar to a telephone wire; the axon is often covered with myelin, an insulating fatty layer, which functions similarly to plastic around a copper wire.

CATAMENIAL

Referring to the menses or to menstruation; with regard to women with epilepsy, a tendency for seizures to occur around the time of the menses.

CEREBRAL HEMISPHERE

One side of the cerebrum (upper brain); each hemisphere contains four lobes (frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal).

COGNITIVE

Pertaining to the mental processes of perceiving, thinking, and remembering; used loosely to refer to intellectual functions as opposed to physical functions.

COMORBID

A disorder that is present in association with another

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (CT):

A scanning technique that uses x-rays and computers to create pictures of the inside of the body; shows the structure of the brain; not as sensitive as MRI.

CONSCIOUSNESS  

State of awareness; if consciousness is preserved during a seizure, the person can respond (either in words or actions, such as raising a hand on command) and recall what occurred during the spell

CONVULSION

An older term for a tonic-clonic seizure.

CORPUS CALLOSTOMY

A surgical technique that disconnects the cerebral hemispheres and is most effective in reducing atonic and tonic-clonic seizures.

CORTICAL DYSPLASIA

An abnormality in the development and organization of the cerebral cortex that can cause seizures and other neurologic disorders. These disorders can result from abnormal migration of nerve cells during development or can occur with disorders such as tuberous sclerosis or Sturge-Weber syndrome.

DEJA VU

Feeling as if one has lived through or experienced this moment before; may occur in people without any medical problems or immediately before a seizure (i.e., as a simple partial seizure).

EFFICACY

Effectiveness

ELECTRODE

A conductor through which electrical current enters or leaves. When used to record the electroencephalogram, a small metal disc attached to a wire is usually used.

ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAM  (EEG):

A diagnostic test of brain electrical activity; helpful in diagnosing Epilepsy.

EPILEPSIA PARTIALIS CONTINUA

A continuous or prolonged partial seizure that causes contraction of the muscles; usually restricted to the muscles of the face, arm, or leg; usually not associated with impairment of consciousness.

EPILEPTOGENESIS

The process(es) that lead to the development of epilepsy

EPILEPTOLOGIST

A neurologist with specialty training in epilepsy.

EXCITATORY

Stimulating or increasing brain electrical activity; causing nerve cells to fire.

FEBRILE SEIZURE

A seizure associated with high fever in children aged 3 months to 5 years, usually a tonic-clonic seizure; benign in most cases.

GAUCHER’S DISEASE

A lysosomal storage disorder due to a deficiency of glucocerebrosidase resulting in accumulation of glucocerebroside; high incidence among persons of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.

HEMISPHERECTOMY

A surgical procedure to remove a cerebral hemisphere (one side of the brain); the operation is now often modified to remove a portion of the hemisphere and to disconnect the remaining portions.

HYDROCEPHALUS

A condition associated with obstruction of the cerebrospinal fluid pathways in the brain and accumulation of excess cerebrospinal fluid within the skull. 

HYPERVENTILATION

Increased rate and depth of breathing; may be done during the EEG to increase the chances of finding epileptiform or other abnormal activity

HYPSARRHYTHMIA

An abnormal EEG pattern of excessive slow activity and multiple areas of epileptiform activity; associated with infantile spasms

ICTAL

Referring to the period during a sudden attack, such as a seizure or stroke.

IDIOPATHIC

Referring to a disorder of unknown cause.  

IDIOSYNCRATIC

Pertaining to an abnormal susceptibility to some drug or other agent, peculiar to the individual

INTERICTAL

Referring to the period between seizures

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI)

A scanning technique that creates pictures of the inside of the body and the brain; uses a strong magnet (does not use x-rays); more sensitive than CT

MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY (MRS)

A scanning technique that examines the atoms hydrogen and phosphorus to glean information about chemical activity in small areas of the brain.

MAGNETOENCEPHALOGRAPHY (MEG)

Recording the brain's magnetic activity, which is generated by its electrical activity

NARCOLEPSY

A condition characterized by sudden and uncontrollable attacks of sleep.

SHARP WAVE

An EEG pattern indicating the potential for epilepsy; “benign” sharp waves are not associated with seizures

SINGLE-PHOTON EMISSION COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (SPECT)

A diagnostic test that uses a very low and safe dose of a radioactive compound to measure blood flow in the brain; not as sensitive as PET for baseline (interictal) studies but can more readily be obtained during a seizure.

STATUS EPILEPTICUS

A prolonged seizure (usually defined as lasting longer than 30 minutes) or a series of repeated seizures; a continuous state of seizure activity; may occur in almost any seizure type. Status epilepticus is a medical emergency, and medical help should be obtained immediately

SYMPTOMATIC

Referring to a disorder with an identifiable cause; for example, severe head trauma can cause symptomatic epilepsy

SYNDROME

A group of signs and symptoms that collectively define or characterize a disease or disorder; signs are objective findings such as weakness, and symptoms are subjective findings such as a feeling of fear or tingling in a finger.

THERAPEUTIC BLOOD LEVEL

The amount of drug circulating in the bloodstream that brings about seizure control without troublesome adverse effects in most patients. “Subtherapeutic” (lower) levels are effective in some patients, and “supratherapeutic” or “toxic” (higher) levels are tolerated by others

VAGUS NERVE STIMULATOR (VNS)

A pacemaker-like device, implanted in the upper chest, which stimulates a nerve in the left neck and can reduce seizure activity

VIDEO-EEG MONITORING

A technique for recording the behaviour and the EEG of a patient simultaneously; changes in behaviour can be correlated with changes in the EEG; useful for making the diagnosis of epilepsy and localizing the seizure focus

WEST’S SYNDROME

An epileptic syndrome characterized by infantile spasms, mental retardation, and an abnormal EEG pattern (hypsarrhythmia); begins before 1 year of age.

For more information contact brenda.bailey.1@hotmail.com

Live Well with Epilepsy

Suggestions of how you can live well with Epilepsy

Control of Epilepsy Seizures

Three of the most important goals in your life when living with Epilepsy and Seizures are:

1.  Keeping the seizures under control

2.  Having the minimal amount of side effects possible

3.  To be able to live a full life and the ability to cope with your condition the best way you can.

Don’t these three goals sound like the life you would love to have?  And here is the good news - it is possible!!

We all know about the medications and other treatments available, but we must do our part as well.  Below are a few things that may affect your life, and tips on how you can make it more livable.

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Knowing what your Triggers are, is a very important key.  Your lifestyle can greatly influence your seizures.  It is not necessarily the fault of your medication that more seizures are happening at a given time.  These seizure Triggers can be different for everyone.  Know how to recognize what yours are and learn to keep them under control.  (It is like going on a diet, taking the diet pill, but never doing that exercise, eating all the wrong things and expecting the medication to do it's thing.  I wonder what would happen if we had done our part as well?  This is why the Triggers are important as well.  Drugs alone can not do it.  We want to be seizure free, we want to have no side effects, then let's do everything we can to get reach  that goal.  Just imagine how happy you would be on achieving this!  http://www.2betrhealth.com/what-Triggers-Epilepsy-Seizures.html This page also has a link to download a tool you can use to help you keep track of, and record, your seizures day by day. 

Don’t let a stigma worry you. It is not your fault, and it is possible that sometimes a thoughtless comment was not meant for you, but you could possibly be extra sensitive at time. Just remember that a thoughtless remark made is just that- a remark made without thought by another person.   And generally speaking it may not even be a person you know or in fact who knows you, the person on the other side of the street.  They could be reacting to what their partner said to them at the time and happened to look your way.  Not meant for you at all!!  It is their problem not yours, you are not going to let this upset you. Just let it flow past. Keep smiling and being positive.

Driving or not driving a vehicle, either by your own choice or the choice of others, can be a very delicate subject especially when it comes to getting to work or to a doctors appointment.  It is surprising though how often others come to the rescue and there may be other means of transportation available.  Think of the money you will save.  Everything has its good side.   Why risk your life as well as that of others.  http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/driving.html

Epilepsy in the workplace at first glance may look to be a real hassle and problem. But be honest with your employer and co-workers and you will stand a better chance of earning respect from them. Yes, you may have to take a different job or by just making some adjustment to your work area. A new project work area can be not only a challenge but also enhance your skills.  Learning something new you may think of as difficult, but with the proper attitude it can really be fun.  Meeting different people, learning new skills and becoming a leader in your field.  Be proud of yourself for a job well done. Think of many others out there who don’t have the opportunity of having any job at all.  You are one of the fortunate ones.

Keeping tabs on your seizure activity. The importance of tracking your seizures by means of a daily Diary cannot be stressed enough.  This will help not only yourself but also your Doctor find out in what areas in your daily life you need improvement. Your Diary and your Trigger List work together and are both very important in helping control your seizures.  What happens when you track you seizures? (example).  You now find out that you cannot stay out in the sun too long, so you  will just go for that walk in the evening. A win win situation has just been made.  You did not have to have another medication added, that was possibly not the problem, but it was because you were spending too much of your time in the sun. What about different foods you have been eating?  Your sleeping pattern? Once you know all these little tips and adhere to them you may find that your seizures are possibly decreasing.  After all, it may not be the fault of your current Medication at all that you are now having these new breakthrough seizures but may be caused by a Trigger, or something else that is happening in your life. Adding more Medications or changing to a different medication would only bring you new side effects until your body got used to them. This added stress is something you don't want.  Use this knowledge to your advantage.  Take control of your life the easy way!!

Keep your daily records and check out your Triggers!!. http://www.2betrhealth.com/what-Triggers-Epilepsy-Seizures.html

Keeping a Diary of your seizure activity is just like keeping your personal diary.  This is meant to keep track also of all the good days and not just the bad.  Using your trigger list, which we can provide, as a guide, plus adding your own personal Triggers can be a big help.  Also keeping each month's records for some time prior to seeing your Dr. or Neurologist can be a very useful tool as you may find that your seizures increased immensely during certain seasons.  Take all these records with you to your next visit with your doctor.  By sharing this detailed information with your doctor, it will help him gain a much deeper insight to what is going on.  It will help him answer questions you may have but not always think about while in his office. 

Here is a link to a tool you may find of assistance as it will help empower you with all kinds of information and details you may need  

http://www.neomedsoft.com

Gain deeper insight into your seizures and triggers

Share that detailed information with your doctor

Improve your treatment and long–term care

 Empower yourself with more information

Help your doctor find the right seizure treatment

Improve seizure control

Epilepsy and Sports.  Appreciate that there may be some sports that you need to be extra cautious about being involved in, or that you would may to have someone else present with you. But generally speaking with the proper equipment and forethought there is no reason that you should be holding back from having the fun you once had. Keeping fit is good for the brain.  It helps keep your weight under control and the loss of weight can mean a new shopping trip for more clothes.  Give yourself a new makeover and feel good about yourself.  Doing this can bring your self esteem level up. And who doesn't like that idea.

Remember though that common sense plays a major role in any activities and it would probably not be a good idea to participate in some sports if you should not be feeling well. 

Keeping positive goals and being able to accept the fact that yes you do have Epilepsy even though it is not your fault.  Set your goals like you would otherwise but take them just a step at a time.  Setting achievable goals can help rebuild your self esteem and make you feel really good.  Should you have had a goal to be a famous singer some day, why can’t you continue with it?  If you are afraid of being on stage there is no reason why you can’t make CDs and become famous that way. Everyone has a special skill they are good in.  Maybe you are a poet, or a painter.  Take that theme and run with it.  Others will be proud of you and appreciate your art work as well. There is always a way should you want to find it.  You don’t want to let the psychological aspect of your Epilepsy affect you. This is where depression, anxiety, and other problems will come into play. By accepting the fact that it is not your fault, and that it is who you are, you will become happy within yourself.  You are proud of who you are, of what you do, and of all your friends you have.  This feeling of happiness shows through and others will pick it up immediately and even more true friends come out of the woodwork. 

You all know that some of the side effects of the Medication you need to take may affect some mood changes.  Learn how to get these under control by speaking with your Doctor.  You don’t have to live like this.  Possibly he/she can suggest some things you can to do to minimize these changes which that can be of great help for you.  Take advantage of these suggestions.  Once you have accepted that you are who you are, and the fact that you have Epilepsy is not your fault, these mood changes will begin to disappear.  Your whole attitude changes and you will become a happier person.

Anyone can suffer from depression but it can often be a side effect of some medications.  Be wise about choosing the correct medication for your condition. Don’t try to diagnose yourself, and don’t try to prescribe your own medication as this can cause more harm than good. Once you find out why you are depressed,  and what caused this condition to occur, you can begin to take the steps to correct it.  Accepting the fact that you have Epilepsy and that there are a lot of others out there in the same situation, or worse off by far than yourself, can help you find ways to cope.  Why not find a partner and take a daily walk or take up a new craft or hobby.  Do not under any circumstances stay in that box you have built for yourself.  Get out and do something, meet others and enjoy life.  Life is too short to not enjoy what is left to enjoy.  

It is possible though that the depression could have been, and quite often is, there before the Epilepsy was diagnosed. http://www.epilepsynl.com/lwedepression.html

What about memory loss? This is one of the main topics of conversation among people who suffer with from Epilepsy.  This happens especially if you have had seizures for a long period of time and been on medication just as long.  There are many ways of coping with this as well.  Don’t panic, that is the last thing you want to do. Many with Epilepsy get in a panic situation because they can not think of a word when needed, yet it is right on the tip of their tongue.  Take a little time, forget about the subject for a moment and do something entirely different.  That word will come to you just like that.  You are sitting at your computer, you know what you want to say but you can't think of that one word to describe it.  Get up from the computer, take a walk around the house or have a glass of water.  Then come back and it couldn't be clearer, it is right there in front of you.  Never fear, memory doesn't get clearer with aging either and who can say they are getting younger each and every day.  Once again it is not your fault.  Take time to make little notes and pin them up where they will be best used and easy to reach.  No one will know the difference when they see you going to the fridge.  You may have gone to look up a word and at the same time you can get yourself something to drink.  Problem solved, and no one will question it.

For more information contact brenda.bailey.1@hotmail.com

Health and Wellness - Nutrition

What is Health & Wellness?

It is what we desire for ourselves, and the people we love. But do you know what is to be healthy? To be well?

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Question: If you don't think you've achieved your optimum health level yet, how will you know when you have achieved it?

Answer: Find concepts that have helped others achieve healthier lives. Then use those ideas to reach and maintain your own optimum lifestyle.

Here are some of these concepts, all backed by mainstream research. This information is trustworthy: it uses current research and information and is easy to understand. Health & Wellness are certainly within the reach of anyone who really wants to achieve it. These ideas include a practical definition of Health and Wellness, a basic knowledge of what your body needs, and a short biology lesson. Also the prevention of degenerative diseases is touched on, and the possible need for nutritional supplementation is reviewed.

For most people, Health and Wellness is a physical AND mental state. It is the overall feeling of fitness: of having all your body systems performing the way they are meant to: without pain or discomfort: and a desire deep within you to conquer your own world! To have lots of energy and confidence!

Here is a very quick and informal Biology lesson.  Some of the major nutrients that your body requires are proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. In order to function efficiently, these are required on a regular basis and in the specific amounts. Nutrients are digested and absorbed through the digestive wall of your stomach and intestines, and then transported via your blood stream as sugar to the individual cells in your body. Your cells then use them to maintain and rebuild body tissue. They also perform all the necessary body functions.

As well as that they are needed to activate, regulate, and control, many of the metabolic functions that take place in your body. One of these important functions is to maintain your body's natural defense system: the immune system. This is your GREATEST ALLY against disease! This defense system helps your body resist infection and is very dependent on good nutrition! Unless you eat a variety of foods, you may not be getting all the nutrients you need. Also the need for some nutrients can be increased or modified when the body is stressed: i.e. surgery, infections, illnesses, etc.

Under normal conditions, each cell in your body develops in a very orderly fashion. Your body is made up of trillions of cells and these make up your systems. Very simply, when old cells wear out, new cells replace them. Your body totally depends on what you feed it. No two people require the same amount of energy though they might be the same size, sex, and age. Instead there is a wide range of energy "intakes" that can be considered adequate.

If you have kept abreast of environmental information in the last few years, you would be somewhat concerned with the knowledge that our air and water pollution has increased dramatically. That the use of pesticides and antibiotics has increased. Our fast-paced lifestyles require prepared (over-processed foods) that have little or no nutritional value. Busy lives are stress-filled and leave little room for relaxation. The list can go on ...these tax your immune system tremendously.

Nutrition is a very important part of your everyday decision process. Good nutrition will provide your body with the energy, and strength, and the building blocks it needs, as well as the ability to heal and fight off infections and diseases. Poor nutrition causes fatigue, weight gain, or loss, and subsequently you are unable to give your system all it needs to remain healthy. It allows the degenerative process to get a foothold. There are well over 30 nutrients that your body needs every day. If you can't get all the required nutrients through diet, nutritional supplements may be needed to support your body against these chronic (degenerative) diseases that are just waiting to attack your cells.

Some of the essential components for maintaining good health are Vitamins, Minerals, Essential Fatty Acids, Amino Acids, Calcium and Fiber. These are all essential for protecting your cells and providing the nutrients needed for your body to function at its optimum level. In addition to the essential vitamins and minerals other elements that are called "optimizers" may be used to enhance and supplement individual needs. When you provide your body with nutrients at optimal levels, the body is then able to function at a high level.

In this day of biochemical research when we are now able to determine what is happening in every part of every cell, the very essence of degenerative diseases is coming to light. Oxygen that is so necessary for life has a dark side to it: oxidative stress. You could end up with one or more of these degenerative diseases. It is a well-known scientific fact that degenerative diseases are preventable. The prevention of the progressive discomfort and end stages of many of these diseases makes it well worth- while for you to consider some preventable measures now.

The safest way to start your journey of PREVENTION is to work with a low fat, low carbohydrate, high fiber diet and include a moderate exercise program. AS ALWAYS, CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR FOR APPROVAL. You will also, most probably, want to find a very effective, complete, balanced nutritional supplement program to supply the missing, but necessary dietary support.  Your greatest defense against disease is your own healthy body. Common sense says that you need a strong, healthy immune system that will maintain and protect your health.

There is a strong connection between your body and your mind.  Many people are afraid of pursuing this idea to any degree. They feel that if you can't see it, it doesn't exist. However, this connection is very real. For your own wellbeing, you would do well to at least acknowledge it and use it to some degree. For example, it is a well-known fact that if you act enthusiastically even when you don't feel it, you WILL eventually FEEL it! So instead of focusing on losing weight, focus on becoming healthier. See yourself as having loads of energy: of doing a specific sport or activity that you wouldn't normally think you could do. Let your mind get you started on a healthier and more enjoyable lifestyle.

To develop and maintain a life-long lean body it is essential to develop a winning attitude. Realize that this could mean changing some unhealthy habits and counterproductive thoughts.  The importance of nutrition in staying active and energetic is now widely accepted. Nutrition is about what you eat and how this food affects your body and health. Health happens when your body is fed optimally and provides you with energy and enthusiasm. And the best way to get achieve this is through a balanced diet. You want to do everything possibly can do to enhance the quality of your life.

This is not alternative medicine. This concept is well supported by research from respected mainstream medical and nutritional journals. You need to look at your present nutritional level to see if it meets your needs. (Does it give you the energy you require? Are you always ready to do those things which you really love doing?) If it doesn't meet your needs, then start to look at what you eat because it's the only way for "energy" to enter your body.

If you take an active part in your health prevention today, it will repay you handsomely later on. And that "pay back time" doesn't have to be far, far down the road. It can be a little as next month or two months from the start. For most people it averages between three to four months: then they really have noticeable changes. Our bodies are all different, and they all require different levels of nutrition to create the necessary energy. BUT it does need some basics.

Once you understand this whole concept, it won't be difficult to look at degenerative diseases in a very different and encouraging light. LIFE can be whatever you choose to make it.

For more information contact brenda.bailey.1@hotmail.com