Girl with MS - Tips & Tools for Thriving with Multiple Sclerosis

Caroline Craven - Certified Life Coach, MS Advocate, Motivational Speaker, Writer & Patient Expert living with Multiple Sclerosis.

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More Than Just Spasms and Pain: What It's Like to Live with MS

Updated 2023

More Than Just Spasms and Pain: What It's Like to Live with MS.

by Caroline Craven

Creating a sense of well-being can help mitigate the negative effects of multiple sclerosis.

That’s what researchers in the Netherlands are saying in their recent study on the debilitating disease.

With multiple sclerosis (MS), the body can start to fail and falter due to various symptoms.
Feelings of “I can” are replaced with “I might be able to.”

“I still remember the first time I experienced muscle spasms in my arm and leg. I could no longer walk or sit normally. It scared me and made me wonder whether it was really my body as I felt totally disconnected from [it],” one person with MS recalled.

As the body is able to do less, experts advise healthcare professionals and people living with MS to focus on the what the body can do.

“I would like to know whether this paper resonates with the MS community,” Hanneke van der Meide-Vijvers, one study author and a postdoctoral researcher at Tranzo Tilburg University, told Healthline. “When it comes to healthcare practice, I strongly advocate a phenomenological perspective in which we start from lived experience rather than a body-mind dualism.”

Analyzing the MS experience

The study, entitled The Mindful Body: a phenomenology of the body of MS, focused on how people with MS experience their bodies on a daily basis.

The researchers concluded it wasn’t the body that’s limited, but rather the ability to live life fully.

For a person with MS, it’s not the lesions or physical disabilities that they experience on a daily basis. It’s the inability to make a cup of coffee, attend a concert, or drive to a friend’s house.
The phenomenological research design this study followed refers to a tradition of philosophy, originating in Europe, and includes the work of Sartre among others.

The study involved 13 women with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) for more than five years. The process included personal interviews that took place in the home, a coffee bar, or via Skype and FaceTime.

“It’s a very interesting study,” Kasey Minnis, director of communications for the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, told Healthline. “Rather than try to ignore their body, healthcare professionals should be trying to help individuals with MS feel positive within their bodies.”

This small study provides a glimpse into what it is like to live with MS.


 Living with MS means adapting

People living with MS may experience unusual symptoms.

After a long enough period, these unusual symptoms become mainstream. They become familiar with the strangeness.

A healthy person will consider exercising as long as they can. A person with MS will exercise as much as their body can tolerate. 

Ordinary tasks require planning and attention. When the possibilities of the body no longer match aspirations, the two become separated. 

“I once had a relapse and had to learn to swallow again,” shares one participant in the study.

The body effect

The study suggests that “a person with MS ‘splits’ her body to reconnect with her body.” 

“My mind likes to dominate over my body,” one participant said, “and now my body gets more chance to speak. There is more balance.”

When a person creates this type of emotional connection it’s called the “body effect”.
This emotion toward the body is reflected in the care given. The study found the 13 women committed to keeping their body in shape, exercising or paying attention to diet, more so than before diagnosis.

But, a person may ignore their limitations for a feeling of freedom. They continue behavior patterns that could be detrimental to their health.

In essence, they harm the body to nourish the soul. These dangers include sauna use, smoking, drinking, and other modifiable risk factors.

“We go to the sauna every Friday evening,” shared one participant. “After the sauna, I always have weak legs and I know the heat is not good for my body, but my spiritual well-being is also important. Going to the sauna is my way of unwinding.”

Evolving to live

A person with MS engages in modifying their body as the disease progresses. 
This process builds up what’s called the “habitual body.”

The actual body represents life before MS. The habitual body is what one creates with their conscious thinking and actions.

As time goes by, the memory of the old body fades and the new body becomes familiar.

This new body has most likely been altered and changed, so the person with MS must adapt to these changes.

“I had to learn to walk again,” one participant said. “I felt miserable because a lot of people in my neighborhood do not know I have MS. I had the feeling that everyone was peeking though the windows seeing me act weird.” 

Worried what others might think, she added, “but yeah, I wanted to recover and moving around was the only way to get there.”

The mindful body

Uncertainty leads to increased awareness and a new appreciation for the body.
A person with MS may find themselves in a constant state of bodily alertness.
This is called the “mindful body”.

“Yesterday I walked in the city center and did some shopping. I noticed that my legs started to swing and that I was more and more leaning against the person I was with. Then I realized it was time to go home,” said one participant. 



The researchers suggest that a person living with MS is always connecting with their body, either consciously or unconsciously, “listening to their body.”

This attention toward one’s body may allow them to live as well as possible because they’re aware of their limitations and create a life around them.

To adapt, they must relearn how to recognize the body’s signals. Someone may become especially sensitive to signs of fatigue, such as sensory issues, trouble communicating, or problems concentrating.

During the study, one patient responded, “MS is like the weather as I cannot predict how I will feel in three days, or tomorrow or even a few hours.”

The MS hug

People living with MS can experience bizarre and intense bodily sensations. Basically, the body takes over and wants full attention.

One example of this is the MS hug, a common symptom of MS.

“The MS hug is a feeling in my body. It’s like having an elastic around my waist that gets tighter. At that moment, my body enters a warning phase,” shared one participant. “Like it says, ‘Don’t do any crazy things anymore because were going to tighten it even more!’”

Sense of well-being

The body can also produce a sense of well-being for people living with MS.

They can get lost in their activities where they experience their body in a positive way.

One participant shared her experience with a cycling class.In the beginning, her legs felt heavy.“But, at a certain moment I was so in the flow of the lesson and busy with the group in front of my, that my body fell away,” she said.

Taking the body for granted



This study highlights that uncertainty is more about the here and now rather than the future or long term.

Uncertainty requires planning, loss of spontaneity, and distrust in body. So, the focus shifts to the body, not at the task at hand.

This also brings added anxiety.

Western society demands a fast paced life. Schedules become filled weeks in advance.

Study participants expressed problems with keeping up with society and the need to listen to their body.

They experience a constant struggle between what they feel they can do and what’s on their agenda.

Useful therapies

People in the study shared that they attended to their bodies in healing ways by walking, meditation, and dance.

“That’s one benefit of our health and wellness program, which provides exercise and wellness classes,” said Minnis. “Adaptive exercise and recreation can help a person appreciate what their body can do, despite any limitations, and to feel more in touch with their bodily needs.”

“We’ve observed that participating in these activities has more than just physical benefits,” she added. “They often increase mental clarity and emotional well-being.”


Editor’s Note: Caroline Craven is a patient expert living with MS. Her award winning blog is GirlwithMS.com, and she can be found @thegirlwithms.



One of my favorite articles about life with MS. 
This original  article posted on 9/22/18 and is reprinted with permission from Healthline.com



Posted by Caroline Craven 4 comments:
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Finding Confidence to Travel with Multiple Sclerosis

Thank you Arctic Cool for this opportunity to find better and more effective tools for MS patients!   We appreciate your continued support of our blog and MS community. originally posted in 2017, I still wear my Arctic Cool gear all the time and now it’s 2023!

Traveling with MS is  never easy.  But there are some tips and tricks to make things easier.  With a good-size adventure on the horizon I've been testing some new gear and getting psyched.  One of the biggest concerns with traveling is not knowing how one's body is going to react.  Will the MS subside?  or will it roar its ugly face in mine?

Heat sensitivity can affect many of those with MS.  It will take me down faster than a nano second. SO, I'm getting out the defensive gear and cooling off!

I'm trying out a new cooling shirt to prep for possible hot weather.  We are traveling form Jackson Hole, Wyoming, (Grand Teton National Park) to Yellowstone National Park to Crazy Horse Memorial then Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota on a tour by Tauck Bridges tour aptly called "Cowboy Country".

Here I am trying out my new shirt from Arctic Cool:


And here I am after climbing a really big hill to get to the local teepee.  Yes, we have a teepee nearby.  Local people own it and hike there often.  It's a treat to visit and this day was no different.

Sporting my Arctic Cool shirt
- for when the sun decides to come out!

Caroline Craven at top of Bee Teepee Hill - 6.4 miles Rountrip

#takethatMS

Looking out over La Canada, the 210 freeway, and downtown Los Angeles off in the distant.  What a beautiful day!  Cloudy and cool but that's great for many of us who suffer from heat sensitivity.  I had my Arctic Cool cooling shirt on and several times had to take off my wraps and cool off.  Then, when the clouds and breeze came back, simply put my over shirts on my back.  Love the fact the cooling shirt had it's cooling technology.  It definitely gave me a small boost of confidence on ths hike and sometimes that's all one really needs to make a big difference in their life.  A little bit of confidence.

Feeling primed and ready - Here we come Rocky Mountains!

Cowboy Country - The Trip

The weather forecast was for blue skies and mid to high 70's.  Pretty darn perfect but that sun can be sneaky and warm one of up faster than appreciated, especially if that person has a malfunctioning thermostat in their body, such as many an MS patient who suffer from heat sensitivity.

So, despite the cool forecast, my go-to shirt throughout this 10 day trip was my trusty, short sleeved Arctic Cool in Navy Blue.  Here are some pics of me throughout my trip sporting this cooling device.  And there were times that my gratitude for this shirt was overwhelming.  One day in Jackson the temps were nearing 90F, which for this girlwithms can be detrimental.  It's one thing to be in warm temps but another to be walking around, outside, watching over young people and old people, with little escape in sight.

Our trip began with a beautiful two day stay at the Jackson Lake Lodge.  Out for our morning stroll before getting the day started, I'm sporting my tank top from Arctic Cool.  The morning was still brisk but the tank and the yoga pants made for great clothing during my stretching routine.


more photos...

We saw beautiful wildlife on our tour of the Grand Teton NP as well as in Yellowstone NP.  

One of our bison...


Old Faithful.  hot just thinking about it.  The ground is hot. The energy is hot. The atmosphere is hot.  let's just say, the cooling shirt was worn every day and put on with a big sigh of relief.  


One thing I noticed though was the stench that comes from wearing a shirt like this everyday.  SO, easy fix - just hand wash it in the bathroom sink with gentle soap and hang to dry.  Easily dry by morning.  Mine was washed everyday - and trust me, it needed it!


We took a rest outside of Yellowstone National Park to check out a hunting lodge in Pahaska owned by Buffalo Bill Cody.  So cool.   The sun came out and boy was I glad that my navy blue Arctic Cool shirt was there to keep me cool.



We saw quite a bit of wildlife throughout the trip.  Some was difficult to shoot while others were easy as pie.  Easier than pie really.  

This little elk was close by but driving and behind glass makes for not the best photo. But at least the memory was captured and sometimes that's the best part of a photograph.   


More photographs...

We took a river float trip on the Snake with the Grand Teton Lodge Rafting Company and saw a variety of birds including this bald eagle.  


The trip was great and our guide was excellent.  Just happens that our guide, Wayne Johnson, is a local writer and knows quite a bit of history about the area.  Our raft was full of information and insightful thought.  Fascinating, really.  

Again, the morning started out brisk and cool, but we knew the sun was coming.  Sporting my Arctic Cool cooling shirt, another shirt and a fleece started out the morning on the water.  Come afternoon the shirts were off the cooling shirt was doing its job - keeping me cool.  

My Arctic Cool cooling shirts have become my new trusty stand-by.  Especially as temperatures are starting to rise for the coming summer months, the tank is put on when yoga or activities are involved.  Navy blue short sleeved cooling shirt used for almost every other event.  

How do they work?  There are tons of little, tiny microns that sense your rising body temperatures and activate a "cooling" technique within the fabric.  Well, maybe not exactly like this but that is my interpretation from a layman's standpoint. The point is, it works, and that is all that really matters to me.  

I just heard that they have come out with a long-sleeve version.  Thank you Arctic Cool!   Can not wait to try the long sleeve white shirt for the coming summer months.  Talk about hiding from the sun and saying:  #TakeTHATms!   


Click Here for more info about Arctic Cool and Cooling Shirts.  Thank you!

The trip didn't end with the wildlife.  We ventured on into South Dakota and took on Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore.  And, once again, my cooling shirt saved the day.  

Crazy Horse Memorial, South Dakota
It was a gorgeous day, but go to a memorial, with tons of people and lots of stairs and add a few museums, walks and bookstores and you have one tired puppy.  Yep, this puppy was hot and tired.  But the few degrees that the cooling shirt kept me, under the sun protection of a long sleeve blouse, kept this photographer very happy.  In fact, I felt a bit too confident... maybe.  But that's OK. 

Mt. Rushmore, South Dakota

Considering I used to freak out and be scared to leave the house if temperatures went over 80F, the fact I can now explore memorials, spend time with my nephews and see the world with confidence?  I'll take that all day long!   

###

 This blog post was originally posted in 2017 and was sponsored by Arctic Cool and rightly so.  They make a great product designed to help us live better with MS.  Thank you Arctic Cool for all you are doing to help our MS community.   

Click Here for more info about Arctic Cool and Cooling Shirts.  Thank you!  
Posted by Caroline Craven 3 comments:
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Girl with MS Support Group & BelongMS are here to help!

Help!   I definitely need extra support during these epic times.  How about you?  


As many of you know, my focus is Conquering MS with Self-Care.  Self-Care means a lot to different people but for me it represents a combination of awareness, education, action, and medical expertise.  As people living with MS, the need for social connection is essential in keeping us sane. At least it is for me!  


One of my most asked questions is “Do you use an app or other social media to help with your MS?” And the answer is Yes. 

I’ve used and tried different apps and social media outlets over the years and each has slightly different offerings and options.  After being shut down by facebook due to a hacker, (My story here) I knew I needed something more reliable.  

For my current life with MS, I have chosen BelongMS (part of Belong.life) to share my twenty years of experience to help others.   

We created a Girl with MS support group.  And it’s not just for girls. As a certified life  coach, nutritional educator, health journalist and someone living with MS for twenty years, we have stuff to talk about!  There are many tips and tricks and just over all support that will help us live better with MS. Will help us all say, #takeTHATms!  

  


And now we can chat directly via Belong.  Anyone with MS can join Belong and find tons of support, friendship, expert advise and even clinical trials. Once the Belong app is downloaded and you have registered (click here for app), then you can scroll down and see the different support groups.  Mine is circled below and is the Girl with MS.  Join me!  




The Girl with MS Channel is all about Self-Care.  We’ll talk about different ways to take care of ourselves, ways to find ourselves and ways to support each other.  



Because if I don't take care of myself, this is how I end up feeling:  

  

But when I do take those extra steps, those extra little measures to take care of myself like medical visits, and extra caution,



I can have days like this: 



I’m looking forward to “seeing” you on Belong and having a channel to talk directly with all of my MS friends out there.  If you already have Belong App, then look me up and let’s chat!   


MS is a challenge but together we’re stronger.  Together we can support ourselves with questions, answers, encouragement and laughter.  Together we can BELONG!    


And together we can say #takeTHATms! 



Posted by Caroline Craven 4 comments:
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MS is like an iPhone Battery...and I need a recharge!

Keeping ones battery charged with MS can be as tricky as keeping an iPhone going all day. Remembering to turn off location services and programs running in the background is vital to keep an iPhone chugging along. But how do we do this with MS?

How do we turn off those programs running in the background. That constant chatter of energy being wasted. Do we meditate? Medicate? Or both. 

And when it comes to our location services, how do we unplug ourselves from those wanting our energy? Do we withdraw? Or de we become strong and set boundaries?

So much in life has changed with my MS. Every decision, every thought is focused on how it will effect my mind, body and soul. While this is a good thing in the long run sometimes one really just wants to kick down a loaded cappuccino, go for a hike, enjoy a pipe on a cold and rainy day while reading Harrison, drink a glass of wine or two with good friends, tie some flies, hop in the car and drive...just drive. A certain since of freedom is stripped when a disabling disease like MS hits. Freedom in so many ways. Once a road warrior. I am now a shuttling sissy.

It started with a panic attack on the LA freeway amongst heavy traffic. No escape. Panic stricken, batteries faded fast. Eyesight diminished rapidly. Then the convulsions and dry heaving that would randomly hit never made it safe. Let cramps, not good for driving either. While these issues don't happen all the time, they've occurred enough for me not to trust my body, understanding now that my batteries could crash at anytime. Knowing this makes me feel vulnerable and vulnerability creates fear. Too much fear can strip us of our lives.

To a point we can quick charge our batteries: caffeine, tobacco, provigil, sativa, sugar, etc. But how long can we quick charge before the battery won't take a charge? And when we are left stranded there is no back up battery. No way to plug into the wall and recharge. We have only one battery. We must take care of it.

So how do we turn off those extra programs running? Visually I imagine the blinders on horses. Those eye guards that keep the horse looking ahead and not distracted. "Put your blinders on Caroline" and get to work. Focus on one project. Or one meditation. One walk in the rose garden. The point is to have just this one program running. And turn off all others. Blinders. This works for me, most of the time.

But there are those times when it doesn't work. When I need a distraction. And another distraction. And again and again until I have six programs running and my battery bar is slipping fast. "Put those blinders on." But sometimes it just doesn't work.

Then, finally, I stop everything and go lie down in a nice cool place that's not to bright. Closing my eyes and just being quiet. Recharging. Ahhhh. It takes strength to keep our batteries charged. To know what we need to do to take care of ourselves. To unplug from others when we are on low battery and turn off our location services.

For me this meant learning a lot about boundary setting. Rules. My rules for my health. This can be hard on friends and family. Setting boundaries can take a lot of explanation, patience and communications. But it's essential for defining our needs to keeping us alive and void of fear. To live life on a full battery. That's my goal. To manage my software and take care of this battery before it won't hold a charge.

Let's do this. Let's keep our batteries charged. Let's rid ourselves of fears and vulnerability. It's time. It's time to take charge and recharge.

#takethatMS

Posted with BlogsyPosted with Blogsy



Posted by Caroline Craven 7 comments:
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Escaping the Red Zone of MS

Sometimes this is not very easy to do, keeping your clothes on, with MS. Summer months are brutal and just hiding out by the AC doesn't cut it for most folks. Planning ahead with cooling devices is best but sometimes we simply wake up in the "red zone", inflamed and sensitive, a red flag for a relapse.

When I'm in the Red Zone the first thing done is to rate the shade of red. Am I getting a little pink or have I fried myself?

And then ask myself why?

  • What did I do yesterday?
  • What did I eat?
  • What was the temperature?
  • How did I sleep?
  • What's on my agenda today?

What can I do now to move into the "Blue Zone"?


Hanging by water is a great option. Pools, rivers, lakes, oceans provide instant relief from warmer temperatures. But not all of us have this opportunity nor can we often remove our clothes to cool off so improvise we must.
Quick tips:
  • Cool shower. Even Luke warm is fine. Just hop in the shower for instant cool down.
  • Wet bandanna around cooling points: neck, wrists, ankles
  • Ice water, drink it, pour it on your head, pour it down your shirt!
  • Wet shirt, cool off body. Huge help in the Sahara when my guides put my shirt in the crocodile infested waters so I could cool off. They don't have ice on safari in Tanzania, FYI.
  • Juice it! With Cooling, anti inflammatory and detoxing foods such as cucumber, apple, pineapple, etc.
  • Visualize the Blue Zone:
Ahhhhh....feeling cooler already. Now, not to mess it up.
 
That means to watch diet and activities all day:
  • Cooling foods
  • Activities by AC
  • Water, hydration
  • Reduce stress and get those items checked off to-do list
  • Have fun brainstorming on some new projects
  • Find balance
  • Be at peace
  • Mellow in the "Green Zone"
So, How do you deal when you're in the Red Zone?

Originally posted in 2015. Still pertinent today in 2022! 

Posted with BlogsyPosted with Blogsy
Posted by Caroline Craven 2 comments:
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Self-Care Challenge: Sit Quiet and Rest the Mind

Challenge accepted!


Time to "Make a Change - Make a Difference"

“SIT QUIET and Rest the Mind”

Start with 1 minute, one day, then grow to 5 minutes for five days.

Set a timer on your phone/watch so you're not thinking about time.

As your mind begins to wander, remind yourself that everything will be there when you are done.  And, that you will find answers and solutions at that time but for now we are to rest and be quiet.

Breathe deep.  Inhale through the nose.  Exhale through the mouth.  Seek always the quiet.

Find a quiet place and clear the mind.  This will not be easy but let your mind find peace in absence of thought.



Wellness begins in the heart and with a grounded body mind and soul.

"I am worthy of a healthy life"

Let these intentions carry you away into a beautiful positive life.




Join us on BelongMS - a safe community for you and your MS   

Finding peace and quiet with my Belong MS community, a safe place to discuss Life with MS with people who understand.  Join my channel or one of the others for tips, help, support, friendship and more. #belongMS 

App download:    https://go.onelink.me/PGKk/3c90cc47




SHARE your experience:

Instagram – Facebook – Twitter

Because together we’ve got this!

#challenge #makeachange #livebetter  #takethatms #selfcare #BelongMS


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Brain Restoration, Sleeping with Sabrina and NAD+

2:07 AM and I’m wide awake.

Seems to be a trend for me lately. Sleep will happen, eventually, but at what cost to my health?  I’m ready for a change.

During one of my conversations with Stephen Camp, the founder of Avior Nutritionals, (makers of Myetin - a high dose biotin with NAD+), he brought up the concept of brain restoration.

Brain restoration?  We can restore our brains?  I love this concept!


Courtesy iStock

I definitely wanted to learn more.

So, he set up a meeting with a functional medicine specialist, Dana Leduff, CHC and practice manager for Dr. Knight at Knight Integrative Medicine.

Have you ever heard of NAD+?


I have heard mentions of it but really do not understand it fully.   I was psyched to learn how brains restore and what this means for us living with MS.

NAD+ levels decline as we age, or so the research indicates.  AND it is critical for cell generation and health.



“NAD+ creates calming neurotransmitters in your brain,” Leduff told me.   OK, my MS brain definitely needs calming.

I took this straight from the Wikipedia - “Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a cofactor found in all living cells. The compound is called a dinucleotide because it consists of two nucleotides joined through their phosphate groups. One nucleotide contains an adenine nucleobase and the other nicotinamide. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide exists in two forms: an oxidized and reduced form, abbreviated as NAD+ and NADH respectively.”

We are talking about the oxidized version, NAD+,in this article.  But what does this mean for me?

“NAD+ is a cofactor involved in the Kreb cycle.  It stimulates ATP which is the fuel equivalent that runs all of our cells,” Leduff explained, “NAD+ is a kick start for the engine.”

The Kreb Cycle is also known as the TCA cycle (tricarboxylic acid cycle).  It’s basically the chemical reactions to release stored energy through oxidation of acetyl-CoA derived from carbohydrates, proteins and fats into adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and carbon dioxide. It provides the process to make the fuel we need to run our engines. NAD+ is this fuel.

“It affects a lot of other metabolic pathways.  If depleted or burned through, adding NAD+ could help gain greater resilience,” she said, “We could have more stockpiled.”

“Imagine having a bad starter to your car,” she said.  Well, that’s easy to do!


“If you could take a product that could provide NAD+ it could help the Kreb cycle.”  Which in turns help the brain restore by helping mitochondria reach a healthier state.  

“An out-of-balance level of NAD+ may be a result from genes that don't make enough or don’t break down the macronutrients to pure NAD+,” Leduff informed me.  “When they become in balance it could create changes in circadian rhythm and sleeping patterns.”

Leduff further explained, “As in gardening, we need soil enriched with the right things.  In the human body, NAD+ provides the right fuel.  It turns a bunch of switches on that might have not been activated due to limited fuel.”

“We want to send as many healthy microbiomes to the brain,” informed Leduff as these could help restore the brain

Research claims benefits.


One interesting article I found was put out by the Translational Medicine of Aging.  The title hit a chord with me, “Therapeutic potential of boosting NAD+ in aging and age-related diseases discusses NAD+, it’s benefits and clinical usage.”

NAD+ is synthesized by natural NAD and several precursors.  Precursors have shown possible benefits in research.  But, “NAD+ in Myetin is the activated form of NAD+ which the body can use in its current form and is not affected by any genetic polymorphisms,” stated Leduff.

One precursor, NR, was found to be beneficial for glucose levels in diabetics.  In neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s it’s been shown to help memory, motor function and mitochondrial function as well as protect from neuronal cell death.

Another precursor, NAM, helps with oxidative stress and more:  In the model of obesity, it has able to restore glucagon storage to similar levels as age-matched standard-diet mice as well as ameliorate diet-induced hepatosteatosis, oxidative stress and inflammation.

The study found that inhibiting the age-related decline in NAD+ levels is critical for preventing age- or disease-related frailties. It also found that strategies that could potentially boost NAD+ levels include exercise, fasting, and maintaining a healthy diet, and by boosting with supplements.

But these precursors are not the same as NAD+,” Leduff explained.  “And there are many precursors available for sale.”

“Whenever claiming to be a particular molecule. We want a form that’s most bioavailable otherwise those genetic mutations could make  the process more sluggish or not happen at all so the body can’t benefit from it.

Leduff warns, “Many companies claim to have NAD but they are talking about “precursors” of some form.   Avior Nutritionals  has the only blend available that is the pure active form of NAD+.”

Leduff suggested that patients who want to find more personalized health plan, could find their answers in functional medicine.



Sleeping with Sabrina


After talking mitochondria a bit, I still wanted to learn more.  So, I connected with sleep specialist and certified brain fitness coach, Sabrina Cadini .

She does not have MS.

“I was sick and we couldn’t figure it out for a long time, so I decided to heal myself with self care, nutrition, sleep, etc.,” Sabrina said.   A familiar story to so many of us.

“I wanted to share my story and inspire others - switched to coaching. We need to educate people today that there are other options.”

What is a brain fitness coach?

“We help others take care of their brain before it’s too late.  We help with nutrition, exercise, sleep, and self-care.  Are they too stressed or do they need to enhance their brain function?” Explained Sabrina.    

“The body and brain are so tightly connected,” she said, “ For example, if people move the body releases hormones and detoxifies the body - it’s a chain reaction.  They don't realize how the body works and just follows the medicine prescribed.”  

Mitochondria


“I can’t say enough about mitochondria!” Shared Sabrina.

“These energy powerhouses are some of my best friends when I work with my clients. Considering that mitochondria can also help us with cell growth and the support of the nervous system, I can’t ignore their importance in my coaching practice.

“None of my clients knows about mitochondria, but when I explain the critical role of mitochondria as the source of our cellular energy, their view of everyday life and optimal lifestyle completely shifts. They feel more motivated to follow my program that focuses on nutrition, sleep, exercise, and stress management to improve their energy levels and overall health.

“Since mitochondria are directly connected to sleep and most specifically to our circadian rhythm, I always stress the importance of a good night’s sleep. If our circadian clock is impaired due to lack of sleep, or inconsistent sleep patterns, our energy production will decrease, and our overall health can be impacted: symptoms can include fatigue, pain, and susceptibility to illnesses. This, in turn, can negatively affect the circadian rhythm, creating a vicious cycle.


Circadian Rhythm 


“I’m also learning a lot about NAD+ and how mitochondrial dysfunction can result from declining NAD+ levels in our body. I have to say, I feel blessed to live in this era where science and genetics are making progress every day, and more and more research studies give hope to many people suffering from chronic and autoimmune diseases.




Sabrina suggests that once we understand our biological clock, it’s better to understand what we’re doing and going through.

Hormones with light and darkness really run the show. Melatonin night time.  Cortisol and adrenal during the day.

“Understand and take better care of yourself,” Dana recommends, “Be more respectful for sleep routine when the night comes.”


Sabrina’s Sleep Tips


“Unplug,” recommends Dana, “the use of technology is a big disrupter.”

“Watch the blue light  - the kind we absorb during the day via sunlight - but if we keep absorbing it then we can’t produce melatonin so it disrupts the circadian rhythm.”

Then, Sabrina gave me these great tips to help reset the circadian rhythm along with NAD+.

Sleep Tips 

1. Reduce blue light/devices
2. Software called Flux changes color of screen based on time zone to adjust/tint with red as the day progresses
3. Windows 10 on a PC?   Look for screen tint, regulated with red/blue light.
4. Reduce TV, devices, etc.
5. Put phone in airplane mode - reduced EMF (electromagnetic fields)
6. Swannies - Blue light blocker glasses
7. Keep room where you sleep as dark as possible.
8. Consistency is KEY -
1. Regular time to bed, regular sleep patterns
2. Do not catch up on sleep - “if it’s gone, it’s gone.”
9. Exercise can help sleep patterns.  Don’t exercise later in the evening as its stimulating and may cause problems falling asleep.
10. Caffeine - stop by 3pm - leave 6-8 hours before bedtime.
11. Napping - less than 30 minutes, or might enter deep sleep and feel more fatigued upon awaking
12. Relaxation techniques:  yoga, breathing, meditation.

I’m definitely beginning to understand better.

NAD+ is critical for our cells and fueling our brain and body.  It helps keep all those scientific parts in balance and the mitochondria healthy so it can send harmonious energy to the brain.  “Calming neurotransmitters,” Dana called them.

And understanding how the circadian rhythm plays a role sort of ties the whole brain/body connection together in one tight package.

Very curious for sure.  This NAD+ and its role in helping me sleep.   Self-care at its  finest.

Just one more way we can say #takeTHATms!


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