The
Daily
Fix
Endurance Choice
Jambalaya with Cauliflower Rice
High-Intensity Exercise and Seizure Control
Pick one of the following:
Row 5K
Run 5K
Bike 10K
Swim 1K
A spicy, savory skillet of shrimp, sausage, and chicken simmered in Cajun-seasoned tomato broth with buttery cauliflower rice and classic Creole vegetables.
Case report used high-intensity exercise to reduce seizures in an already keto patient.
If you have access to a pool or water, swim. If not, choose your least favorite from the list.
Post choice of exercise, and time of completion to comments.
Ingredients
For the proteins:
6 oz chicken thighs, diced
6 oz Andouille sausage or smoked sausage, sliced
6 oz shrimp, peeled and deveined
Vegetables & Base:
2 Tbsp butter or tallow (for cooking)
½ small yellow onion, diced
½ green bell pepper, diced
1 celery stalk, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup diced tomatoes (no sugar added)
2 tsp Cajun seasoning (no added sugar or fillers)
½ tsp smoked paprika
¼ tsp cayenne (optional for extra heat)
Salt & black pepper, to taste
2 cups cauliflower rice (fresh or frozen)
½ cup chicken broth
Optional Finishing:
1 tsp olive oil (for off-heat drizzle)
Fresh parsley or green onions for garnish
Lemon wedge (optional for serving)
Macronutrients
(per serving, makes 4)
Protein: 27g
Fat: 20g
Carbs: 5g
Preparation
In a large skillet, melt 1 Tbsp butter over medium-high heat. Add sausage slices and brown for 2–3 minutes. Add chicken, season lightly with salt and pepper, and cook for 4–5 minutes until browned. Remove sausage and chicken from the pan and set aside.
In the same pan, add remaining butter. Sauté onion, bell pepper, and celery for 4–5 minutes until soft. Add garlic, Cajun seasoning, paprika, and cayenne; cook 1 more minute until fragrant.
Stir in diced tomatoes and chicken broth. Return cooked chicken and sausage to the pan. Simmer uncovered for 8–10 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and sauce to reduce slightly.
Add cauliflower rice and shrimp to the skillet. Stir to combine. Cook for 5–6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until shrimp is pink and cooked through, and cauliflower rice is tender. Adjust seasoning to taste.
Remove from heat. Drizzle with olive oil if using, garnish with chopped parsley or green onions, and serve with lemon wedges if desired.
This case report describes a woman who developed drug-resistant epilepsy following surgery to remove a low-grade brain tumor. After more than a year on a stable regimen of anti-seizure medications, a ketogenic diet, and moderate exercise, she continued to experience about four seizures per month. When she began a high-intensity CrossFit program three times per week, her seizure frequency fell to two to three per month—a 33% reduction that was maintained throughout the six-month observation period. She also reported improved quality of life, resolution of suicidal ideation, and a return to part-time work.
As a single case report, the study cannot determine whether high-intensity exercise directly caused the improvement. However, the authors note that intense exercise produces physiological changes—including increased ketone production, higher GABA and adenosine levels, and altered brain metabolism—that could contribute to seizure control. They conclude that high-intensity exercise appears safe for people with epilepsy and warrants further study as a complement to existing metabolic and medical therapies.
32:25.5
2:54 avg/500