This blog is focussed on dyslexia and hyperlexia. I have both conditions.

Some blogs will offer tools I have implemented to reduce the discomfort of being dyslexic and/or hyperlexic. I will also report on meetings I attend or other information that I feel might be useful for a dyslexic or hyperlexic.

If you wish to comment on this blog, simply scroll down to the bottom of this blog and hit comment.

My first topic is:

Removing refined sugar from my diet with healthy sugar substitutes.

I feel passionate about this step.  It has made a big difference in my life.

Background

I will be honest. It was not easy to do. In fact, it took about six months. But, removing refined sugar was worth it. The uncomfortable feeling of an inner rushing which ran up my chest and into my head all but disappeared. I thought this inner rushing was naturally me. Not true! And, now, I stay focused longer on reading tasks.

Suggested sugar substitute products:

This list comes from my shopping at Rainbow Grocery, 1745 Folsom St. San Francisco, CA. www.rainbow.coop They offer a wide variety of healthy products. These products can be bought nationwide.

Note: the abbreviation ECJ: refers to Evaporated Cane Juice as the sweetener.

1. Sugar substitutes for cooking and with tea or coffee etc.

• Agave Nectar: comes from a succulent plant www.wildorganics.net
• Brown Rice Syrup: www.lundberg.com
• Pure Maple Syrup
• Rapuzel/Rapadura: unrefined and unbleached cane sugar www.naturalgrocers.com
• Evaporated cane juice: ECJ
• Stevia: a sweet herb www.nowfoods.com
• 100% pure fruit juice

For more information on Natural Sweeteners check out: www.bodyandfitness.com/Information/Fitness/sugar.html

Comments:

• I do not use honey. It is too strong a sweetener
• I make a wonderful pecan pie, using the Joy of Cooking recipe substituting sugar with Brown Rice Syrup or Agave syrup and substituting corn syrup with pure maple syrup. My friends say it’s better than the original recipe.

2. Cereals:

• Nature’s Path; www.naturespath.com These products come in many different packaging types, the most economical is Eco Pacs which are large in content and reasonable in cost. Including:

• Corn Flakes sweetened with organic grape or pear juice

• Mesa Sunrise (flax, corn amaranth combined and are flakes) sweetened with ECJ

• Millet rice (in flakes) sweetened with organic grape or pear juice

• Peanut Butter Panda Puffs – for kids sweetened with ECJ *

• Barbara’s: www.barbarasbakery.com Many different selections
• Arrowhead Mills www.arrowheadmills.com

• Shredded Wheat: Sweetened with ECJ

• Organic Amaranth: Sweetened with fruit juice

• Kashi: www.kashi.com

• Oat Flakes with Wild Blueberry Chips, sweetened with ECJ

• 7 Whole Grain Puffs: no sugar

These are some of my favorite cereals which come in bulk size.

• Sunridge Farm: www.sunridgefarms.com

• Raspberry Muesli: sweetened with ECJ

• Organic Blueberry Muesli: sweetened with ECJ

• Raspberry Granola: sweetened with ECJ

• New England Natural Bakers www.newenglandnaturalbakers.com

• Banana Crunch Granola: sweetened with apple juice concentrate and rice syrup

3. Chocolate:

• Chocolate Chips.

Sunspire offers Grain Sweetened Chocolate Chips in both packages and Bulk. www.sunspire.com

I eat these chocolate chips as a snack. They are not too sweet and satisfy my sweet need. They are delicious in Chocolate Chip Cookies, etc.

• Chocolate Sauce: Ah! Laska Chocolate Syrup www.ahlaska.com

Sweetened with ECJ

• Cocoa: Unsweetened Chocolate sweetened with one of the sugar substitutes listed above

4. Cookies: Here are just a few examples.

• Nature’s Path. www.naturespath.com

• Enviro Kids: Chripsy Rice Bars: Berry, Peanut Butter etc flavors

• Earth’s Best www.earthbest.com (get how sweetened)

• Organic Whole Grain bars in pear, raspberry, cherry, apple

• Michelle’s www.michellesnaturally.com

• Chocolate Chip Cookies: Fruit Juice sweetened

• Annie www.Annies.com

• Bunny Graham cookies – Chocolate sweetened with ECJ

5. Drinks:

Soda: cola, orange, etc. sweetened with Stevia www.zevia.com

Spritzers: Grape, red raspberry etc. 100% fruit sweetened. www.knudsenjuices.com

6. Ice Cream

Ice cream made with milk and sweetened with ECJ

Alden’s Ice Cream: www.aldenicecream.com

Julie’s Organic Ice Cream: www.juliesorganic.com

Ice cream made with soy products and sweetened with brown rice syrup

Soy Delicious: www.turtlemountain.com

7. Jams

All these jams are fruit juice sweetened

Sorrel & Ridge: www.naturalgrocers.com/sorrel_ridge

Crofters: www.crofterorganic.com

Bionature: www.bionaturae.com

8. Yogurt

Brown Cow Yogurt sweetened with ECJ:

www.browncowfarm.com

9. Fruit

Don’t forget fresh fruit. That is the best source of natural sugar.

A future blog will discuss the symptoms I experienced while eliminating refined sugar and some of the steps I took to help myself through the detox period which lasted about six months.

If you have topics that you would like me to address about my experience in overcoming dyslexia and hyperlexia send your comments through this blog.

And, I am planning to continue evolving this site. I want to incorporate dyslexic and/or hyperlexic  information that others have to share.  Yes, I am looking for your ideas.  Send them via the Comments. below.

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Information on this blog is intended to complement, not replace, the advice of your own physician or health care professional.