April 2024
Dear All… as we enter the second quarter of 2024 with a unique Solar Eclipse... and the promise of warmer weather…
Sharon Roberts has authored a wonderful article for us: Food for Thought …a Brain Enhancing Formula. We are all becoming more and more aware of the quality of the food we eat, the glyphosates, the GMOs, the additives and preservatives. Having moved to Vancouver Island, Sue could not be more grateful for the free run eggs and fresh, organic vegetables that appear on nearby farm stands, local meat and fish. Nutrition plays a considerable role in our brain health… we hope you enjoy the article… and if you have views to add to our discussion, please join the May 1 ‘Come to the Dyslexic Table’!
April is busy !!! We are filming our documentary, working title ‘Who Knew?... Everyone is Able to Learn’ April 21-24. Sue is grateful to our National Screen Institute Mentor, Maureen Levitt, to our Director, Kelly Conlin, all the film crew and all the participants. It’s exciting and very much part of our goal to ensure many learning challenges can be prevented.
Sue and Julie presented two sessions at the Making Tomorrow Conference for Early Childhood Educators – April 13 - Victoria. Sue delivered information about our different way of thinking and Julie shared some of her experiences with the ECE Professional Development pilot which included the Davis Learning Strategies for Early Years.. all of which was very well received. It is our hope that we can persuade the Ministry of Education to extend this pilot. We meet the Minister of Education for BC’s Chief of Staff on April 25. All positive energy sent our way is much appreciated!
Sue and Julie have a two part session at the Decoda Conference – April 19 – Richmond
An inspiring story from Nadine Schumont.
I'm excited to share an incredible experience I had during my recent visit to my hometown of Whitbourne, Newfoundland.
While visiting my hometown I had the opportunity to return to my old childhood school, Whitbourne Elementary, and it was a real treat. The kids were so enthusiastic to learn about words and the three parts of every word: how we see, say it, and the meaning of each word.
They were surprised to learn about ADHD and how it can be a gift, helping you to learn faster and think in unique ways. Seeing their excitement and understanding was inspiring.
However, the learning didn't stop there. I also had the opportunity to chat with the Whitbourne Army Cadets and their parents. We talked about the importance of embracing differences and how each of us has something special to offer. It was also inspiring to see both kids and parents open up to new perspectives.
My journey continued with a second visit to Chapel Arm Holy Family Elementary School. The kids there were just as eager to learn and discuss. We had great conversations about diversity and inclusion, reinforcing the idea that our differences should be celebrated. These experiences were a reminder to me of the importance of fostering empathy and understanding in our communities.
I'm grateful for the opportunity to have had these conversations and share the joy of learning differently.
Let's continue to embrace our differences and celebrate the unique qualities that make each of us special.
Nadine…
Licensed Davis® Dyslexia Correction Facilitator, Davis Autism Approach® and Davis Concepts for Life® Facilitator, Why Tyrannosaurus But Not If?" Parent Course Facilitator
www.pictureperfectlearningsolutions.com Tel: 519-508-1486
This video found its way to Sue and despite being dyslexic, Sue actually loves language (just not too much of it), and finds the origins fascinating. She hopes you do. ‘ The Alphabet Explained.. the Origin of Every Letter’ RobWords
COME TO THE DYSLEXIC TABLE - Episode #12 - ‘Food for Thought …a Brain Enhancing Formula’
JOIN US for our 12th Live Chat on May 1st at 4.30pm Pacific. We’ll be discussing ‘Food for Thought …a Brain Enhancing Formula’.
You can read Sharon’s article HERE, please RSVP for your zoom link.
Food for Thought …a Brain Enhancing Formula
There are many factors that affect the orientation method which is the key factor in a Davis® program, such as noise, pain and fear. Life happens and much of this we have minimal control over. There is one thing we can control and will affect how we think and use our orientation tools and that is nutrition.
Much of what I suggest is based upon years of working in the health industry, listening to a variety of podcasts and training in nutritional counseling besides personal experience. These suggestions are purely things to consider and of course, when in doubt, go to your medical advisor. Meanwhile I will attempt to sift through the information presented as of now; nutritional science is new and constantly evolving.
In general, most people do better on a higher-protein, lower-carbohydrate diets to enhance focus. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that your body can’t function without. Their job is to carry chemical signals (“messages”) from one neuron (nerve cell) to the next target cell. The lack of, or depleting amounts of the neurotransmitter dopamine is often the culprit which decreases attention spans. This is why people with ADHD for example, are provided medications that increase dopamine levels. Altering your diet, according to many functional medicine doctors, can produce similar effects. Dopamine increasing foods are beef, poultry, fish, eggs, seeds (pumpkin and sesame), nuts (almonds and walnuts), cheese, protein powders, and green tea.
Food quality affects how your brain and body work. One way to increase performance is to drink plenty of water as your brain is 80 percent water. Anything that dehydrates it, such as too much caffeine or alcohol, impairs your cognition and judgment. One rule is (with the exception of those who are obese) is to drink half your weight in ounces daily.
It is important to start each day with protein to boost your focus and concentration. Protein helps balance your blood sugar, increases focus, and gives your brain the necessary building blocks for brain health. Eating carbohydrates that do not spike your blood sugar and are high in fiber, such as those found in vegetables and fruits, like blueberries and apples is beneficial. Carbohydrates are not the enemy; they are essential to your health. Bad carbohydrates, the ones that have been stripped of nutritional value, such as sugar and simple carbs, are the problem.
Sugar is not your friend, it increases inflammation in your body (which leads to inflammation in the brain, as well) and erratic brain cell firing. Rule out refined carbs as they are loaded with sugar or substances that are easily broken down into sugar in the body. They trigger a quick spike, then a crash in blood sugar levels that leaves people feeling spacey, confused, tired, and inattentive. In addition, simple carbs spike serotonin levels in the brain, which make you feel temporarily happier and more relaxed. This sounds great, but serotonin can also give people a “don’t worry, be happy” attitude that drains motivation and drive…not exactly the best mindset for work or school, best to stick with smart carbs.
Avoid potential food allergens or sensitivities. A growing body of research shows that potential allergens—gluten, corn, soy, artificial dyes, sugar, artificial sweeteners, and dairy may trigger ADD/ADHD-like symptoms in some people. Food additives and colorings, such as red dye 40, can cause hyperactivity in children with no previous history of this problem according to a study in the The Lancet. Research from the ADHD Research Centre in the Netherlands showed 85% of children who followed an elimination diet showed an improvement of 50% or more and no longer met the criteria for ADHD. (https://www.amenclinics.com/blog/the-surprising-role-diet-plays-in-add-adhd).
If you do your own meal preparation and limit most of your grocery shopping to the outer aisles of the grocery store, you will have made great inroads into choosing brain optimizing foods. The only thing remaining is to watch pesticide use and note where your meat comes from. You are not only what you eat, but also what the animals you eat ate. For example, fish is a great source of healthy protein and fat but can also contain mercury levels. The larger the fish, the more mercury it probably contains, so go for smaller varieties. Safe fish choices with the highest omega-3s include wild Alaskan salmon, sardines and anchovies.
With the numerous distractions that are a part of your everyday life, it can be difficult to pay attention to the task at hand especially if a challenging nutrient deficiency is added to the equation. Sometimes you might need a supplement. For example, if fatty fish is not part of your diet, then you might need to take Omega 3’s. If you don’t eat plenty of dark green leafy vegetables, you’ll likely need magnesium and some research suggests most of us are deficient in this mineral.
We cannot always rely on our food to be of good quality. Many natural health practitioners suggest we take a multivitamin, Omega 3 fish oils and vitamin D daily. There are other supplements that can influence learning. There is no one size fits all solution and you may want to try supplements such as curcumin, grape seed extract or L-theanine. If you google these items on how any of these items affect the brain, you will find some convincing research. I personally found grape seed extract very effective.
One fairly new supplement is Lion’s Mane that I personally take especially when feeling a bit of brain fog. It is a mushroom that may be valuable for a child’s developing brain. According to research, its primary bioactive compounds, hericenones and erinacines, actively stimulate the production of nerve growth factor (NGF), a critical element for maintaining and organizing neurons in the brain. NGF supports neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to form and reorganize synaptic connections, which is crucial for learning and adaptability. (https://becomelucid.com/blogs/news/lions-mane-mushroom-for-kids#:~:text=Lion's%20mane%2C%20a%20powerful%20mushroom,organizing%20neurons%20in%20the%20brain.)
To summarise:
eat more protein, particularly at the start of the day
eat less carbohydrates
incorporate healthy fats
eat vegetables and fruit
avoid sugars which can be disguised as high-fructose corn sweetener, dehydrated cane juice; dextrin; dextrose; maltodextrin; sucrose; molasses; and malt syrup
keep your grocery shopping to the outer aisles of the grocery store
cook from home as much as possible, eliminating processed foods
drink plenty of water
investigate some supplementation.
Happy Eating and Learning 😊!
Sharon Roberts, Davis Facilitator, Ontario https://dyslexia.ca/
Sparklebuds also came to our attention: “an educational initiative dedicated to providing specialized learning resources for children with ADHD, Dyslexia, Autism, Gifted Students, and more”. They sent us three magazines to have a look at, and while we will not be listing them on our website, just let us know if you would like to see one. www.sparklebuds.com
CALENDAR
Making Tomorrow Count Early Childhood Conference – April 13 - Victoria
Decoda Conference – April 19 – Richmond
Come to the Dyslexic Table May 1st at 430PM Pacific
Save the Date – Fellowship of the Gift – Summer Camp June 2
We all wish you a wonderful month, full of sunshine, beautiful blooms, fabulous food, fun and success in whatever you enjoy and thank you for being part of our like-minded community.
Sue, Sharon, Nadine, Julie, Laura, Gisa, Tristan, Del, Paddy
WE’VE GONE INTERNATIONAL ! The Kakamega Project.
The WDS & The Kakamega Project team are on a mission ! To provide effective dyslexia education training to developing remedial tutors and supporting parents in Kakamega County, Kenya. We are very excited and honoured to be part of this initiative and look forward to telling you how it is unfolding. Visit our Campaign page HERE.
Nadine Schumont from Picture Perfect Learning Solutions in Stratford, Ontario is happy to announce the release of her “Neurodiversity" T-shirts and merchandise.
With every t-shirt sold, $5 will be donated to the Whole Dyslexic Society to use towards the many services offered. Click this LINK to see, and buy her exciting products.
Our Giving Guide:
NEW!! We have created some information pages on our website for Legacy Giving and Donor Advised Funds. These are ways in which you can support your favourite charity. You can read all about them on our Giving Page HERE.
Picture Perfect Learning Solutions Neurodiversity Shirts & Merchandise. Nadine Schumont has created a line of shirts and merchandise celebrating neurodiversity. You can view the range of styles and images through her store. For every shirt sold Nadine is donating $5.00 to The Whole Dyslexic Society. Check out her shop page HERE.
Purchase our Gifted with Dyslexia Pins. Purchase our Pins Here
TruEarth Eco-Friendly Laundry Soap and Products. 20% of all sales go to our Society. Please follow the link to our Tru-Earth product page to purchase. Tru-Earth Eco-Friendly Products Here
Donate a Car Canada. Looking for simple and free car removal? Donate a Car Canada accepts Vehicle Donations for The Whole Dyslexic Society. When you donate your car, truck, RV, boat, or motorcycle to The Whole Dyslexic Society through Donate A Car Canada, it will either be recycled or sold at auction (depending on its condition, age and location). Read more about Donate a Car Canada…….
See how donations can result in tax credits by reading the article below. Read More…Tax Benefits of Charitable Donations
Partial proceeds go to The WDS from sales and rentals of Ed Roman’s highly acclaimed “Red Omen” video. For more information on renting or buying Red Omen click here
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