Vim & Vigor - Winter 2011 - North Mississippi - (Page 17)

Knowledge The mineral is important for strong teeth and bones, which store more than 99 percent of the calcium in the body. As bones break down, the body pulls calcium from reserves to rebuild and remodel. (An increased intake of dietary calcium also appears to reduce PMS symptoms, but the same effect doesn’t occur with increased intake through supplements.) Dietary sources: Dairy products; leafy greens such as kale and broccoli; canned ﬁsh with bones; calcium-enriched citrus juices. Daily dose: The daily Dietary Reference Intakes for adults 19 and older is 1,000 milligrams a day; for women after 50, that goes up to 1,200. The NIH recommends not exceeding 1,200 mg a day, and consuming more than 2,500 mg a day could lead to adverse health effects. Dangers: Calcium can affect how the body absorbs certain antibiotics and bone-building bisphosphonate drugs, such as Boniva. Usually, taking the drugs at different times of the day will prevent the interaction. A Dose of Caution Dietary supplements may share shelf space with drugs at the store, but they’re not the same. Bill Calhoun, director of North Mississippi Medical Center’s Pharmacy, explains how important differences between the two affect how they’re labeled, marketed and regulated. It’s wise to inform your healthcare provider about supplements you’re taking, since some may cause adverse reactions or side effects when combined with medications. D • rugs (pain relievers, cough syrup, antacids, etc.) can claim to treat, cure or prevent disease, and require approval from the FDA before they’re available to the public. D • ietary supplements (vitamins, minerals, extracts, herbs) can’t legally claim to treat disease; instead, labels often describe how the ingredients normally affect body structure or function, in phrases like “calcium builds strong bones.” The manufacturer is responsible for truth in labeling, and the FDA must show that a supplement is unsafe—not just ineffective—before the agency can restrict its use. The Federal Trade Commission, not the FDA, investigates claims about misleading labels. Consumers should be wary of what they read on supplement labels, especially if it seems too good to be true, says Calhoun. Calcium eMAIl Subscribe to the FDA’s consumer health feed to have updates about supplements and food delivered by email or RSS feed. Go to fda.gov and choose your preference under “Get Updates.” Free Health Alerts, Delivered Instantly Vim & Vigor · WI NTER 2011 17 http://www.fda.gov

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Winter 2011 - North Mississippi

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2011 - North Mississippi
Contents
Opening Thoughts
Getting Back to Life
ACT Now!
Lingering Memories
Accumulating Accolades
Back in Action
Supplementary Knowledge
Keys to Survival
Clearing the Air
Mark Harmon of NCIS fame makes 60 look good
This One’s for the Girls
Life After a Loss
Do Your Diabetes Homework
Healthy Returns
Care for the Caregiver
Gaining Control
Moving Forward
Catch the Spirit

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2011 - North Mississippi