WEST BLOOMFIELD NURSING CENTER IS THE HEALTH CARE FACILITY OF CHOICE v:s ALPHABET SOUP page 121 C7: 777' _2 e're proud to report that in a recent Health Department survey, West Boomfield Nursing Center was ranked in the top 3% of long term care facilities in Michigan for meeting or exceeding State and Federal standards. West Boomfield Nursing Center, recognized in the community as a top provider of health- care for the past ten years, continues to dedicate itself to serving the elderly population. We offer three levels of care: a beautiful assisted living environment, a post-acute rehabili- tation center, and a superb skilled care residence. These three centers provide you with a continuance of care without disrupting your lifestyle. Visit our outstanding facility and see why we're considered the B-E-S-T . Beaumont-affiliated offering Exceptional care and Call 248 661 1600 Superb service by a for more information. Talented staff. You and your family members deserve the BEST. - eest, kimdeid NURSING CENTER - The Alternative to the Commonplace 6445 W. Maple Rd. West Bloomfield, MI 48322 Beverly'Price sees a place for vitamins and supplements. ular condition, and begin to take large quantities of the supple- ment without the supervision of a health care provider. "Extremely large doses of any one vitamin may actually do more harm than good, causing an imbalance and potential for health complications." Price says that women trying to combat osteoporosis need to broaden their focus and take more than just calcium. "They need calcium, vitamin D, mag- nesium, manganese, copper, zinc and boron — all the nutrients that make up the bone." She ad- vises taking a specific product that has all these ingredients or a multivitamin and a mineral supplement plus a calcium-only supplement. It's estimated that Americans spend more than $3 billion year- ly on nutritional supplements, nearly $700 million alone on multivitamins according to a re- cent article in Health magazine. The consensus seems to be that there's nothing wrong with tak- ing some vitamins or a multi- vitamin on a regular basis but there is concern that more doesn't necessarily mean better and it can mean worse. The simple fact is scientists have more to learn about nutri- tion. - How To Pick One r heck out next Friday's fine arts coverage in The Jewish News. We'll keep you posted, on what's what and who's who in the national and local art scene. Don't miss it the last Friday of every month in the Entertainment section. THE JEWISH NEWS When choosing a multiple vit- amin, look for approximately 100 percent of the daily values, which will provide a safe and ad- equate balance. Read the label and check for an expiration date. Supplements can lose potency over time. Check for the initials USP (the testing organization U.S. Pharmacopeia) or words such as "release assured" or "proven re- lease," indicating the supple- ment is easily dissolved and absorbed by your body. Claims about natural vita- mins tend to be false primarily because the cost of extracting vi- tamins from natural sources is so expensive. What's more, nat- ural and manufactured vitamins have identical chemical struc- tures. Store brands are usually iden- tical to name brands, only low- er in price. Supplements made without sugar or starch offer no advan- tages. Take vitamin supplements before or after meals to optimize absorption. Vitamins tend to work better with other nutri- ents. Store supplements in a dry, cool location. Be careful about self-pre- scribing. See your doctor if you have a health problem and tell your doctor about any supple- ment you're taking. Supple- ments may interfere with medications. Labels Are Changing As of Jan. 1, the i ■ DA will require that labels on dietary supple- ments provide both nutrition in- formation and a list of ingredients. It's likely that manufacturers are also going to be asked to sub- stantiate claims. The Presidential Commission on Dietary Supplement Labels issued its draft report in June calling for more scientific re- search on supplements, guide- lines for scientific substantiation of any statements of nutritional support and for government sur- veillance to identify safety issues. Product safety, the commis- sion stated, should be ensured by the supplement industry. Since dietary supplements are not reg- ulated as drugs, labels and pack- age inserts should make no nutrient/disease claims, but rather provide useful informa- tion about the product's intend- ed use and its role in humans without suggesting disease pre- vention or treatment. In September, the final report goes to the president, Congress and the Department of Health and Human Services. The Food and Drug Administration is then required to respond and draft regulations. Li