Clearing Up The Confusion About Nutritional Supplements Americans Weigh In On Hot-Button Topics (NAPSA)—Americans have ments have shown clear health (NAPSA)—What keeps Ameri - were pit bulls. To combat the situa - heard a lot of mixed messages benefits supported by good scien - cans up at night and what do they tion, some local governments have about vitamins and may be won - tific research, including: feel they can do about it? enacted “breed-specific” legislation dering if they are safe and effec - • Vitamin D: This has been You may be surprised at the that bans owning pit bulls. But tive. As with most health ques - shown to benefit bones and teeth, answers from multiple polls taken animal-protection groups like The tions, it’s smart to look at multiple strengthen the immune system by Parade magazine, which asked Humane Society of the U.S. say information sources to get the true and support cardiovascular health. readers their opinions on various the problem lies with irresponsible picture on nutritional supplemen - Americans are often found to hot-button topics. owners, not their pets, and that tation. be deficient in the “sunshine vita - Talking Terror Rating U.S. cities where pit bulls are out - “The total body of scientific evi - min” because so many of us avoid For example, a surprising num - lawed have not seen dramatic dence overall supports the bene - direct sun exposure. Seasonal flu ber of Americans (76 percent) felt decreases in attacks. Parade asked fits of nutritional supplementa - When choosing supplements, it’s occurs far more frequently from the nation’s terror alert system readers if they think it should be tion,” reports certified clinical best to base your selections on autumn through early spring, and did not make them feel safer. illegal to own a pit bull. Seventy- nutritionist Neil E. Levin, nutri - a body of quality scientific intervention studies have shown a Those in favor of the system six percent of readers said no; 24 tion education manager at NOW research, not just a single study. direct relationship between low weighed in at 24 percent, citing a percent disagreed with them. Foods in Bloomingdale, Ill. “Sur - in nutrient studies, sometimes serum vitamin D levels and the lack of incidents since its incep - veys show that most people trust overwhelming competent pharma - number of respiratory infections tion. The poll was taken in An overwhelming 95 percent of vitamins, relying on them as a ceutical researchers who are inex - reported. response to a magazine article respondents favored the use of an form of nutritional insurance, and perienced in the study of vitamins • Multiple Vitamins: The exploring the history and future of ignition interlock system for those most doctors surveyed recommend and other supplements. American Medical Association has the system, which may soon be convicted of drunk driving. them to their patients.” Several articles in prestigious recommended that most people overhauled. The Lewin Group has pub - scientific journals such as The take a daily multivitamin to sup - Safety Measure Or Hot-Button Topics lished evidence-based research New England Journal of Medicine plement a healthy diet for opti - Privacy Invasion? Parade conducts such polls to reporting that the proper use of and The American Journal of mum nutrition. It helps fill in Another area of concern for take the pulse of readers on vari - certain dietary supplements can Clinical Nutrition suggest that nutrient gaps when dietary levels many Americans is how to stop ous hot-button topics. The maga - save billions of dollars in health well-designed observational stud - may be insufficient. drunk drivers. Every year, about zine regularly explores relevant care costs while improving the ies provide more accurate ways to • Omega-3 Fatty Acids: In 13,000 Americans are killed by and controversial issues such as quality of life and preserving the evaluate nutritional effects in addition to helping protect heart, drunk drivers. Now, California elder abuse, government subsidies independence of seniors. people than the “gold standard” brain and nerve health, omega-3s and Wisconsin are considering of churches, and whether schools The occasional negative report, methods utilized in drug have been shown to have wide- new laws that would require peo - should have the right to strip- however sensational, should be research. ranging health benefits for ple convicted of drunk driving to search students. regarded skeptically when con - Jeffrey Blumberg, Ph.D., of inflammatory issues, such as use a technology called an igni - Readers were recently asked to trasted with a solid body of evi - Tufts University points out that joint problems. tion interlock. Drivers blow into weigh in on the subject of obesity. dence. According to the FDA’s you can’t have a control group with • Vitamin E: A well-publicized a device that measures blood- The leaders of many nations are Consumer Update, it’s a smart zero exposure to nutrients because report warning against vitamin E alcohol content, and if the level trying to get their citizens to eat idea to “think twice about chasing everybody eats. Additionally, most supplementation has been seri - is too high, the car will not start. less. In Japan, health officials the latest headline. Sound health nutrients are interactive, with ben - ously undermined by subsequent Is this a valid safety measure or check the waistlines of citizens over advice is generally based on eficial effects on multiple body sys - reports. A vast body of evidence an invasion of privacy? Parade’s 40, and those considered too fat research over time, not a single tems, yet randomized controlled actually shows major health bene - readers weighed in, with 93 per - must undergo diet counseling. Fail - study touted by the media.” studies are designed to investigate fits from supplementing this cent overwhelmingly in favor of ure to slim down can lead to fines. Standard study designs for only single outcomes. He agrees essential vitamin. Long-term stud - ignition locks. Only 7 percent New Zealand bars people it deems drug research shouldn’t be used that observational studies are a ies looking at vitamin E intake said that they were opposed, cit - too heavy from immigrating to the for nutrient research because more accurate way to see how from both food and supplements, ing the cost of such a device. country, and some British residents drugs are novel substances not nutrients affect health because confirmed by measures of blood Pit Bulls are rewarded for staying active. normally present in the food sup - they are more likely to include the levels, support the idea that this Are pit bulls an inherently dan - Does the U.S. need a government- ply or the human body, while broad population and bear a closer antioxidant nutrient prolongs life gerous breed or have they gotten a backed effort to end obesity? Sixty- nutrients are commonly found in relationship to real-world use of and health in the general public. bum rap? According to a Parade six percent said yes; 34 percent both places. This makes screening foods and supplements. For more information, visit report, dogs have killed at least 20 said no. out variables much more difficult A number of nutritional supple - www.NOWfoods.com or call (888) Americans so far this year, and in For more information, visit two out of three attacks, the killers www.parade.com. *** You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need. —Vernon Howard *** Exactly who started using curling irons remains a mystery but records indicate that the Romans in the reign of Emperor Titus, A.D. 79 to 81, employed little hollow tubes filled with boiling water for that Skateboarding Show Inspires Kids And Tweens chore. *** Thrift is not an affair of the (NAPSA)—Sometimes, the best pocket, but an affair of way to learn is to fall down and character. get up again—especially when it —S.W. Straus comes to skateboarding. It’s a good reason to always *** wear protective padding when you skate, and just one of the valuable lessons the sport has taught many *** of the estimated 13 million skate - Thrift comes too late when you boarders in America. But it’s also Sleeping on your back with a pillow under your head might prevent find it at the bottom of your the idea behind a show that’s your eyes from getting red and swollen since fluid collects around the purse. made fans out of parents, skaters and kids who prefer to keep both eyes when your head is level with or below your heart. —Seneca feet on the ground. *** The inspiring comedy adven - ture stars Hutch Dano and Adam The comedy adventure “Zeke and *** Hicks as best friends Zeke and Luther” challenges kids to dis - The gap in our economy is between what we have and what we Luther—two confident, complex cover their strengths. think we ought to have—and that is a moral problem, not an and ambitious 15-year-old side - economic one. walk surfers on a quest to become Another thorn in their side is —Paul Heyne world-famous skateboarders like Ginger, Zeke’s ingenious 12-year- their hero, Tony Hawk. Along the old sister played by Ryan New - *** way, they navigate the literal and man. She’s more interested in out - figurative luge of teen years with witting her brother and his all its tricks, grinds, obstacles and friends than in their skating *** occasional slams. Sometimes they skills. After a visit to the beach, it’s hard to believe that we live in a mate - fail, but they always learn and With stories filled with humor, rial world. evolve. Called “Zeke and Luther,” heart and great skateboarding —Pam Shaw Charles F.