Some people view vitamins and supplements as a waste of money, but if you find value in supplementing your diet know that you are not alone. Vitamins, minerals and other supplements have been available to the public as long as I can remember and scientific and medical benefits are discovered and reported almost daily.

In most cases the body expels what it cannot utilize, hence the expense urine, but there are some vitamins and minerals which builds up in the body and can become toxic over time or if taken in large amounts. For example taking too much zinc can suppress the immune system, excessive vitamin A and niacin can cause nausea, blurred vision or even liver toxicity. Iron, because it is an oxidizing agent can increase the risk of cancer and heart disease in large doses. Vitamin E can cause nausea and digestive problems even in moderate dosages if the person is also taking blood thinners or cholesterol lowering medications. Even Vitamin C, when ingested in large levels can be toxic with symptoms of diarrhea, kidney stones and excess iron uptake.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements in the same fashion as drugs, but they do require dietary information be printed on all minerals and vitamins and disallow any misleading or false claims. It’s important to let your physician know of any supplements you are taking in order to avoid possible negative outcomes.

To supplement or not to supplement, that is the question. The answer might be decided by how vitamins and minerals make you feel. We all would like to be like kids; full of pee and vinegar. Especially in this present age when grandparents are spending significant time with their grandchildren, running errands for their too busy children’s families and still wanting to enjoy the perks of retirement. Regardless of age we all have more to do than we have energy and even if supplementing doesn’t restore our youth it may provide us with the potential to maintain optimal health. And if our bodies do not need the vitamins we ingest well that’s when we are peeing our money away.

Did you know? Upper Valley Medical Center has an outpatient lab services facility here in Versailles. Located at 471 Marker Rd., behind the offices of Doctors Elshoff and Klamar the facility is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., closed for lunch between 12:30 – 1 p.m. I recently had some blood drawn by Tammy who was very pleasant. We had a nice conversation and I knew she was extremely good at her job. My veins have always proven to be a testing ground for a good many technicians. I have small veins and often my veins are stingy with the blood, collapsing or coagulating before filling a second vial. I was totally surprised to discover she had chosen a smaller needle and was on the third vial without me feeling a thing. During our conversation she advised me when I could expect each of my test results. I guess her 30 years of nursing experience with 17 years with UVMC came shining through.

Here’s another tidbit of information: Meijer’s has a free medication program for the following prescriptions: Ampicillin, Amoxil, Keflex, Bactrim, Septra, Penicillin, Cipro, Liptor, Glucophage and certain prenatal vitamins. But you must have a prescription for these drugs.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

This Sunday, during Webster Methodist Church’s 9:15 worship service they will recognize the children preparing to enter Kindergarten and have a “Blessing of the Backpacks” for all school kids, teachers and school personnel.

Next Wednesday-Friday (August 9-11) the Right to Life Community Sale will be going on at the Versailles K of C Hall. There will be clothes of all sizes, baby items, toys, furniture, kitchen needs, etc. On Friday there will be $3 bags of clothes and ½ price on misc. items. You won’t want to miss this! Times are Wednesday: 5-8 p.m., Thursday: 9 a.m.-8 p.m. and Friday: 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Saturday, August 12, the Quintessentials will be performing in Versailles’ Performing Arts Center at 3 p.m. and again at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5.50 and can be purchased on the Towne and Country Player’s website (www.towneandcountryplayers.com). You must present your receipt for admittance. This is a singing group of five young men from Versailles; Quincy Baltes, Isaac Buschur, Brody Hyre, Mitchell Rawlins and Kyle Wuebker. They have performed on Ohio Has Talent and will be auditioning for America’s Got Talent this November. For more information you may contact Michele Hyre at 526-4710.

Happy birthday Vicki Redinbaugh Pam Eyink, Karen Luthman, Mitch Eiting, Kristenne Kayler, Scottie Barga, Wilma Heiby, Karen Luthman, Jan Turner, Jo Langenkamp, Kyle Niekamp, Don Bemis, Allison Ingle, and Kristen Collins, as their birthdays approach as well as, anniversary wishes to Sarah and Justin Lester (3), Marti and Todd Phelan (?), Carmen and Joe Hartzell (16), Ericka and Kevin Bergman (17), Tammy and Brian Collins (23), Missy and Todd Voisard (26), Sharon and Scott Pepiot (34), Gloria and Tim McGlothin (37), Jann and Mike Unger (42), Rebecca and Richard Shumaker (47), Mary Ann and John Simon (50), Regina and Art Fischer (50), Aunt Lois and Uncle Bill Magoto (60), Joyce and Bill Luthman (61), and Shirley and Don Slyder (64).

Please give your supportive and healing prayers for the many who are dealing with any of life’s countless challenges, and especially for Mildred Levering, Wilma Heiby, Dick Ware (knee surgery rehab), Carl DeMange, Rosie Cordonnier, Romaine Berger, Irene Gehret, Judy York, Bill Luthman, Miriam Harman, Jack Monnin, Mary Batty, Norma Magoto, Anne Schmitz, Terry Black, Betty Kremer, Denny Grilliot, Beverly Brown, Harold Langston, Sr., Julie Keihl, Joan Magoto, Jeanne Brandon, Rosie Pearson, Virginia Smith, John Subler, Mary Barga, Anabelle Subler, Julia Billenstein, Merilyn Borchers, Connie (Baltes) Lechleiter, Dan Monnin, Lois Youngker, Barb Goubeaux, Cyril Frantz, Eileen Rahm, Cyril Voisard, Samantha Smith, Brian Voisard, Chris Apple and all those not mentioned by name who are recuperating, ailing, suffering, hospitalized, homebound and/or in need of our prayers and their caregivers.

Heartfelt sympathy to the family and friends of Rhonda Rismiller (53), Billie Jo Gasquez (66), Judy Holthaus (75), Rita Pohl (85), Dean Wyler (88), Alfred Henry (95), and also remembering within our hearts the lives of Georgianna Kemper, Kathleen Heuing, Alice Kissinger, Hoppy Schrader, Butch George, David Armstrong and all those not mentioned by name as the anniversary of their recently passing nears.

“Food is the best source of vitamins and minerals.” ~Unknown

“Our food should be our medicine—our medicine should be our food.” ~Hippocrates

“You should be eating for fuel not for indulgence.”