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If you like the content of Keeping in Touch, please feel free to forward each copy on to as many folks as you wish. And, encourage your friends and family to visit with us at SeniorS SuperStoreS and sign up for their own subscriptions. Or, they may sign up for their own subscriptions by emailing us at "seniors-request@seniorssuperstores.com" and include the word "join" in the body of the email message.

This issue of Keeping in Touch deals with several matters of interest to Prime Time Surfers:
1.) An article from our friends at PRNewswire about how dietary supplements significantly improve the health of senior citizens.
2.) A solution to the problem of cold feet during these winter months.

1.) Dietary Supplements Essential to Health of Seniors
(Courtesy of our friends at PRNewswire)
Supplements Achieve Growing Recognition Among Scientific and Government Leaders

As the American population ages, a rapidly growing body of evidence shows that dietary supplements significantly improve the health of senior citizens. And diverse leaders -- from the scientific community to the U.S. government -- are recognizing the important contributions dietary supplements make to seniors' health.

The latest Census data reports that 35 million persons in the United States are over the age of 65 and that number is expected to grow to one in five persons over 65 by 2010. According to recent surveys, as many as 40 percent of the nation's elderly are afflicted with nutritional deficiencies. Conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, declines in memory, decreased immunity to illness and other maladies once viewed as normal signs of aging have now been linked to deficiencies in vitamins and minerals.

Three recent clinical studies find that dietary supplements can treat nutritional deficiencies in the elderly and boost their immune systems, combat short-term memory loss, reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease and improve seniors' overall health.

Ranjit Kumar Chandra, M.D. of Memorial University of Newfoundland conducted a year-long study of 86 persons over the age of 65. His findings, as published in the September 2001 issue of Nutrition, show that a supplement with moderate amounts of 18 vitamins, minerals and trace elements improves the short-term memory and overall cognitive abilities of seniors and greatly strengthens their immune systems. Dr. Chandra also suggests that supplements may prevent serious neurological damage and disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.

A separate study led by Hui-Zin Wang, M.D. at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm and published in the May 2001 issue of Neurology also links poor nutrition to Alzheimer's disease. This study followed 370 elderly adults aged 75 and over for three years, and found that seniors with low blood levels of folate and vitamin B12 have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

A study published in the August 2001 issue of Nutrition by Teresa A. Marshall, M.D. and colleagues at the University of Iowa found that nutritional deficiencies greatly increase with age, and that supplement use would eliminate these deficiencies in the elderly. Dr. Marshall studied 420 persons over the age of 78 and found 80 percent of those seniors consumed inadequate amounts of four or more nutrients. Eighty-three percent consumed too little vitamin D and 63 percent did not consume enough calcium, both necessary for preventing osteoporosis and fractures and preserving bone mass. Seventy-five percent reported not getting enough folate, important for heart disease and stroke prevention.

Despite this mounting evidence, many seniors are not seeking medical advice about dietary supplements. In fact, a recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive found that those over 65 are the age group that is least likely to discuss dietary supplements with their doctors.

"Older adults need to learn about the contribution that dietary supplements can make to promoting health and reducing the risk for chronic diseases," said Jeffrey Blumberg, Ph.D. Blumberg is a Professor of Nutrition and Chief of the Antioxidants Research Laboratory at the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University as well as a scientific advisory board member of the Dietary Supplement Information Bureau(TM). "These recent studies add to the growing body of evidence that demonstrates a beneficial role for dietary supplements in the elderly."

At the same time, the federal government is also recognizing the importance of dietary supplements in senior's health. On August 2, 2001, U.S. Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) introduced the "Dietary Supplement Tax Fairness Act of 2001" (Bill S.1330) which calls for dietary supplements to be tax deductible for employers and excluded from taxable income for employees covered by health insurance plans. Senator Harkin asserts that dietary supplements help to improve Americans' health and should be given parity with prescription drugs.

In addition to this pending legislation, the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), is also conducting research on dietary supplements' effects upon the elderly. Some of these studies are examining the role of antioxidants in preventing cataracts in people with diabetes, and the effects of melatonin and coenzyme Q10 in retarding the aging process.

"It is exciting to see the NIH and university scientists working together to define the role of dietary supplements in public health and substantiate the value of this approach to obtaining good nutrition," said Blumberg. "Research studies show that dietary supplements can help fight heart disease, enhance immune function, delay impaired vision and maintain bone density with age. The more older Americans know about these scientific discoveries, the better choices they can make to achieve optimum health."

For more information about dietary supplements, visit the Dietary Supplement Information Bureau(TM) web site at www.supplementinfo.org.

2.) Do you have cold feet?
No, we don’t mean are you hesitant about something. We really mean are your feet cold?

During these winter months cold feet is a real problem for many of us as we age and develop circulation problems. Really, our blood doesn’t circulate as well as we grow older compared to when we were younger. And you say, "Yeah, and the rest of me doesn’t get out as much as when I was younger, either!"

Seriously, poor circulation is a real problem. And poor circulation and cold weather induced cold feet can cause both discomfort and eventual health problems. You can relieve these discomforts and reduce the other risks by providing a supplemental heating source to your feet and legs, but be careful. All space heaters, including electric and kerosene, have some inherent fire risk if the user is not careful.

Although we carry a line of excellent and safe space heaters, we always express concern to our buyers that the user must be careful and attentive to fire risks, such as getting too close to the unit and letting clothing, drapes, bed linens, etc., get too close.

Now, we can offer you another alternative - the Cozy-Toes Carpeted Foot Warmer. This product can be found in our Foot Care department.

The Cozy Foot Warmer line of products has several advantages over space heaters. You don’t need to heat an entire room or large area if all you want to do is keep your feet warm; the Cozy Foot is much more economical to operate; and, your skin doesn’t dry out as much as with space heaters. Why not check it out for yourself or for a relative or friend?

If you like the content of Keeping in Touch, please feel free to forward each copy on to as many folks as you wish. And, encourage your friends and family to visit with us at SeniorS SuperStoreS and sign up for their own subscriptions. Or, they may sign up for their own subscriptions by emailing us at "seniors-request@seniorssuperstores.com" and include the word "join" in the body of the email message.

So, until next time, here's goodbye. Remember, if you want us to add any resources or items of interest, just drop us an email from the SeniorSSuperStoreS Contact Us page. Watch your email box for future newsletters!

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