European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 17, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Vitamin supplements do they help maybe i by Colleen Pierre special to the Baltimore Sun was startled to find Lour huge containers of Vitamin and Mineral supplements on a Friend s Kitchen counter. She takes some of each every Day in total they achieved Levels that could eventually have negative Side effects their saving Grace is that they Are very expensive so she probably will not go on taking these quantities for Long thirty five percent of american adults reported they took Vitamin or Mineral supplements in 1990, according to the annual Survey of the Vitamin nutrition information service of supplement manufacturer Hoffmann Laroche inc. But Only 28 percent took them almost every Day. Of those who take supplements most take either one 57 percent or two 21 percent different types daily. A Large majority 94 percent take a multivitamin. Very few reported taking dangerous amounts and Many recognized that excessive amounts of vitamins a and d could be dangerous. Does this mean supplements Are a Good idea9 maybe the age old party line is that healthy children and adults can get All the nutrition they need by eating a Well balanced diet. But who eats a Well balanced diet do you eat at least two fruits and three vegetables most Days is at least one of them High in Vitamin c7 is one of them High in Vitamin a do you eat at least six Servings of whole Grain breads or Cereal foods most days7 do you eat two Servings of milk Yogurt or cheese daily7 How about Lour to six ounces of lean meat poultry or seafood or a couple of Servings of Beans legumes and Rice daily7 now Tor the $64,000 question if you Don t eat Well most of the time will a Vitam Mineral supplement save you7 the $64,000 answer probably nol although a supplement will add nutrients missing Iron your diet except for Fibert cannot subtract the elements you re overdoing like fat saturated fat cholesterol and sodium for most people the Only Way to improve your diet is to improve your diet. There Are a few Normal healthy people however who can Benefit from supplementing their diets a sometimes even above Normal Levels the american dietetic association and the american medical association agree women with excessive menstrual bleeding May need to take Iron supplements women who Are pregnant or breast feeding need More Iron folic acid and Calcium people with very Low calorie intakes often fail to meet nutrient needs in general. Some vegetarians May need additional Calcium Iron Zinc and Vitamin b-12 people who take medications that interfere with nutrient intake digestion absorption metabolism or excretion May have different requirements. If you fall into one of those categories discuss your situation with your doctor or dietitian to plan a course of action suitable for you. Ii you wish to take a supplement the least expensive Vitamin Mineral Tablet that meets 100 percent of the Rda for All nutrients will do just Fine a you do not need the larger doses uttered by Quot stress 1 or Quot therapeutic Quot supplements. There Are no demonstrated benefits to self supplementation beyond 100 percent of the Rda Levels. Colleen Pierre a registered dietitian is the nutrition. Consultant to the Union memorial sports Medicine Center in Baltimore or most people the Only Way to improve your diet is to improve your diet. A amps Susan Harris readers action Linen postage needed for change of address of a until recently the army provided postage paid change of address cards a form 3955-1 feb 79 for soldiers to use when their addresses changed although i be Only moved once during the seven years i be been in Germany. I have had eight changes in my mailing address. Seven of the address changes were due to unit re designations changes in the Apo or Box number and most recently a change to Apo a instead of Apo by on a recent trip to the army Post office i asked for some change of address cards and was Given cards without postage paid Stamps i asked if they had cards with the postage paid stamp and they said Thal card was no longer in use i asked if the new cards could be sent postage paid or As official mail. The Post office people did t know and directed me to the mail room the mail room people did t know and directed me Back to the Post office. No one seems to know the answer while paying $20 to $30 m postage for change of address notification May tie annoying and inconvenient for me it is a major financial expense for my so Drois and due to the reorganization of forces in Europe in a sure there will be thousands of soldiers who Are forced to Send change of address notifications. My question is Are postage paid change of address cards available postage paid by the government ? if not can the current change of address cards somehow be sent As official mail should t postal workers be aware of answers to questions like these chief warrant officer 4 Bob Klase Lan Stuhl Germany a Barbara Lutz postal services analyst . Army Portal group he Usa eur replies As the official mail system is totally separate from the military postal service Many of our employees May not be aware of specific answers to questions concerning official mail however they should have referred you to their supervisor who would have been Able to answer the question or find out the answer for you change of address cards for army personnel Are sent to the Community official mail manager who places the postage on the card at no Cost to the Patron the cards Are normally taken to the official mail Ollices unit mail clerk concerning the new address standardization program in which european army addresses change on oct. 1, the . Postal service is providing postage free change of address cards to All military postal patrons overseas. These cards were to be distributed through your unit mail room during the Early part of september. At the same time you a Ere to be Given your new Quot unit number Quot which also becomes part of your address. Since you have until july 15, 1992, to change your address we urge you to use Normal correspondence a Bill payments publications renewal for example a to change your address to write us readers action line is the readers Quot court of last resort striving to answer some of the questions about life overseas in a military environment or questions about policies and guidelines when other avenues for answers Are not readily available. If you have a question and Don t know where to turn for the answer write to readers action line co the stars and stripes. Apo 09211-4211 ail letters must be signed and preference will be Given to those seeking information of general interest to our readers Page 16 a the stars and stripes tuesday september 17, 1991