Calcium, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Zinc, Magnesium…the list of dietary supplements available on the market today is quite lengthy and can be a source of confusion for the average consumer. North Fulton Regional Hospital and Harry’s Farmers Market managed to make an impact on a group of interested consumers, communicating some important tips for safe supplement consumption.

Pharmacist Ellen Honea has been working at North Fulton Regional Hospital longer than most. Throughout the hospital’s 25 year history, Honea has faithfully served patients for the last 21 of them. Last Thursday she encouraged supplement smarts: being aware of how much of a dietary supplement is taken and of the potential risks of taking too much of a good thing.

Attendees were visibly surprised to hear some of the facts Honea related. For example,
did you know that…

• Dietary supplements cannot promise to cure or prevent anything?
• The body can only absorb approximately 600 mg of Calcium at a time (so if you take more than that all at once…you are wasting your money!)?
• Too much Calcium could potentially lead to increased risk for kidney stones?
• You can get all the Vitamin D (needed for calcium absorption) you need just by getting some natural sunlight throughout the week?
• Too much Vitamin C can cause diarrhea and kidney stones?
• Green peppers are actually richer in Vitamin C than citrus fruits?

These notes, along with much more related to potential drug interactions and other topics, resonated with the group of attendees as they actively listened and took notes.

The theme of the entire program was summed up in one simple concept: ‘buyer beware.’ Not all dietary supplements are appropriate for every body; however some are appropriate for somebody. Both North Fulton Regional Hospital and Harry’s Farmers Market encourage consumers to consult their physicians and pharmacists prior to taking any dietary supplement in order to ensure the safest consumption possible, because as many people fail to understand, it is possible to get too much of a good thing.

Part of the Whole Body, Whole Health 2008 Seminar Series sponsored by both North Fulton Regional Hospital and Harry’s Farmers Market, Supplement Smarts was offered to provide consumers with a basic understanding of dietary supplements and how to stay safe in a society that encourages their consumption. Upcoming free seminars in this series include the September 9 Baby Safety: Back to Basics, which will be hosted at North Fulton Regional Hospital from 5-7 p.m. Others include topics ranging from breast health to diabetes and weight to healthy holiday cooking and eating.
Registration for any of these free seminars is required. For more information about the Whole Body, Whole Health 2008 Seminar Series, call 770-751-2660, or visit www.northfultonregional.com/event, keyword “community calendar.”

North Fulton Regional Hospital (NFRH), part of Tenet Georgia, is a 202-bed, acute-care
hospital located on Highway 9, Alpharetta Highway, in Roswell. Opened in 1983, NFRH serves North Fulton and surrounding counties through its team of over 1000 employees, 400 staff physicians and 200 volunteers. NFRH is a state-designated Level II trauma center and provides a continuum of services through its centers and programs, including neurosciences, orthopedics, rehabilitation, surgical services, bariatric surgical weight loss, gastroenterology and oncology. The hospital is fully accredited and also is certified as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency.

For more information about the Whole Body, Whole Health 2008 Seminar Series with North Fulton Regional Hospital and Harry’s Farmers Market, call 770-751-2660, or visit www.northfultonregional.com. Also contact Harry’s Farmers Market at 770-664-6300 or visit www.wholefoods.com.