You can receive Featurettes by e-mail daily, weekly or monthly by request. We can e-mail by your choice of topic or all stories as you may prefer. To make it even more convenient for editors to use our stories, NAPS has added an RSS syndication feed to our Web site. Simply hit the RSS button on our site for automated updates on available content. Please contact us to arrange to receive Featurettes in the format that works best for you at (800) 222-5551 or e-mail your request to us at printmedia@napsnet.com. We can provide Featurettes on CD-ROM or you can download it online at www.napsnet.com. Gary Lipton Media Relations Manager Phone: 1-(800)-222-5551 Fax: 1-(800)-990-4329 Web site: www. napsnet .com e-mail: printmedia@napsnet.com #2451 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 350 Fifth Avenue, 65th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10118-0110 Vitamin And Supplement Safety Tips by Paul Reyes, RPh (NAPSA)—Each day, millions of Americans take dietary supplements, including vitamins and minerals, in an effort to stay healthy and fill dietary gaps. However, they are not risk-free. Some supplements can be dangerous if taken with certain medications or may have harmful side effects. Talking to your doctor or pharmacist before taking a supplement can help you find out if it is safe for you to use. Here are Paul Reyes some guidelines to follow before taking a supplement: • Drug interactions: Remember to tell your doctor about any dietary supplements you are taking when starting a prescription medication. Certain supplements, especially when taken in excess, have serious side effects and can have dangerous interactions when taken with prescription medications. • Follow guidelines: There are different types and amounts of vitamins and supplements that are needed, depending on your age, gender and lifestyle. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor about which one is right for you. • Keep your guard up: Just because the label says “all natural” doesn’t mean that the product is safe or effective. The supplement industry is generally unregulated, so potency and ingredients can vary widely. Also, be wary of any curative claims made about a product without sound scientific research to back it up. • No substitutions: Never substitute prescribed medications with vitamins or supplements. 2008 Medco Health Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved. Create A Delicious Race Car (NAPSA)—Race car rookie sensation Marcos Ambrose drives the #21 and #47 Little Debbie Ford. Now you can create your own Little Debbie Sprint Cup race car to snack on while you watch the race on TV. Before taking any dietary supplements, you may want to discuss them with your doctor or your pharmacist. Chances are it will not have the same effect and may even be dangerous. If cost is an issue, discuss lower-priced medication options with your doctor, such as switching to a generic drug or using a mail-order pharmacy for medications taken on an ongoing basis. • Don’t overdo it: If you are taking a supplement, don’t exceed the recommended amount. Some products can be harmful when you take a large dose or take them for a long time. • Do not self-diagnose: The best thing you can do before taking vitamins is to ask your doctor or pharmacist what your needs are and what’s safe and effective for you. Remember that supplements are not intended to treat, prevent or cure a disease. For more information, visit www.medco.com. Paul Reyes, RPh, is a pharmacist manager for Medco Health Solutions, Inc. and co-host of the national radio program “Ask the Pharmacist.” Ingredients: 1 ⁄2 cup powdered sugar 1 to 11⁄2 teaspoons whipping cream 9 Little Debbie Marshmallow Treats 8 Little Debbie Swiss Cake Rolls 12 hard cinnamon candies 6 jelly beans Directions: Whisk sugar and whipping cream until smooth. Cut 3 Marshmallow Treats in half, crosswise. Spread thin layer of frosting on each; then place each half, frosting side down, in the center of 6 remaining whole Marshmallow Treats. Turn cars on sides. Slice Swiss Cake Rolls 1⁄4-inch thick to create wheels. Attach 4 wheels to the car. Attach cinnamon candies with frosting on each car to form headlights and one jelly bean with frosting on front for the grille. Makes six race cars. For more great recipes, visit www.littledebbie.com. Sustaining The View: Windows Play Vital Role In Reducing Energy Consumption (NAPSA)—It seems everyone is talking green these days. It’s on television, in politics, in the newspapers, online, on billboards—you name it, green is there. The question is: How do we decipher the thousands of environmental messages thrown at us each day and actually do a few things that will really make a difference? Caring for the environment starts at home. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, buildings account for 25 percent of electricity consumption, 36 percent of energy use and 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions—the primary contributor to climate change. “As homeowners, we can do our part in many ways,” says Joe Erb, an energy-efficiency expert for Edgetech I.G., manufacturer of the world’s first all-foam, no-metal spacer system for insulating glass. “We can select durable products that will last and not end up in landfills before their time. We should also look at the energy performance of our appliances and lightbulbs and properly insulate our homes with energy-efficient window systems.” A 2008 survey conducted by the Alliance to Save Energy found that 64 percent of homes in the U.S. have single-pane windows, which contribute to the up to 35 percent of energy wasted in buildings. In cold climates, energy-efficient, dual-pane windows with low-e coatings can reduce heating bills by as much as 34 percent. In warm climates, they can cut cooling costs by 38 percent. “When shopping for new windows, it’s important to look for the Energy Star label,” says Erb. True energy-efficient, sustainable windows hold such characteristics as low-conductivity gas fillings (argon or krypton), low-e coatings and all-foam, no-metal spacer systems that separate the glass panes. The spacer system is a key element in promoting sustain- Choosing energy-efficient windows can make a big difference in heating/cooling costs. ability in window systems because it provides the seal between the indoor and outdoor air. If that seal fails, condensation will occur and the gas filling will leak and no longer be effective. Nonconductive spacers are known to provide a lasting seal, assuring the window will retain its energy-efficient benefits for many years. The outside materials also play a role in efficiency and sustainability. “Homeowners are better off looking for nonconductive components, framing and sashes,” adds Erb. “Wood, composite and fiberglass frames are time tested and are proven to be the most sustainable and energy efficient, standing up to a wide range of temperatures, UV light and the deteriorating effects of condensation.” When in doubt, Erb encourages homeowners to ask questions when selecting new windows. “Don’t be afraid to ask the tough questions and learn more. Windows are a big investment and you should know that they are going to stand the test of time,” he says. Edgetech I.G., an Energy Star partner, is educating homeowners, legislators and companies worldwide on energy conservation and sustainable building. To learn more about how you can conserve energy, visit www.healthsmartwindows.com or www.energystar.gov.