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Journey to Wellness

NEW YEAR, NEW ATTITUDE, NEW FINDINGS FOR GOOD HEATH

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Happy New Year from Journey to Wellness! In the spirit of healthy living in 2005, here's some good news you can use:

Together RX Program
Eleven drug companies have joined together to offer reduced prescription pricing for eligible persons. It's estimated that over 36 million Americans have no health insurance. The Together RX Access Card program, which begins in February, will provide savings of 25 to 40 percent off the retail price of more than 275 brand-name drugs offered by the companies. The drugs treat ailments including diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure and arthritis. Legal U.S. residents, who are uninsured, under age 65, ineligible for Medicare and have no public or private drug coverage, are eligible for the card if they meet program guidelines. The guidelines vary according to family size. Application information is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-444-4106 or at www.togetherrxaccess.com

Get Out the Treadmill!
Americans need twice as much exercise and more whole grains than previously recommended to stay healthy, according to new federal dietary guidelines released this month. The 70-page update on the U.S. diet from the Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services recommends 60 to 90 minutes of daily exercise to maintain or lose weight. Previous guidelines had recommended 30 minutes a day, which is now the government's minimum daily requirement. Americans should also eat more fruits and vegetables and less sugar, according to the report, which for the first time suggests limits on sodium (salt) intake - no more than about one teaspoon a day. It also warns about Trans fats, a type of fat found in processed foods which studies link to heightened heart disease and obesity risks. The new report is "scientifically based, and it's also based on common sense," said Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson. The full report is available online at www.healthierus.cov/dietaryguidelines.

Tomato Juice Cocktails for Your Good Health
Here's a new reason to add tomato juice to your grocery list, especially if you or a loved one is Diabetic. Research from Australia has found that tomatoes have a blood-thinning effect on those with the disease. One cup of tomato juice was given to a test group each day for a month. The juice drinkers had significantly less platelet aggregation that can result in life-threatening blood clots. These findings are welcome news to the rising number (about 17 million) of Diabetics in America who have an increased risk for cardiovascular problems from clotting. Smokers, long-distance travelers and people genetically predisposed to forming blood clots also may benefit from adding tomato products to their diets. Plus, a nice tomato sauce is a lot tastier than current clot-preventing drugs such as aspirin or blood-thinners.


Always visit www.journeytowellness.com for more
important news about your health.

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About Journey to Wellness

Journeytowellness.com is the Internet component of the Journey To Wellness Radio programs that provides healthcare and health literacy information through syndicated radio programming on public radio stations and on the CNN Radio network.

Journeytowellness.com allows visitors to actually listen to archived radio programs of the nationally syndicated radio programs-Journey To Wellness, as well as read program related articles and link to credible related resources.

Please visit our Journey to Wellness Air Times and Topics page to find out our schedule, the radio stations that carry our program, and the topics we will be covering!