'Nutrition
Matters' Program Helps Women Lead Longer, Healthier Lives
WASHINGTON,
In
response to the high rate of serious disease among women, two
leading national women's organizations joined forces to create
an education program called "Nutrition Matters," designed to help
reduce the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis and cancer in women.
The
American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) and the Older Women's
League (OWL) created the Nutrition Matters program to help women
understand more about their risk of serious disease, and ways
they can help prevent diseases that take a tragic toll on American
women every year. The centerpiece of the program is an extensive
brochure with easy-to-follow tips to help reduce controllable
risk factors associated with heart disease, osteoporosis and cancer.
"While
many women recognize the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, relatively
few get the nutrients they need to help reduce the risk of heart
disease, osteoporosis and cancer," said Clarita Herrera, M.D.,
president of AMWA. "The Nutrition Matters program provides women
with up-to-date information about proper nutrition and other ways
to reduce the risk of serious disease."
According
to a U.S. Department of Agriculture study, 60-80% of Americans
consume less than the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of essential
nutrients -- nutrients that can reduce the risk of serious disease.
Nutrition Matters focuses on ways women can meet their unique
nutritional needs, including a well-balanced diet and vitamin
and mineral supplementation.
"If
we are to seriously battle these diseases that affect millions
of American women every year, we need to arm women with information
about ways to reduce their risk. Nutrition Matters recommends
specific ways for women to take control of their lives, and reduce
their chances of serious disease," said Deborah Briceland-Betts,
executive director of OWL. Nutrition Matters Brochure The Nutrition
Matters brochure includes a section on each of the three diseases:
heart disease, osteoporosis and cancer. Each section provides
basic information about the disease, and nutritional recommendations
to help women reduce their risk. The nutritional recommendations
are followed by a list of other tips to help reduce the risk of
disease, such as regular exercise and stress management.
Nutrition
Matters brochures are available from May 18, 1999 to July 31,
1999 or while supplies last. Call 1-800-999-4635 to receive a
brochure. Heart Disease, Osteoporosis and Cancer Heart disease,
osteoporosis and cancer take a serious toll on American women
each year: -- Heart disease is the number one health concern for
women, since cardiovascular diseases kill more women than all
forms of cancer, chronic lung disease, pneumonia, diabetes, accidents
and AIDS combined. -- Osteoporosis affects 28 million Americans,
80% of whom are women. One out of every two women over age 50
will have an osteoporosis related fracture in their lifetime.
-- More post-menopausal women in the U.S. die of cancer than any
other disease. The two most prevalent forms of cancer among American
women are lung cancer and breast cancer. According to the American
Cancer Society, approximately 80,000 women are diagnosed and 66,000
die from lung cancer each year. Breast cancer is diagnosed in
approximately 180,000 women each year, and 44,000 will die from
the disease. Today, a woman's lifetime chance of contracting breast
cancer is 1 in 8. About AMWA & OWL AMWA is dedicated to promoting
women's health, improving the professional development and personal
well-being of its members and increasing the influence of women
in all aspects of the medical profession. For more information,
call (703) 838-0500. OWL, the only national membership organization
to focus on issues unique to women as they age, is dedicated to
improving the lives and health of women. For more information,
call 800-825-3695. SOURCE American Medical Women's Association
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