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NEW YORK, July 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Welcome to Consumer Reports health News for health and medical journalists. Consumer Reports and ConsumerReportsHealth.org cover issues pertaining to the efficacy and safety of prescription and non-prescription drugs (including natural medicines), mental health, diet and nutrition, food safety, and fitness. CR tests health and fitness products, rates the effectiveness and affordability of prescription drugs, and evaluates the claims made by drug companies and the health care industry — all without commercial agendas or advertiser influence.
GRILLING BASICS: DON’T CHAR THE MEAT
The August issue of Consumer Reports explains why it’s so important to avoid charring meat when barbecuing beef, chicken, lamb, pork and fish. Overcooking, burning and charring can transform amino acids and other natural substances into compounds called heterocyclic amines, or HCAs, which have been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals. Some studies suggest that ingesting these and other compounds might increase the risk of breast, colon, pancreatic, prostate, and stomach cancer. Some ways to limit exposure:
Turn the heat down. Whether you grill, pan fry, or oven-roast meats, cook at a temperature below 325 degrees.
Marinate the meat. Marinating food before grilling can greatly reduce HCA formation.
Don’t cook directly over the flame. Fat or marinade dripping on briquettes or gas flames creates flare-ups that contribute to HCAs and form other potential carcinogens that stick to the surface of food as char or ash.
For the full report, log on to .

GENERIC DRUGS VERSUS BRAND NAMES: THE DIFFERENCE

The difference between generic drugs and brand name ones is that there is very little difference. Soon after the antidepressant bupropion XL came on the market last year, some patients complained on the Internet that it didn’t work as well as the brand name version, Wellbutrin XL. Generic drugs are required to have the same active ingredients as the original versions, but can contain different inactive ingredients. That can alter how they look and taste, which some people don’t like. A small number of people may also have unexpected reactions to those inactive ingredients. The bottom line: Keep open the lines of communication with your doctor. Switching from any medication — brand to generic, generic to brand, or brand to brand — should be done with care. Read the full report online at .
TAKE THE WATER CHALLENGE
Walking, running, or lifting weights in a pool is often safer than doing it on land, and water offers a challenge to the muscles which have to work against buoyancy, or the tendency to float. That’s an advantage for those with back or joint problems, and people who are frail, overweight, or pregnant.
Another advantage of working out in a pool is that the experience is cooling, energizing, and, because of the buoyancy, literally uplifting. So aquatic exercises can seem less tedious and draining than their gravity-bound counterparts. CR recommends ways to find an aquatic exercise class ? checking with the local YMCA, community center, or private fitness center. It pays to observe a class or try one out before making a commitment. For more information about water workouts, log on to .
A MULTITASKING MULTIVITAMIN?
“Worried about cholesterol? Well, now you can lower it,” promises a TV ad for Centrum Cardio. The two-a-day, multivitamin/multimineral supplement contains phytosterols, natural ingredients derived from soybeans that “can lower cholesterol,” the ad claims, and “may reduce the risk of heart disease” when taken with a diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Medical experts consulted by Consumer Reports said Centrum Cardio is possibly beneficial, along with changes in diet and exercise, for reducing elevated cholesterol levels. But they recommended consulting a health-care professional to establish overall coronary risk and to develop treatment goals, which might or might not include supplements or prescription medication. Log on to for the complete report about Centro Cardio.
The material above is intended for legitimate news entities only; it may not be used for commercial or promotional purposes. Consumer Reports on Health(R) is published by Consumers Union, an expert, independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves. To achieve this mission, we test, inform, and protect. To maintain our independence and impartiality, Consumers Union accepts no outside advertising, no free test samples, and has no agenda other than the interests of consumers. Consumers Union supports itself through the sale of our information products and services, individual contributions, and a few noncommercial grants.
Consumer Reports

DENVER, Aug. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Bike-sharing officially rolled into Denver today as Mayor John Hickenlooper launched the nation’s largest bike-sharing program to date: Freewheelin. Leading 100 cyclists through the streets of Denver, Mayor Hickenlooper celebrated this joint program between Humana and the nonprofit cycling advocacy group, Bikes Belong. Freewheelin is bringing 1,000 bikes to Denver and to Minneapolis-St. Paul for the Democratic and Republican conventions, highlighted by free use for all participants. Registration for bikes is available at .
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“We hope that as the spotlight shines bright on Denver and Minneapolis-St. Paul during the next two weeks, we can show bikes as a pathway for healthy bodies, healthy spirits and a healthier planet,” said Jonathan Lord, M.D., Humana’s chief innovation officer.
Tim Blumenthal, executive director of Bikes Belong, added that, “The time is right to highlight the bicycle as an ideal transportation solution. Nearly 40 percent of all trips Americans make are two miles or less — the perfect length to go by bike. With soaring gas prices, interest in bicycling as a U.S. transportation solution has grown. This is a perfect opportunity to demonstrate the convenience of bicycling for short trips.”
Dr. Julie Gerberding, Director of the Centers for Disease Control, also spoke highly of the Freewheelin initiative.
“Biking is fun, and this innovative program from Humana and Bikes Belong provides an excellent way for people to exercise, and we all know exercise is critical to protecting one’s health. I encourage everyone planning to attend the conventions to strap on a helmet and safely pedal their way to good health during their stay in Denver or Minneapolis-St. Paul.”
Bike-sharing is the international social movement whereby bikes are situated at designated stations throughout cities for individuals to use for a specified amount of time. It is a viable transportation alternative for those who prefer an environmentally friendly, cost-effective and healthy means of traveling, especially for short trips. By providing these bikes to the Democratic and Republican convention cities, Humana and Bikes Belong hope to increase awareness of bicycling in the minds of all involved with the conventions — from the delegates to the media to even the presidential candidates themselves.
After its debut in Denver, Freewheelin moves on to the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul, where Humana and Bikes Belong also will provide 1,000 bikes for free use. In total, Bikes Belong member companies provided more than $500,000 worth of biking equipment to both convention cities.
How Freewheelin Works
Bikes will be available in Denver from Aug. 25-28; and in Minneapolis-St. Paul for the Republican convention from Sept. 1-4. Participants who register in advance via the Freewheelin Web site — — will be ready to check out a bike from one of the multiple bike stations throughout the convention cities. Online registration and use of the bikes during the conventions is free, with all related costs paid by Humana and Bikes Belong. Bikes will be available beginning at 7 a.m. each day of the conventions, and don’t have to be returned to a bike station until 7 p.m. each day. The bikes can be picked up and returned to any station (locations available at the freewheelinwaytogo Web site).
Those interested in the program, but unable to register online, can also register in person at any Freewheelin station. Greeters will be on site at each bike station to assist with registration and route planning, and safety specialists will be available to answer questions and address concerns.
Humana pioneered the bike-sharing program in 2007 in its corporate hometown of Louisville, Ky. The initiative focuses on fun as well as health by encouraging people to get on a bike and ride with friends, just like when they were kids. Twenty-one percent of those riding were not previously involved in exercise activity.
A ‘Bike-Partisan’ Challenge
On July 30 in Washington, D.C., Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-3), James Oberstar (D-MN-8), Thomas Petri (R-WI-6) and Zach Wamp (R-TN-3) issued a spirited challenge to attendees at the political conventions: join together in the Freewheelin bike-sharing initiative to generate 10,000 rides and bike 25,000 miles at the conventions.
With on-bike computers that track mileage and the ability to compute calories burned and carbon reduction for each cyclist, Humana will have metrics available following the conventions to measure participants’ progress toward the “bike-partisan” challenge.
About Humana
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, is one of the nation’s largest publicly traded health and supplemental benefits companies, with approximately 11.5 million medical members. Humana is a full-service benefits solutions company, offering a wide array of health and supplementary benefit plans for employer groups, government programs and individuals.
Over its 47-year history, Humana has consistently seized opportunities to meet changing customer needs. Today, the company is a leader in consumer engagement, providing guidance that leads to lower costs and a better health plan experience throughout its diversified customer portfolio.
More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company’s Web site at , including copies of:
— Annual reports to stockholders
— Securities and Exchange Commission filings
— Most recent investor conference presentations
— Quarterly earnings news releases
— Replays of most recent earnings release conference calls

– Calendar of events (includes upcoming earnings conference call dates and times, as well as planned interaction with research analysts and institutional investors)
— Corporate Governance Information

About Bikes Belong

Bikes Belong is the U.S. bicycle industry organization dedicated to putting more people on bicycles more often. Bikes Belong Coalition works to increase federal bike funding, awards grants to support innovative bike projects, promotes bicycling and its benefits, and sponsors key initiatives such as the National Bike Summit. The affiliated Bikes Belong Foundation focuses on improving bicycle safety, enhancing children’s bike programs, and making communities friendlier for bicyclists by backing national efforts such as Safe Routes to School and Bicycle Friendly Communities.

Humana

ATLANTA, July 25 /PRNewswire/ — MDdatacor, Inc., a leader in health care quality management solutions for health plans and providers, today announced it has entered into a long-term agreement with Wellmark, Inc. to continue to support Wellmark’s Collaboration on Quality(SM) Incent and Reward Best Practices initiative, a collaboration between Wellmark and primary care clinicians to promote improved quality health care and increased efficiency.
Wellmark, Inc. does business as Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa. Wellmark and its subsidiaries and affiliated companies, insure or pay health benefit claims for more than two million members in Iowa and South Dakota.
For the past two years, the innovative arrangement between Wellmark and MDdatacor has enabled participating clinicians to enhance their focus on improving health outcomes for diabetic and hypertensive patients, and has now expanded to include asthma, childhood immunizations, and cancer screenings.
MDdatacor has been working with Wellmark since 2006 to support initiatives that promote quality health care and increased efficiency. MDdatacor’s proprietary CareInformatix(TM) technology collects and analyzes claims and physicians’ clinical data from a variety of sources, and in turn, provides physicians with reports that identify patients whose current treatment does not achieve evidence-based guidelines. MDdatacor is currently the only company able to provide its customers with both claims and comprehensive clinical data, making the data more accurate, timely and, ultimately, valuable.
According to Timothy G. Roche, co-founder, president and chief executive officer of MDdatacor, the willingness of physicians to use the MDdatacor Web-based decision-support tools can be attributed to the fact that the data is derived from their own patient records in the form of transcribed notes, electronic medical records and lab results.
“MDdatacor has been fortunate to work with such an innovative health plan that sees the value of going beyond the medical claims data and utilizing clinical data to provide physicians with actionable information at the point-of-care, which has led to tremendous improvements in patients’ health,” said Roche.
MDdatacor recently conducted a study of more than 9,000 Wellmark diabetic patients, analyzing both process and outcomes measures as outlined in evidence-based guidelines. The study measured the percentage increase in patients receiving an annual HbA1C, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and blood pressure tests, as well as the improved clinical outcomes as measured by lowered test scores for each of those measures. The company plans to publish a white paper detailing the results of the study in the near future.
MDdatacor facilitates physician-centric disease management, focused on non-compliant patients as measured against evidence-based guidelines. As a result, physicians have the information they need on their entire patient population to proactively manage patient care.
“The expansion of MDdatacor’s relationship with Wellmark clearly shows the significance of this unique approach to improving patient outcomes, which has proven to be not only successful but also more cost-effective than traditional disease management methods,” said John S. Watts, Jr., MDdatacor executive chairman.
About MDdatacor
Established in 2001 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, MDdatacor enhances healthcare quality through the development of innovative technology solutions. MDdatacor solutions are used to support quality improvement, health information exchange and Patient-Centered Medical Home initiatives. MDdatacor currently serves more than 7,000 physicians representing more than seven million patients.
About Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Wellmark, Inc. () does business as Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa. Wellmark and its subsidiaries and affiliated companies, including Wellmark of South Dakota, Inc. does business as Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota and Wellmark health Plan of Iowa, Inc., insure or pay health benefit claims for more than two million members in Iowa and South Dakota. Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota, and Wellmark health Plan of Iowa, Inc. are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
Contact:
Heather McLarney
(866) 460-5681

MDdatacor, Inc.

WASHINGTON, July 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The National Medical Association (NMA) will kick off the 2008 Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly with a health initiative, Walk a Mile with a Child to fight childhood obesity on Saturday, July 26 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Ga.
Walk a Mile with a Child is a one-mile walk and 5K run for men’s health that culminates in a health festival with free health screenings, provided by PEACE of Heart campaign, as well as information on healthy living, free giveaways and school supplies. The walk and health festival will take place on July 26 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This year’s theme, “Elimination of health Disparities through History and the Collaboration of health Professionals” marks the NMA’s 106th annual convention and return to its birthplace in Atlanta, Ga.
As the NMA’s premier medical science and health event, the convention is expected to draw thousands of attendees nationwide and will take place from July 26-31, 2008. The six-day event features an array of plenary sessions, scientific presentations and a continuing medical education program and unites some of the most prominent medical scholars, scientists, practitioners, government experts and health care advocates from around the country.
“This year’s convention is part of a broader national effort to combat health disparities in all communities,” said Nelson L. Adams, M.D., NMA president. “NMA has been on the frontlines fighting health disparities for many decades and our goal this year is to bring together our partners to work together as one unit to improve the health of all Americans.”
Confirmed speakers include: Mayor of Atlanta, Shirley Franklin; philanthropist, Camille Cosby; Super Bowl Champions, Jerome Bettis and Nathanial Wayne; former Surgeon General and Director of the Center for Excellence on health Disparities, David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D.; U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings (D-MD); President, American Academy of Pediatrics, Renee Jenkins, M.D.; Immediate Past President, Ronald M. Davis, M.D. and President-Elect, J. James Rohack, M.D.; Acclaimed actress, Phylicia Rashad; Today Show Contributor, Janet Taylor, M.D.; and Chairman and President of the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, Dikembe Mutombo.
As one of the best national forums on African-American health and medicine, the convention plenary sessions and forums explore critical health disparities and policy issues.
Convention Highlights

Saturday, July 26, 2008

— Walk a Mile with a Child
Georgia World Congress Center
7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

— Walk a Mile with a Child Press Conference 9:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.

Key Plenary Sessions

Saturday, July 26, 2008

— Edward C. Mazique, M.D. Symposium,
U.S. health Care Reform-Are We Asking the Right Questions?
Kenneth E. Thorpe, Ph.D., Robert W. Woodruff Professor
1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

— HIV/AIDS Plenary Session
HIV/AIDS in the African America Community: From Crises to Calamity
9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

Monday, July 28, 2008

— Medical Missions and Global Health
9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

— Katrina Impact on Gulf Coast: Recovery & Remediation
LTG (Ret) Russell L. Honore
2:45 p.m.-3:15 p.m.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

— American Cancer Society/National Medical Association
Collaboration in Addressing Cancer Disparities
9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

— Satcher health Leadership Institute
Mental health in the Black Family
3:05 p.m.-5:05 p.m.

For more information, contact Lanni Thomas, 404-502-9109 or Alisa Mosley 240-350-7531.
About the National Medical Association
Founded in 1895, the NMA is a nonprofit organization that is the nation’s oldest and largest medical association representing the interest of more 30,000 African American physicians and their patients. The NMA advocates health care for policies that would assure equitable and quality health care for all.
National Medical Association

WOONSOCKET, R.I., July 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — CVS/pharmacy, the nation’s largest retail pharmacy, announced today that it is launching a new CVS.com that improves access to medications by making it easier than ever for consumers to manage their prescriptions online. The site offers new prescription management features, personalized medication profiles, information on drugs including cost-saving generic alternatives, and health and wellness information.
CVS/pharmacy is relaunching the site in an effort to better serve its customers who are looking for more ways to take control of their well-being. “Now more than ever, patients are taking an active role in managing their health,” said Helena Foulkes, senior vice president, health services for CVS Caremark. “The new CVS.com offers the tools for customers to handle their pharmacy health care in a way that is easy and convenient, such as renewing a prescription without having to have a prescription vial in hand or arranging a pickup location that is closer to home.”
Upon registration, customers have access to their full CVS/pharmacy prescription history. Key features of the new CVS.com site allow customers to:
— View and print their prescription history
— Order refills directly from a prescription history
— Choose or change a pickup location
— Receive reminders when it’s time to refill a prescription
— Request a prescription renewal
— Be alerted to generic alternatives
— Transfer prescriptions from another pharmacy

Better medication management can lead to better health outcomes for patients. Research shows that as many as 50% of those with chronic disease stop taking their medication within the first year. By offering tools for patients to more easily manage their prescriptions online, CVS/pharmacy is hoping to increase the number of on-time medication refills and help promote cost-saving generic alternatives.
For busy families, the new CVS.com also provides parents the option to manage their children’s prescriptions online. Having access to a full prescription history is valuable for patients to review with their doctor, or to track FSA spending for tax purposes.
Future functionality of CVS.com will allow integration with Personal health Records through Google health and Microsoft HealthVault.
“This is the next step in the evolution of pharmacy health care,” said Foulkes. “If you start with a great relationship at the pharmacy counter and make it easy for people to deal with their medications online, they’ll do their part in keeping themselves and their family healthy.”
About CVS/pharmacy
CVS/pharmacy, the retail division of CVS Caremark Corporation , is America’s largest retail pharmacy with 6,300 retail locations. CVS/pharmacy is committed to improving the lives of those we serve by making innovative and high-quality health and pharmacy services safe, affordable and easy to access, both in its stores and online at CVS.com. General information about CVS/pharmacy and CVS Caremark is available at .
Investor Contact:
Nancy Christal
Senior Vice President
Investor Relations
(914) 722-4704

Media Contact:
Eileen Howard Dunn
Senior Vice President
Corporate Communications
(401) 770-4561

CVS/pharmacy

WASHINGTON, July 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — U.S. Department of health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Mike Leavitt is visiting southern Alaska this week to strengthen efforts to enhance health care delivery to Alaska Native communities and to observe best practices in the region.
The three-day trip, which begins today, includes visits to two Alaska Native villages and two regional Tribal health consortiums to better understand the challenges of access to care; meetings with Tribal leaders to discuss the health care goals of the Alaska Native people; and demonstrations of how telemedicine and telehealth are employed to increase access and quality of care to Alaska Native communities.
The use of telemedicine and telehealth is making an important impact on improving access to health care in rural Alaska. Telemedicine is being used to exchange medical information from one site to another via electronic communications to improve patient health. Telehealth is the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support long-distance clinical health care. By utilizing telemedicine and telehealth, patients who live in rural Alaska have better and timely access to critical care through medical specialists, such as cardiology, pediatrics and radiology.
“While Alaska faces unique access to care challenges, the health care delivery systems in place serve as model of effective telehealth and telemedicine for other rural communities,” Secretary Leavitt said. “I look forward to continuing my work with local, state, and tribal leaders to address barriers and increase access to care.”
Secretary Leavitt will also meet with health care providers, employers, and insurers to discuss the health care challenges in Alaska and the transformation of the current health system into a system that delivers high quality care at low cost. This bold vision for the health care system includes advancing interoperable health information technology; measuring and publishing price information to give consumers information they need to make better decisions on purchasing health care; measuring and publishing quality information to enable consumers to make better decisions about their care; and promoting incentives for quality and efficiency of care.
On Thursday, Secretary Leavitt will present Acting health Commissioner Bill Hogan the National President’s Challenge Award. Alaska was one of five states which had the highest participation rates in the nation based on population. The National President’s Challenge, which kicked off March 20 and concluded May 15, was a six-week program launched by the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports to encourage Americans to be more active. Participants were able to register as individuals or with a team and set goals, log their activity and track their progress. To complete the challenge, participants 18 and older needed to be active 30 minutes a day, while youth aged 6-17 needed to be active an hour a day.
Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at .
U.S. Department of health and Human Services

NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 22 /PRNewswire/ — Norton Healthcare Inc., the leading hospital and healthcare system in the Louisville, KY, area selected Aegis health Group to design and implement a health-management program aimed at local employers. The program includes an on-site employer relations specialist responsible for developing partnerships with local employers to improve the health of their workforce.
Employees at participating organizations complete personal health profiles about family history, lifestyle and current health. Using proprietary Aegis software, the data is used to predict future health risks for each participant. Norton Healthcare then offers specific prevention and education programs to help reduce or eliminate those risks. Employers receive the data in aggregate, which protects the private information of employees.
Employers that offer health-management initiatives to their employees can realize significant savings in healthcare premiums, absenteeism and workers’ compensation claims, in addition to increased morale and productivity. This program allows the hospital and employers to become true partners in health.
“We know that employers are feeling the pinch of rising costs associated with employee health,” said Mary Jo Bean, vice president of planning and business development for Norton Healthcare. “Norton hopes to help alleviate some of that burden by helping employees identify and address their health risks.”
For nearly 20 years Aegis has helped hospitals across the country form lasting relationships with area employers while improving the health of the workforce. Aegis’ program can currently be found in more than 4,000 employer sites across the country.
About Norton Healthcare
For more than a century, Norton Healthcare’s faith heritage has guided its mission to provide quality healthcare to all those served. Today, Norton Healthcare is the Louisville area’s leading hospital and healthcare system (45 percent market share) and second largest private employer. The not-for-profit system - the largest in Kentucky and rated one of the top 100 integrated healthcare delivery systems in the country - includes four large hospitals in Louisville, eight Norton Immediate Care Centers, 9,500 employees, more than 200 employed medical providers at some 50 locations, and nearly 2,000 total physicians on its medical staff. Norton Healthcare serves the Greater Louisville metro area, including Southern Indiana and patients throughout Kentucky.
About Aegis health Group
Aegis health Group’s national client base includes more than 60 for- profit, nonprofit and academic medical centers that have turned to Aegis to enhance bottom-line profitability by driving top-line growth. No other company has been able to match Aegis’ breadth of services, track record and bottom- line proven performance when it comes to building relationships between hospitals and area employers. Further information may be obtained at .
Aegis health Group

AUBURN, Wash., July 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Retired Oak Harbor workers and Teamsters began informational picketing outside Oak Harbor Freight Lines’ headquarters in Auburn today. Since contract negotiations began in August 2007, the regional trucking company has been pushing to eliminate health care coverage for all of its retirees.
“If Oak Harbor gets their way, our retirees — the ones who built this company — will be orphaned with no health insurance,” said Al Hobart, Teamster Vice President and Joint Council 28 President. “We cannot allow that to happen.”
Oak Harbor Freight Lines, one of the largest and most profitable trucking companies in the Northwest, pulled in $117 million last year.
“I am very shocked and disappointed that Oak Harbor is trying to eliminate our health care plan,” said Dan Goede, a former pick up and delivery driver. “My wife and I rely on our plan and it was one of the reasons I stayed with the job over the years. If this plan is eliminated, it will be an extreme hardship for many of us.”
About 40 retirees and their families would lose their health coverage if Oak Harbor implements its current proposal.
“After working for 34 years, I would have to go back to work if we lost our health insurance,” said Ron Getty, a former local driver. “We built that company. Retaining our health care plan is worth fighting for.”
Teamsters local unions across Washington and Oregon have represented Oak Harbor employees for over 40 years. Currently, the Teamsters Union represents more than 600 current Oak Harbor employees.
Teamsters Joint Council 28, Tukwila, WA

VALENCIA, Calif., July 18 /PRNewswire/ — The following statement is being issued by Remo, Inc.:
Some believe our politicians have forgotten how to communicate effectively. They have decided by their votes that they must resort to eavesdropping to protect our citizens from terrorism. While many are angry about this new legislation, Alyssa Janney, of Remo’s health Rhythms Division says, “we don’t care”. Remo, Inc. is a U.S. manufacturer of weather resistant, synthetic drum heads and drums, not oil drums, musical drums, Made in U.S.A. drums, Made from Recycled Material drums. No matter which side of the wiretapping issue you stand on it is clear that the only way to conquer terrorism is to address the hopelessness and hatred at the root of it. That’s why we hope our legislators will listen in on our program. We can help!
The health Rhythms Division develops and provides materials, programs, training and the latest research supporting the use of drumming as an effective means for promoting and maintaining health and well-being.
“We are so amazed by the success of our HealthRHYTHMS(R) Group Empowerment Drumming program for building camaraderie and support and for facilitating communications between groups of people that we want our Senators and Congressional leaders to listen in to what we’re doing,” says Janney.
In a recent survey of the nurses, doctors, social workers, therapists, educators, musicians, retirees, corporate and non-profit leaders who have attended our training, 80% of respondents said that their experience facilitating HealthRHYTHMS has changed their life. Bonnie Harr, MSN, MS, RN Clinical Nurse Specialist from Pennsylvania says in a HealthRHYTHMS session, “The clinical knowledge is married to the personal story and something bigger than life happens.”
“There’s a tremendous process that takes place…connecting them to their community at large,” says Annie Heiderscheit, Ph.D., MT-BC, FAMI. What takes place is as varied as the colors in a rainbow. But there is a common theme that comes through each session — stress reduction, respect, communication & support!
Even in the face of tremendous challenges the program creates an irresistible platform for communication. After an intergenerational Mother’s Day HealthRHYTHMS session Bonnie Harr heard from an overjoyed young mother. “You don’t realize what just happened here. My mother has Alzheimer’s disease and I brought her here believing it would mean nothing to her. But during one of those power drumming moments my mother looked at my 8 year old daughter and spoke her name for the first time ever. My mother won’t remember this day, but my daughter will never forget it!” If this program can help someone challenged by a debilitating disease to communicate, do you think it can help your team, or our politicians?
Christine Stevens, one of the founders of the training program offered HealthRHYTHMS training in war torn regions of Iraq recently. NAMM, the International Music Products Industry reported on the event in their industry publication saying, according to a community economic development director for the Agricultural Cooperative Development International and Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance organization, “The group discovered and implemented key leadership skills within the drum circle program to address elements of peacemaking, youth empowerment, economic development, alternative health applications and preservation of drumming, which is indigenous in the Iraq culture.” The training was translated into three languages because participants came from seven different governances. One participant said, “You cannot imagine. Our lives are terrible; this is like a dream for us. We have come together to share and learn.” Another participant said, “This has been the best five days of my life.” According to an officer for Kurdistan Save the Children, “This program is good for conflict-resolution and reconstruction for our people. The drums create a new way of talking to each other. Through drum circles, we will bring more people together.”
We want to help change the world. And we believe in the power of rhythm to facilitate change. So to avoid costs to the U.S. Taxpayer we will offer our training free to any seated member of our U.S. Congress & Senate who wants to eavesdrop on our program.
Visit our website to watch a video about the program or register for our training:
Next Trainings: October 31 - Nashville, TN
February 13 - Valencia, CA

CONTACT:
Alyssa Janney
Tel: 661-294-5655

Remo, Inc.

VISTA, Calif., July 18 /PRNewswire/ — Actress and best-selling author Jenny McCarthy has established herself as a tireless crusader in the search for an autism cure and advocate for nutritional regimens to help manage the disease.
McCarthy incorporated the Global health Trax(TM) (GHT) flagship specialty probiotic product, ThreeLac(TM), into her autistic son’s nutritional regimen and shared her experience in her book Louder than Words: A Mother’s Journey in Healing Autism. For instance, on page 200 McCarthy writes, “This is the stuff that really made Evan excrete yeast and start talking more.”
On July 19th McCarthy and Jim Carrey will host a private celebrity fundraiser for Generation Rescue. Global health Trax is proud to be a sponsor of the event. Generation Rescue approaches childhood neurological disorders as symptoms of underlying physical conditions including build ups of toxins in their young bodies, food allergies, gastrointestinal distress, and yeast overgrowth.
ThreeLac(TM) probiotic is a fungal and yeast-recovery/reduction product providing selected beneficial microflora to the intestinal tract. It is distributed exclusively through Global health Trax. Many parents of autistic children have adopted nutritional therapies and diet changes including what is known as a gluten-free, casein-free (GFCF) diet which restricts wheat and milk products.
“We admire and praise the autism community and Jenny McCarthy for their inspiring passion and commitment to find help for this heart-breaking disorder,” said Global health Trax President & CEO Tom Dixson, Co-Founder and former CEO of Petco. “Global health Trax is proud to know that so many families including Jenny’s have chosen GHT nutraceuticals including ThreeLac for their nutritional regimen.”
For more, visit Generation Rescue at , Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) at , and GHT at
About Global health Trax
Global health Trax(TM) (GHT) is one of the most trusted names in nutrition since 1997. GHT’s wholly-owned nutraceutical manufacturing company, health Specialties Manufacturing (HSM), develops and produces industry-leading nutritional supplements for GHT and other well known nutritional companies. Dedicated to finding effective natural ingredients and products that continue to address worldwide health needs, GHT is at the forefront of providing innovative nutraceuticals to the global market plus offering income opportunities for others by distributing GHT products. Learn more at
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Information and statements made are for educational purposes and are not intended to replace the advice of your health care professional. Global health Trax Inc. does not dispense medical advice, prescribe or diagnose illness. We provide nutritional products that may assist the body in its efforts to nutritionally rebuild and heal itself.
Global health Trax