Press Releases

PHOENIX (September 15, 2008) - To provide consumers with a simple tool that can help them make better food choices, Andrew Weil, M.D., world-renowned leader in the field of integrative medicine, today announced the launch of a unique anti-inflammatory food pyramid. The traditional format was used to illustrate a way of eating that can help to prevent age-related disease and improve overall health, and was built using Dr. Weil's medical research on the healing potential of an anti-inflammatory diet.

"Following an anti-inflammatory diet can help counteract the chronic inflammation that is a root cause of many serious diseases, including those that become more frequent as people age," said Dr. Weil. "We know that inflammation contributes to the development of heart disease; Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, age-related disorders including cancer; and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. We created a practical guide for eating to help prevent these illnesses now and in the future."

Along with reducing inflammation, consuming an anti-inflammatory diet provides steady energy and ample vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and dietary fiber. It may also help promote weight loss and maintenance of a healthy, stable weight. The pyramid was designed to present an eating plan that can be used indefinitely. The major principles of the anti-inflammatory diet are to aim for variety; include as much fresh food as possible; minimize processed and fast foods; and make fruits and vegetables the foundation of one's meals.

The Dr. Weil Anti-Inflammatory Food Pyramid combines an educational graphic featuring categories of anti-inflammatory foods, beverages and spices, with helpful information on specific food choices and serving frequencies. The simple pyramid shape serves as a visual reminder of which foods and beverages to emphasize - such as fruits, vegetables, green tea and whole and cracked grains - and which (while also healthy) should be consumed sparingly, such as red wine and dark chocolate.

"The anti-inflammatory diet is not a diet in the popular sense. It's not a short-term eating plan that is abandoned when a goal - usually, weight loss - is reached," said Dr. Weil. "Instead, it's a way of selecting and preparing foods based on science that can help people achieve and maintain optimum health over their lifetime."

Dr. Weil also noted that several lifestyle choices, including exercise and stress-reduction techniques, can help address inflammation, but that dietary choices are among the best ways to influence the inflammatory responses.

The Dr. Weil Anti-Inflammatory Food Pyramid showcases the various elements that make up Dr. Weil's anti-inflammatory diet. Its 15 sections include fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, whole soy foods, cooked Asian mushrooms, herbs and spices, supplements, seafood and more. The pyramid includes visual representations of the food categories, a brief list of healthy examples and recommended serving amounts.

The user friendly graphics make the pyramid effective for at-a-glace reference, and additional text about specific food choices is included in each section to help educate consumers on making better selections when food shopping.

To access the Dr. Weil Anti-Inflammatory Food Pyramid, consumers can click here, or visit Dr. Weil's subscription Web site, Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging, at www.DrWeilonHealthyAging.com.

Both sites provide interactive and printable versions of the pyramid. The Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging version has additional features, including links to recipes utilizing the related anti-inflammatory foods, as well as a total of over 200 anti-inflammatory recipes.

Note to Editor: High-res images of the pyramid available upon request.

About DrWeil.com and Weil Lifestyle

Weil Lifestyle, LLC, provides the public with information, products and services that enhance health and well-being, and helps individuals achieve a lifestyle guided by the philosophies of integrative medicine. The organization was founded to provide a funding platform to support the Weil Foundation, a non-profit organization that develops research and educational programs that support integrative medicine, improve health care and empower individuals to make better health choices. Headquartered in Phoenix, Weil Lifestyle is the owner of the Web site www.DrWeil.com and the exclusive worldwide licensor of distinctive products and services that are developed, reviewed and approved by Dr. Andrew Weil.

DrWeil.com, created by Weil Lifestyle, is a free, all-inclusive consumer resource for healthy living information guided by the principles of integrative medicine. The site is comprised of first-generation content developed or supported by Dr. Weil, and is a leading resource for education, information, products and services that address consumers' health and well-being. Since 2000, the Web site has helped millions of consumers and health professionals stay abreast of news and information in the field. Its servers log more than 8 million page views and deliver more than 14 million free opt-in e-bulletins each month.

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Contact
Karen Kallet
602.952.0100 Ext. 111
kkallet@drweil.com