^Jordanit (Obstruer August IO. 2011 Page 7 H fa ith Healthy Eating Means Spending More at Store Study finds cost is barrier for many (AP) — A healthy diet is expen sive and could make it difficult for Americans to meet new U.S. nutri tional guidelines, according to a study published Thursday that says the government should do more to help consumers eat healthier. An update of what used to be known as a food pyramid in 2010 had called on Americans to eat more foods containing potassium, dietary fiber, vitamin D and calcium. But if they did that, the study authors said, they would add hundreds more dollars to their annual grocery bill. Inexpensive ways to add these nutrients to a person's diet include potatoes and beans for potassium and dietary fiber. But the study found introducing more potassium in a diet is likely to add $380 per year to the average consumer's food costs, said lead researcher Pablo Monsivais, an assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology and the School of Public Health at the University of Washington. "We know more than ever about Drug Benefit Peace of Mind When I was younger, I was taught to respect my elders. Now that I ’m one of those “elders,” I ’m grateful to know that so many abide by the same maxim. It’s not alw ays fun grow ing older, but thanks to widespread support for the M edicare Part D prescription drug program , it’s certainly a bit easier to swallow. Part D has been a huge success since its creation in 2006. For one thing, it’s far more cost effective for the federal governm ent than initially anticipated. The Medicare Trustees have stated that spend ing related to Part D is more than 40 percent lower than their initial 10-year estim ate. W h at’s m ore, the C o n g res sional Budget Office recently low ered its 10-year projection o f fed eral spending on M edicare, not ing that the m ajority of the reduc tion - roughly $ 120 billion - is the result of lower-than-expected Part D spending. But the real success of the Part D program comes from the relief it provides to seniors across the country. M ore than 40 m illion people the science of nutrition, and yet we have not yet been able to move the needle on healthful eating," he said. The government should provide help for meeting the nutritional guidelines in an affordable way. He criticized some of the market ing for a healthy diet— for example, the image of a plate of salmon, leafy greens and maybe some rice pilaf— and said a meal like that is not afford able for many Americans. Food-assistance programs are helping people m ake healthier choices by providing coupons to buy fru its and v e g e ta b le s, Monsivais said, but some also put stumbling blocks in front of the poor. He mentioned, as an example, a Washington state policy making it difficult to buy potatoes with food assistance coupons for women with children, even though potatoes are one of the least expensive ways to add potassium to a diet. The study, published in the jour nal Health Affairs, was based on a random telephone survey of about New federal guidelines are advising Americans to eat eight ounces o f seafood rich in omega-3s per week for brain and heart health. But a new study, finds many o f these kinds o f healthy foods, like salmon are too expensive for many consumers. and already A m erican seniors have saved north o f $ 160 million as a result. Because of the provi sions outlined in the ACA, the donut hole is expected to close by L arky com pletely by 2020. L ucas This is a serious and welcome relief for all seniors, but especially have received com prehensive pre for those with chronic diseases scription drug coverage from Part who require long-term, daily drug D. And, most im portantly, they’re therapies to lead healthy lives. Because some chronic illnesses overwhelm ingly satisfied with the coverage they receive: A survey such as diabetes and cancer are conducted last fall by M edicare • particularly prevalent among A f Today found that 84 percent of rican Americans, this is great news seniors report being happy with for seniors in our com m unity. But the prescription drug coverage there are more benefits for seniors from the Affordable Care Act. their Part D program s provide. Such w idespread satisfaction M edicare beneficiaries may also com es as no surprise when you qualify for a slew o f preventative consider the record access se health services to help m anage or niors now have to affordable medi even prevent chronic diseases. cines thanks to Part D— particu Such services include tobacco use larly in light of last y e ar’s A fford c e ss a tio n c o u n se lin g , an n u al able Care Act (ACA), which in physicals and free screenings for cluded provisions aim ed at help various diseases including can ing seniors afford the drugs they cer and diabetes. We never can predict the fu need. S p e c if ic a lly , the ture, and growing older is often b io p h arm aceu tical industry is accom panied by endless c o n w orking to help policym akers cerns. So perhaps the greatest close the infam ous “donut hole,” thing to come from the Medicare the gap in drug coverage that has prescription drug program is this: troubled seniors in the past. Now, A pproxim ately 94 percent o f se A m e ric a ’s b io p h a rm a c e u tic a l niors feel “peace o f m ind” be com panies are providing a 50 per cause o f the coverage they re cent discount on brand-nam e pre ceive through Part D, according scription drugs for seniors who to M edicare T oday, and such are eligible. These discounts have peace truly is invaluable. If you have questions about your only been in effect since January, 2,000 adults in King County, Wash., followed by a printed questionnaire that was returned by about 1,300 people. They noted what food they ate, which was analyzed for nutrient content and estimated cost. People who spend the most on food tend to get the closest to meeting the federal guidelines for potassium , dietary fiber, vitam in D and calcium , the study found. Those who spend the least have the lowest intakes of the four rec om m ended nutrients and the high est consum ption of saturated fat and added sugar. Hilary Seligman, assistant pro fessor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, said Monsivais' research is an interest ing addition to the debate about healthy eating and food insecurity, her area of expertise. "Almost 15 percent of house holds in America say they don’t have enough money to eat the way they want to eat," Seligman said. Recent estimates show 49 million Americans make food decisions based on cost, she added. current Medicare Part D coverage medicare.gov formore information, or would like help reviewing your Larry Lucas is a retired vice plan. Medicare counselors are avail president for the Pharm aceutical able to help. Give them a call at 1 Research and M anufacturers of 800 -M E D IC A R E or v isit America. 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