Nutrition Essentials:

Good nutrition is essential to lifelong health. A proper diet means replacing unhealthy foods with nutrient-rich options. Fad diets often promise quick but short-lived results. Since we recently celebrated National Nutrition Month, it's a good time to point out that you can help ensure overall health with wise food choices that will soon become habits with gradual changes.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, healthier eating habits could reduce cancer deaths in the U.S. by as much as 35 percent. Adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet also helps reduce the risk of stroke. You should limit saturated and trans fats to fight heart disease, which affects 15.8 million Americans.

There's no need to deprive yourself of a flavorful diet. Make smart choices from a variety of foods to fuel your body with the nutrients it needs each day.

Bottom line: Eat right. Feel good.

Fill Your Plate with Fruits and Vegetables

• The average American does not eat enough fruits and vegetables. Harvard studies have shown that for every extra serving of fruit and vegetables that you add to your diet, you lower your risk of heart disease by four percent.


• Focus dishes around vegetables rather than meat. Colorful vegetables carry more nutrients. Broccoli and carrots can be especially beneficial. Eat one banana, one orange and ¼ cup of apricots to reach the recommended two cups of fruit per day.

Out with the Bad, In with the Good

• Not all fats are bad. While essential fats help supply energy, saturated and trans fats can raise "bad" cholesterol. Reverse the build-up of cholesterol by making simple changes such as switching regular cheddar cheese with low-fat cheddar, a choice that decreases the saturated fat content by 80 percent. Sweets such as cookies also include a high saturated fat content.


• Cook more often at home to avoid the trans fat found in commercially prepared foods. Research shows that dining out tends to add fat to your diet. Order grilled entrees to steer clear of unnecessary fats that often accompany restaurant meals.

Grains Provide Essential Nutrients

• People who eat plenty of grains may reduce their risk of the most common type of diabetes. You can achieve the recommended three ounces of grain per day with one cup of cereal at breakfast and a whole grain sandwich for lunch.


• Whole grains, including foods labeled "multi-grain" and "100% whole wheat," are better then refined grains because they include plenty of the fiber that promotes digestive health.


• Most Americans consume only half of the suggested amount of daily fiber. Incorporate fiber-rich foods such as strawberries and bran to help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Any food developed from plants contains fiber. Aim for 2.5 to 5 grams per serving.

Meats and Beans

• Meats provide protein, iron and vitamins that help the nervous system function properly. Opt for lean beef such as top round and sirloin, or skinless chicken. Six ounces of fish per week has been shown to reduce the risk of dying from heart disease by 36 percent.

• Keep an eye on portions. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends 5 ½ ounces of food from the meats and beans group, which also includes eggs and nuts. Three ounces of meat, poultry or fish is approximately the size of a deck of cards.

Include Dairy, but Limit Salt and Sugar

• More than 75 percent of sodium comes from processed foods. Replace such canned items with fresh fare. Flavor meats with herbs and spices instead of salt. Potassium helps combat high blood pressure, a result of high salt intake. Baked potatoes provide a high 600 milligrams of potassium.

• Your body will take calcium from your bones in order to maintain necessary nutrient levels if you do not consume enough on your own. Eat milk products such as low-fat yogurt and skim milk to sustain strong bones.


• Limit foods and beverages with added sugars that provide little, if any, nutrients. Soft drinks pose a common vulnerability because of their approximate nine teaspoons of sugar per 12 ounce serving. Use the nutrients label to identify sugar ingredients such as corn syrup and fructose.

Though each person's calorie intake differs, the Nutrient Facts label provides a common reference. Ingredients are listed in descending order. Nutrients you want to cut back on should be near the bottom of the list and healthy ingredients at the top. Along the right side you'll find daily value percentages. Low daily value is five percent or less. High daily value is 20 percent or more.

Being more aware of what you eat will help sustain a healthy lifestyle. Be sure to schedule regular check-ups with your doctor to discuss a balanced diet because each person's needs are different.

Peggy Fleming, a spokesperson for HealthSaver, is one of America's most successful athletes. As the 1968 Olympic figure skating champion, she launched a career that has helped promote healthy living, breast cancer awareness and osteoporosis prevention. Peggy has been happily married for 36 years to Dr. Greg Jenkins, with whom she has two sons. They are also the proud grandparents of three grandsons.

About HealthSaver

HealthSaver offers discounts of 20 percent on vision care, as well as discounts of 10 to 50 percent on prescriptions at participating pharmacies, 20 percent off complementary and alternative health care treatments and fitness club benefits. HealthSaver also offers discounts of 10 to 35 percent on dental care services at some 42,000 participating provider locations nationwide, including routine cleanings, X-rays, fillings, orthodontics, and even popular cosmetic dentistry procedures such as teeth whitening. Members can also save from 5 to 50 percent off vitamins and supplements by mail. Discounts are based upon reasonable and customary costs or manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP) and are only available from participating providers. HealthSaver is not an insurance product or service. More information about HealthSaver is available online at www.healthsaver.com or toll free by calling 1-800-7HEALTH (1-800-743-2584). A one month trial membership in HealthSaver (www.healthsaver.com or 1-800-743-2584) costs $1 and can be canceled anytime during the trial period. Unless the member calls to cancel during the trial, membership will be extended automatically and billed to a credit card number at the $149.99 annual fee. Members may call toll free to cancel at any time and receive a refund of the unused portion of their current year's fee. HealthSaver is offered by Affinion Group, a leader in the membership, insurance and loyalty marketing businesses, providing products and services that touch the lives of millions of Americans.

About Affinion Group

Affinion Group, www.affiniongroup.com, is a leading affinity direct marketer of value-added membership, insurance and package enhancement programs and services to consumers. With more than 30 years of experience, Affinion Group currently offers its programs and services worldwide through more than 4,500 affinity partners. Its diversified base of affinity partners includes leading companies in a wide variety of industries, including financial services, retail, travel, telecommunications, utilities and Internet. Affinion Group also has a growing loyalty solutions operation which administers points-based loyalty programs. Based in Norwalk, Conn., Affinion Group has approximately 3,000 employees throughout the United States and in 13 countries across Europe.

About Affinion Group
As a global leader with almost 40 years of experience, Affinion Group (www.affinion.com) enhances the value of its partners' customer relationships by developing and marketing loyalty solutions. Leveraging its expertise in customer engagement, product development and targeted marketing, Affinion provides programs in subscription-based lifestyle services, personal protection, insurance and other areas to help generate increased customer loyalty and significant incremental revenue for more than 5,550 marketing partners worldwide, including many of the largest and most respected companies in financial services, retail, travel, and Internet commerce. Based in Stamford, Conn., the company has approximately 4,250 employees and markets in 17 countries globally. Affinion holds the prestigious ISO 27001 certification for the highest information security practices, is PCI compliant and Cybertrust certified.

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This press release may contain statements that are forward looking, as that term is defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 or by the Securities and Exchange Commission in its rules, regulations and releases. These statements include, but are not limited to, discussions regarding industry outlook, Affinion's expectations regarding the performance of its business, its liquidity and capital resources, its guidance for 2011, the consummation of the acquisition of Prospectiv and the impact to Affinion's business and the other non-historical statements in the discussion and analysis. These statements can be identified by the use of words such as "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "continues," "estimates," "predicts," "projects," "forecasts," and similar expressions. All forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs only as of the date of this press release and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, risks related to general economic and business conditions and international and geopolitical events, a downturn in the credit card industry or changes in the techniques of credit card issuers, industry trends, foreign currency exchange rates, the effects of a decline in travel on the Company's travel fulfillment business, termination or expiration of one or more agreements with its marketing partners or a reduction of the marketing of its services by one or more of its marketing partners, the Company's substantial leverage, restrictions contained in its debt agreements, its inability to compete effectively, and other risks identified and discussed from time to time in Affinion's reports filed with the SEC, including Affinion's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Readers are strongly encouraged to review carefully the full cautionary statements described in these reports. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or circumstances.