(ANNOUNCER OPEN):
African-American churches have a new tool in the effort to reduce health disparities: The National Cancer Institute has announced the expansion of "Body and Soul"--a national faith-based initiative for African-American churches.

The program encourages eating five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day for better health, as part of an active lifestyle. African-Americans are at high risk for many serious and often-fatal diseases--including many cancers, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Research shows that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables lowers the risk for these illnesses. On average, African-Americans eat only about three servings a day. Dr. Mark Clanton--Deputy Director for Cancer Care and Delivery Systems at the National Cancer Institute--says this about the new effort...

(CLANTON):
"Churches have always played an important role in improving the status of African-Americans in this country--and that certainly has included health. I can't think of a better approach to communicating the benefits of fruits and vegetables in preventing cancer."

(ANNOUNCER CLOSE):
To order a free copy of the "Body and Soul" guide for your church, call the National Cancer Institute, at 800-422-6237; that's 800-422-6237. To learn more, visit the website, at www.5aday.gov/bodyandsoul/.

This is Calvin Jackson, the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.