FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 19, 2007

ARLINGTON, VA - Have you tried a little cardamom with your ice cream? How about crushing up Persian Omani lemons to give your stew a little kick? In an exclusive interview with HealthCentral's FoodFit.com, award-winning chef and renowned cookbook author Padma Lakshmi dishes on her favorite recipes, spice staples for every pantry and the little things that can transform an ordinary meal to extraordinary.

FoodFit.com, a leader for up-to-date information on good food and health, is featuring three of Lakshmi's recipes from her new book, Tangy Tart Hot & Sweet, as well as advice from the pioneer chef on how to achieve healthy and flavorful cooking in a home kitchen (http://www.foodfit.com/healthy/padma.html). A champion of fusion cooking that melds ingredients from around the world, Lakshmi brings her unique vision to FoodFit's robust community of passionate home cooks who care as much about flavor as their health.

"Padma's unique approach to diet -- combining flavors from around the world -- is helpful to the millions who are trying to eat well without compromising taste," said Chris Schroeder, CEO and President of The HealthCentral Network. "Padma shares FoodFit.com's mission to provide others with healthy recipes that don't compromise on flavor."

Lakshmi, an internationally renowned actress and model and host of Bravo's highly acclaimed Top Chef, has also written Easy Exotic, which contains recipes for a delicious low-fat diet.

On FoodFit.com, a recognized national leader for up-to-date information on good food and health, users can find healthy recipes and create a personal meal plan. FoodFit was founded by former Undersecretary of Agriculture Ellen Haas, who engaged top chefs across the country to provide healthy, delicious recipes. The number of top chefs working with FoodFit has grown to more than 100 chefs who offer advice, tips and recipes for FoodFit.com members.

The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.healthcentral.com) is a new and unique online offering, comprised of over 30 general health and highly specific condition and wellness web properties, each committed to offering a voice in everyday and personal language people can understand and connect with at critical points in their lives. Each site provides timely, interactive, in-depth and trusted medical information (from Harvard Health among others), and connections to leading experts and thousands of people who share their related experiences and inspiration.

The HealthCentral Network recently launched personal health tools including the most comprehensive web solution for caregivers managing their communities of friends and families (www.carecentral.com). The company also produces the nationally syndicated television show, "Medical Breakthroughs with Dr. Dean Edell," and has a library of nearly 1,000 short-form, condition-specific videos throughout its network.

The HealthCentral Network was acquired in 2005 by Polaris Ventures, Sequoia Capital, The Carlyle Group and Allen & Company, and has built a management team that combines decades of experience in interactive media and medical, science and news journalism. The company received top recognition from The International Health and Medical Media Awards with a 2006 FREDDIE Award for MyDiabetesCentral.com and the Health Care Standard of Excellence WebAward from the Web Marketing Association.