American Health and Diet Centers Announces Acquisition Letter of Intent by Joshua Tree.

Business Editors

FAIRFIELD, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 14, 2002

American Health and Diet Centers, Inc. announced today that it has entered into a Letter of Intent with Joshua Tree Construction (OTCBB:JSHT) ("Joshua Tree" or the "Company") for Joshua Tree to acquire American Health and Diet Centers, Inc. ("AHDC") dba "Vitamin Healthcenters," dba "The Nutritionary."

The Company plans to change its name to reflect its new acquisition and change its trading symbol at a later date. Key management of AHDC will be retained and the new Board of Directors will be appointed. AHDC currently operates 22 retail locations and had $10,676,100 in net sales in FY 2000.

The AHDC is a multi-channel marketer of high quality nutraceuticals and natural health product solutions. The Company has developed a low-cost retail store concept that is the core foundation of the model. The AHDC gains significant market advantage by selling from high exposure, mall-based, staffed retail locations and small in-line stores. The Company has the ability to increase customer conversion by offering a supplement selection based on specific health solutions. The health solutions address weight loss, energy, sports nutrition, anti-aging and many other areas of concern. The Company offers a direct shipment program that enables customers to order via telephone, Internet or mail. The business model allows for a high margin retail health center that offers consumers convenient multi-channel access to quality products, backed by highly trained personal nutritional counselors. The Company also developed state-of-the-art point of sale programs and has achieved a superior customer service track record.

The U.S. natural health product market was projected to exceed $35 billion in 2001 and to continue to grow at 10% per annum. The Industry is extremely fragmented and there is not a national multi-channel market share leader. The majority of the market is dominated by independent retailers and the off line market leader GNC, which has only an 11.1% share. Less than 1% of industry sales are currently Web-based, and the pure play Internet retailers have not been successful due to high customer acquisition costs.

Keith Frankel will continue to serve as an advisor to the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors and will lead AHDC. Mr. Frankel has been President and Chairman of American Health and Diet Centers, Inc. since November of 1998, as well as co-owner of AHDC. Mr. Frankel has been in the nutritional industry since 1986 and is President and CEO of Vitaquest International, a major producer of nutritional products serving all marketing channels of the nutritional industry.

Melvin Simon, currently Co-chairman of the Simon Property Group and present Co-owner of AHDC, will continue to serve in an advisory capacity to senior management of AHDC. Simon Property Group (NYSE:SPG), founded in 1960, is the largest publicly traded retail Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) in North America and the country's largest owner, developer and manager of market-dominant retail real estate.

Marty Reynolds, as Vice-President of Stores, will continue to serve as Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Reynolds joined AHDC in 1995 as Vice President of Stores. During his tenure he has implemented state-of-the-art technology including web-based interactive training, store point of sale software that includes inventory control, human resource management and asset control. These programs have streamlined the organization's operations and increased profitability. Mr. Reynolds has over 20 years of experience in retailing and retail sales serving as Director of Stores for FuncoLand, Inc. and store Controller for Wilsons the Leather Experts.

David Mihalik joined AHDC in 2000 as Vice President of the Franchise division of AHDC. Mr. Mihalik previously served as Senior Director for GNC Franchising, Inc., the company that franchised General Nutrition Centers nationwide from 1993 to 1998. Mr. Mihalik was involved in the major growth of GNC franchising, contributing to GNC being named "America's Number One Retail Franchise" in 1998 by Entrepreneur International.

American Health and Diet Centers, Inc. is planning an aggressive growth strategy for 2002 and plans to open 150 new locations, with further plans to expand to over 1,500 locations by the end of 2005. The new locations will be both Company Stores and Franchised locations.

ABOUT AMERICAN HEALTH AND DIET CENTERS

The American Health and Diet Centers was established in 1979 as "The Vitamin Healthcenters" and is a multi-channel marketer of high quality nutritional and natural health products. It is committed to being the best provider of quality products, information and services in the nutritional supplement, health and self-care market.

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" that include risk and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially due to a variety of factors, including without limitation, the Company's ability to produce and market products and/or services and other risks detailed from time-to-time in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.