Where do you usually turn to for nutrition information? It can be exhausting to comb through all of the information out there related to diet, food, and nutrition. With an ever-growing selection of food and nutrition-related publications, it can be difficult to determine which ones offer reliable information and sound advice. Below is a list of reliable resources that provide timely and scientifically based. By no means is this a comprehensive list, nor does inclusion on this list indicate endorsement by the University of Wyoming Extension.
Found at eatright.org – The dynamic website contains a wealth of nutrition information for consumers, featuring content ranging from articles, tips, videos, and recipes to online games and app reviews. Some topics include childhood obesity, healthy weight loss, nutrition for life, and disease management/prevention.
Found at www.diabetes.org – This is a US-based association working to prevent and cure diabetes and improve the lives of people affected by diabetes. The agency funds research publishes scientific findings and provides information and other services.
Found at www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/index.html – Their mission is to lead strategic public health efforts to prevent and control obesity, chronic disease, and other health conditions through regular physical activity and good nutrition. This site provides resources, publications, data, and statistics.
Found at www.choosemyplate.gov – This site provides the latest nutrition recommendations from the USDA’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. The site provides information on the food groups (grains, vegetable, fruit, dairy, and protein foods), the number of servings needed per day (depending on your sex, age group, and level of physical activity), and guidelines as to what constitutes a serving for each food group. The site also includes information on the health benefits of nutrients, tips to help you increase your consumption of healthy foods as well as recipes. Under the interactive tools section of the website, you can develop your personal “daily food plan,” track your food intake and activity level, and take advantage of the “food planner” to help you plan the foods to eat in order to meet your personal health/weight change goals.
Found at www.fns.usda.gov/cnpp – The USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion works to improve the health and well-being of Americans by developing and promoting dietary guidance that links scientific research to the nutrition needs of consumers. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans are jointly issued and updated every 5 years by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). They provide authoritative advice about consuming fewer calories, making informed food choices, and being physically active to attain and maintain a healthy weight, reduce the risk of chronic disease, and promote overall health. Recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans are intended for Americans ages 2 years and over, including those at increased risk of chronic disease.
Found at foodallergy.org – Follow the website links to learn more about allergens, symptoms, food allergy reactions, how to manage a food allergy, and other important topics.
Found at www.nal.usda.gov/fnic – This website contains over 2500 links to current and reliable nutrition information. They detail weight and obesity from a nutritional standpoint, along with food safety, dietary guidance, and more.
Found at www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education – A the public health agency in the USDA that is responsible for ensuring that the nation’s commercial supply of meat, poultry, and egg products is safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled and packaged.
Found at health.gov/myhealthfinder –Multiple government and non-profit resources form one huge database of health and nutrition information. The resources and information they provide have to meet certain quality standards to be included.
Found at ods.od.nih.gov – This site makes accurate and up-to-date scientific information about dietary supplements available through fact sheets, brochures, exhibits, and newsletters. It provides very detailed information on safety, recommended dosages, side effects, and effectiveness of supplements.
Found at www.mayoclinic.org – The website offers useful and up-to-date information and tools on a variety of health issues. A site that has sound nutrition principles offered by registered dietitians. The site has comprehensive guides on hundreds of diseases and conditions.
Found at www.nih.gov – It is the nation’s medical research agency that provides leadership and direction to programs designed to improve the health of the Nation by conducting and supporting research. Topics include clinical trials, health/wellness, and health for children, teens, men, women, and seniors.
Found at www.uwyo.edu/foods – This website addresses issues relevant to the citizens of Wyoming. Resources on this site provide research-based information in nutrition and food safety education that can help you make informed decisions about many topics in your life.
Found at www.usa.gov/health – This website is a leading source of healthcare resources touching on how to find local farmers’ markets, food safety issues, and diet and nutrition questions, among other issues.
I hope you find this list of resources helpful. They are all trustworthy sources of health and nutrition information. You can learn a lot just by browsing through some of them. In addition, remember, the next time you have a nutrition question, make sure you consider the quality, reliability, and trustworthiness of the information source you use.
Written by Vicki Hayman, MS, University of Wyoming Extension Nutrition and Food Safety Educator