Eating SmartEating Smart By Debra Gibbons, R.D.
Information on nutrition and health is flooding magazines, newspapers and the Internet. And people who are taking a more active role in planning their health care are checking them out.
The big problem lies in how to know if the information presented is sound advice or misinformation. The Internet is a convenient place to obtain to date information from the comfort of your own home, and at your own pace.
Where to start?
Begin with reliable websites produced by professional organizations and government agencies. Often their addresses will end in .edu or .gov.
Check the Web site sponsored by your health insurance company. You may be surprised at the information and resources it has to offer. Most of it, including some services, is free.
One good source if you are seeking a more heart-friendly diet is the American Heart Association, www.americanheart.org. They have a user-friendly format that provides recommendations on shopping, dining out and recipes.
If you log on to the American Diabetes Association, www.diabetes.org, you will find a wealth of practical information in both English and Spanish.
The American Dietetic Association, www.eatright.org, offers information on a wider range of topics including childhood issues, pregnancy and vitamins.
The National Institute of Health, www.nih.org, also sponsors a Web site that covers an array of topics including gastrointestinal diseases, diabetes, heart disease and dietary supplements.
Check out www.mypyramid.gov sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture. You will find the updated food pyramid and you can complete an online assessment of your food intake and your physical activity. It even contains separate activities for children. And since many children enjoy being on the computer it may be a way to get them interested in their health.
Just enter the name of any of these sites into your search engine and they are easily located. Try www.nutrition.gov or www.healthfinder.gov.
Confused about food labels? Try this interactive site, www.vm.cfsan.fda.gov/list.html and then scroll down to Food Labeling and Nutrition and click on the red label man on the left side of the screen. You will be guided through label reading step by step.
Now that you have a few reliable places to start, you can use the links off those sites to take you to other locations. Check out some of these and add those you find useful to your list of favorites. Getting some credible information is a good way to start thinking and planning changes.
But remember, only health professionals can provide the personal support and counseling tailored to your unique needs. They can also help you interpret what you’ve gleaned from your reading-on or off-line-so you do not misinterpret the message.
(Ms. Gibbons, a Registered Dietician and Certified Diabetes Educator, provides outpatient nutrition medical therapy at Cape Cod Hospital.)