Nutrition Science and Everyday Application - beta v 0.1

WHO CAN YOU TRUST FOR NUTRITION INFORMATION? 117
Trusted Organizations Active in Nutrition Policy and Research
US Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Information Center. The USDA
website has more than 2,500 links to information about diet, nutrition, disease, body weight
and obesity, food safety, food labeling, packaging, dietary supplements, and consumer
questions. Using this interactive site, you can find tips and resources on how to eat a healthy
diet, nutritional information, and a food planner.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). The AND promotes scientific,
evidenced-based food and nutrition information. It is focused on informing the public about
recent scientific studies, weight-loss concerns, food safety topics, nutrition issues, and
disease prevention. This website also has lots of practical tips and suggestions on how to
plan and prepare nutritious meals.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The HHS website provides credible
information about healthful lifestyles and the latest in health news. A variety of online tools
are available to assist with food-planning, weight maintenance, physical activity, and dietary
goals. You can also find healthful tips for all age groups, tips for preventing disease, and
information on general health issues.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC provides up-to-date public
health information and data on many nutrition-related topics, including healthful eating,
cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, alcohol use, breastfeeding, infant and toddler
nutrition, and food safety, as well as other public health issues like physical activity and
tobacco usage. They also publish a monthly online newsletter called CDC Vital Signs that
includes current data on the most pressing public health matters.
Many additional websites, organizations, and professionals provide valid health and
nutrition information. Let’s take a look at some of these other resources.
Trusted Websites and Sources
Web domains can be an indicator of the reliability of a website.
• Websites of government agencies end in .gov and are usually considered to be
trustworthy sources of evidence-based health information.
• University websites typically end in .edu, indicating the source is focused primarily
on providing educational resources rather than seeking financial gain.
• Many professional organizations and non-profit organizations use websites ending
in .org, but this type of domain may also be used by special interest groups and
biased groups promoting a specific agenda. Approach these websites with a critical
eye, looking for the common signs of reliability.
• Business and company websites typically end in .com, indicating that the primary
focus of the website is to promote that particular company’s services and goods
rather than to simply educate a consumer. News organizations also have .com
websites, and while their primary mission is to inform readers, the same rules of
discernment apply to make sure they’re delivering news objectively. Major news
organizations or those with a science or health focus usually have reporters who
specialize in these areas so have more background knowledge of the field, and