What are some reliable sources of health and diet advice?

Seems like everyone has some health advice to give.  Turn on the TV and there is an ad for some health product, diet fad, or food we should be purchasing.  The internet is full of good and not-so-good advice on diet and health.  Well, some registered dietitians got together and provided some health advice on reliable sources to go to for health and diet advice.  The go-to-sources we can all rely on for accurate, up-to-date and expert advice.  

What are some reliable sources of health and nutrition advice?

1.  American Heart Association – have heart disease in your family?  Do you want to eat for a healthier heart and lower LDL and cholesterol levels?  This is the go-to-place for that information.  These are the experts that noted we can add some eggs back to our life.  But it isn’t the easiest website to navigate so here are some suggested links: 

a.       Healthy Eating for you heart:  a healthy heart starts with healthy food choices.  Click the links to find out more about fats, sugar, and sodium.

b.       Diet and Lifestyle Changes – what are the recommended diet and lifestyle changes you can make to lower your risk of heart disease? 

                                                               i.      Use up the calories you eat everyday unless you are trying to gain weight.

                                                             ii.      Increase your physical activity to 150 minutes a week – or 2.5 hours a week.

                                                           iii.      Eat all the food groups – so many people leave dairy or grains out of their meal.  Some leave out the fruit and the veggies.  For good health you need all 5 food groups.  Aim for at least 3 food groups at breakfast (grain, dairy, fruit) and all 5 food groups at lunch and dinner.

                                                           iv.      Eat less of the junk food – we don’t have to eliminate the junk food but cutting back on it is a healthy thing to do. 

Healthy Diet + Exercise

2.  American Diabetes Association – have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes or are you pre-diabetic?  Do you have relatives that have developed type 2 diabetes?  Then check out the diet and health advice from the American Diabetes Association. 

a.       What can a person with diabetes eat?  The diabetes association notes you don’t have to feel deprived if you have diabetes or prediabetes.  There are many healthy options to choose from.

b.       Healthy Food Choices:  They provide guidance on healthy food choices such as less ADDED sugar and avoiding Trans fats.  How you can be sure to include grains, especially whole grains, in your diet and include fruit.

c.       Tips – this includes tip on eating out, healthy snacks, and even some quick meal ideas. 

3.  American Cancer Society  (ACS)– There are a number of cancer websites so be sure to go to this one.  You don’t have to have cancer. You may want to go to this site to learn more about healthy lifestyle and eating to lower your risk of getting cancer. 

a.       Healthy Choices – what are some healthier choices you can make to lower your risk of cancer.  Eating right, not smoking and staying active. 

b.       Eat Healthy and Get Active – ACS provides many ways to improve your nutrition and to stay physically active to lower your cancer risk.  The offer a lot of videos on healthy eating and how to become more active.  

4.  Centers for Disease Control – This is a site I always recommend to my students. It provides a wealth of information from articles like Sleep and Heart Health to Healthier Holidays.  Cooking for the holidays?  Don’t send your guests home with a food borne illness. Read about Food Safety at the CDC website.   Want to know more about recalled foods such as the Romaine lettuce recall?  Then CDC Food Safety is a reliable source.  Have a teenager at home or work with teenagers?  CDC provides information on Adolescent and School Health.

What are some of the commonalities of eating for good health?  To lower your risk of cancer, heart disease or diabetes focus on eating more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy and lean protein sources.   What is one lifestyle change all these websites recommend?  Sit less and move more.  It would be nice if more health professionals, doctors, nurses, physician assistants informed their patients of these websites so their patients can obtain reliable health and diet advice. 

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