Understanding Nutrition Information
Sources
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The cost of unscientific approaches to improving nutritional health is estimated to be tens of billions of dollars per year. The Internet is a whole new frontier for health promotions and marketing.

Whether looking at the Internet, newspaper, magazines, telemarketing, or infomercials on the television and radio, be skeptical of nutrition claims that seem too good to be true. Such claims likely do not meet scientific standards. As an informed consumer, your use of the S.E.A.R.C.H. formula examines health claims for validity. Use scientific thinking and examine promotions that:

  • Advertise a quick and effective cure for a wide range of illnesses or conditions.
  • Use words like scientific breakthrough, miraculous cure, secret ingredients, ancient formula/remedy or exclusive product.
  • Use impressive-sounding terminology or confusing medical jargon about body systems.
  • Discourage discussion about their product with your doctor, claiming the government, the medical profession, and research scientists have conspired to block the sale of their product because it threatens their jobs, credibility and status.
  • Use undocumented case studies. Remember that case studies produce variable results and cannot establish the effectiveness of a treatment beyond a reasonable doubt.
  • Use paid endorsements or statements from famous people for the purpose of selling a product.
  • List "good" and "bad" foods, or omit one or more food groups.

Remember: The same scientific research material can be used as evidence for both reliable AND misleading health claims. Not only is it important to know how to assess a health claim, but also to know how to assess the evidence and its source for reliability. [Taken from How To Think About Weird Things, p.169]

Reliable sources include Registered Dietitians in private practice, in clinics, and in the foods and nutrition departments at local hospitals, universities, colleges and schools. County Extension specialists and dietitians with government agencies can provide information on current nutrition topics.

The following Internet sites use credible resources and research and provide reliable nutrition information. They also link to many other web sites that contain more information.  

  • http://www.acsh.org/
    The American Council on Science and Health, Inc. (ACSH) is a consumer education consortium concerned with issues related to food, nutrition, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, lifestyle, the environment and health. ACSH is an independent, nonprofit, tax-exempt organization. ACSH position papers are prepared by staff researchers or outside scientists and then peer reviewed by ten or more experts in the field.
     
  • http://www.ncahf.org
    National Council Against Health Fraud. This organization produces a newsletter and has been a leader in exposing nutrition and other health fraud for several decades. The "Search" feature is a good way to find information fast.
     
  • http://www.quackwatch.com/
    Stephen Barrett, MD, is the author of QuackWatch. Dr. Barrett is a reliable physician and author of several books on nutrition and quackery. "Search QuackWatch" provides information on a variety of topics. If your topic is not sufficiently covered under "Search QuackWatch," Dr. Barrett is available via e-mail to answer questions related to consumer health.
     
  • http://www.eatright.org
    The American Dietetic Association web site has a large amount of information and other links to resources related to issues of nutrition and health.
     
  • http://www.arborcom.com
    Dr. Tony Helman, an MD from Australia, has a web site that contains information on many different topics related to food and nutrition issues. Most topics have references or resources and are very current. Information is available for the layperson and the professional. The "Search" feature is well designed.
     
  • http://www.fda.gov
    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Food and Drug Administration is the enforcement agency for keeping nutrition and other health information and products accurate and regulated.
     
  • http://www.healthfinder.gov
    This website is developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services together with other Federal agencies. The Health Library feature is recognized as a key resource for finding the best government and nonprofit health and human services information on the Internet.
     
  • http://www.cdc.gov/health/
    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recognized as the lead federal agency for providing credible information to enhance health decisions. Health Topics A to Z provides a listing of disease and health topics found on the CDC website.

Additional web sites that address the concepts of scientific thinking:  

  • http://www.sjsu.edu/depts/itl/
    The goal of Mission: Critical at San Jose State University is to create a "virtual lab," capable of familiarizing users with the basic concepts of critical thinking in a self-paced, interactive environment.

 

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