Other links for useful information about
nutrition
The American Dietetic Association is a professional organization whose main goal is to promote optimal health and nutritional status of the population by providing leadership for quality dietetic practice, education, and research. The Journal of the American Dietetic Association contains research articles in the fields of nutrition and dietetics. A variety of resource materials are available at a nominal cost (with discounts for professional members). These include clinical publications (e.g., Sports Nutrition; Diet, Exercise, and Coronary Heart Disease), publications that deal with management (e. g., Quantity Food Preparation: Standardizing Recipes and Controlling Ingredients), and publications for private practice (e.g., Becoming an Entrepreneur in Your Own Setting), community practice (e.g., Nutrition at the Worksite), and basic client nutrition information (e.g., Exchange Lists for Meal Planning, Healthy Food Choices, Lowfat Living: A Guide to Enjoying a Healthy Diet, Recommendations of Food Choices for Women, Feeding Your Baby: The First Year, The New Cholesterol Countdown). The National Center for Nutrition and Dietetics, a public education initiative of the American Dietetic Association, sponsors National Nutrition Month and the Eat Right America program.
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) is a multidisciplinary professional and scientific society dedicated to the generation and dissemination of knowledge concerning the motivation, responses, adaptation, and health aspects of persons engaged in sports and exercise. Specifically, the ACSM is concerned with the following areas of inquiry:
Since its founding in 1954 by 11 physicians, physiologists, and educators, the ACSM currently represents over 50 different professions and has a worldwide membership of nearly 13,000. There are 3,000 undergraduate and graduate student members and 900 foreign members from 57 countries. Approximately 7% of the membership are Fellows of the College, recognized for their professional achievement and competence via published works, professional practice, and a demonstrated commitment to sports medicine. Within the ACSM, there are 12 regional chapters that act as authorized components of the College. The regional chapters conduct or assist with various public and professional programs, provide a member forum, and publish various educational and news materials for both public and professional use. Membership in the ACSM includes the following:
The mission of the American Heart Association (AHA), established in 1924, is to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. The AHA has about 3.5 million volunteers who are involved either nationally or with the association's nearly 2000 state and metropolitan affiliates, divisions, and branches. The AHA has three priority enterprises: (1) cardiovascular research (in addition to funding basic and applied research, the AHA develops and disseminates current scientific information through statements, publications, and conferences), (2) cardiovascular education and community programs, and (3) revenue generation. Examples of consumer education booklets include Facts About Stroke, Cigarette Smoking and Cardiovascular Disease, How to Make Your Heart Last a Lifetime, About High Blood Pressure, "E" is for Exercise, and The American Heart Association Diet: An Eating Plan for Healthy Americans . The AHA also publishes Research Facts, Research Facts Update, and Heart and Stroke Facts. These excellent publications provide a wealth of factual information. For example, in the publication 1992 Heart and Stroke Facts, topics include major types of heart and blood vessel disorders, how many Americans are affected, how victims are diagnosed and treated, and what can be done to reduce risk. The consumer education booklets and research publications provide up-to-date information. The materials can be easily incorporated as handouts in most educational programs that deal with nutrition, exercise, and health. The national office provides samples of publications. Contact the state affiliate of the AHA for requests that require prepayment, quantities of materials, price quotations, catalog listings, or other special handling.
The Consumer Information Center (CIC) was established in 1970 to help Federal agencies and departments develop, promote, and distribute consumer information to the public. The most useful information for an individual is the Consumer Information Catalog, published four times yearly. Each issue has descriptive listings of more than 200 free or low-cost booklets available from a variety of Federal agencies. The Consumer Information Catalog is free; to order, write to Catalog, Pueblo, CO 81009, or call (719) 9484000. Other responsibilities of the CIC are to assist agencies in planning, revising, and evaluating their publications; to help produce consumer information booklets in cooperation with government and private agencies; to cooperate in media advertising efforts; and to maintain a media hotline (202) 501-1794 that assists reporters in researching consumer stories.
The Egg Nutrition Center provides useful nutrition education materials for the health and media communities about eggs and the importance of a healthful diet and exercise. The handouts are free upon request; these include camera ready copy and one page foldout pamphlets (The Egg Lover's Heart Healthy Cookbook, The Egg Lover's Heart Healthy Recipes, The Diet Balancing Act, Eggs: Choices and Changes for Heart Healthy Diets, Questions and Answers about Cholesterol and Heart Disease, and Nutrient Density and the Egg).
The American Council on Science and Health (ACSH) is a public education group directed and advised mostly by scientists and physicians. The goal of ACSH is to provide consumers with up-to-date, scientifically sound information on the relationship between chemicals, foods, nutrition, lifestyle, and the environment and human health. The ACSH produces a wide range of publications on topics such as baby foods, microwave ovens, food allergies, hypertension, premenstrual syndrome, sugars and health, and diet and coronary heart disease. The ACSH also publishes peer reviewed reports in health and environmental issues and Priorities, a quarterly magazine. Examples of recent articles are: Dietary Supplement Frauds Deserve Greater FDA Priority, The Lowdown on Food Labeling, Overseas Tobacco Sales, The Biochemistry of Migraine Headaches, Electromagnetic Fields, and Smokers' Rights: The Tobacco Companies' Latest Gasp for Survival.
Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders (ANRED) has provided information and services since 1979. The services include a monthly newsletter (The ANRED Alert); an information telephone line (503) 3441144; referral information about how to find physicians, psychotherapists, and counselors in different areas of the United States; and support groups and workshops.
The American Anorexia and Bulimia Association (AABA) is a nonprofit organization for the prevention, treatment, and cure of eating disorders. Its mission is to help sufferers, families, and friends through support groups in several states (Florida, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia), a referral network, recovery panels, public information, education programs and materials (quarterly newsletter that reviews books, videos, articles by specialists, and research developments), and professional training. The AABA offers the following reading materials: Anorexia s Bulimia: The Potential Devastation of Dieting, Nutrition and Eating Disorders: Guidelines for the Patient with Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa, and When Will We Laugh Again? Living and Dealing with Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia.
The National Council Against Health Fraud (NCAF) is a nonprofit organization comprising health professionals, educators, researchers, attorneys, and concerned citizens who wish to actively oppose misinformation, fraud, and quackery in the health marketplace. The purposes of the Council are as follows:
Members receive a newsletter as well as discounts on publications, buttons, and T-shirts, and they have ready access to experts on health fraud and quackery. An extensive list is available of resource materials in the area of nutrition and health, including the "NCAF Newsletter," a hard-hitting, pull no-punches resource that deals with various aspects of fraud and quackery in the health industry.
The National Potato Board provides consumer information about various facets of the potato industry including nutrition information about the potato, suggestions for recipes, storage and handling, and classroom educational materials.
Nestle Information Service publishes "Worldview," a newsletter that covers a variety of topics related to nutrition and health. For example, these topics were covered in a recent issue: AIDS and Nutrition: Fighting the Wasting Disease, Vitamins: Building Blocks of Better Health, When Nutrition Loses Its Appeal: Nutrition and the Elderly, Food Safety, The Chilled Food Challenge, Antioxidants, Mother Knew Best. A poster size chart, Vitamin Facts, is available upon request from the above address.
For information about Heinz baby foods, consumers can call (800) 872-2229. Write to Heinz to receive the pamphlet Guide to Good Nutrition and additional product information. Nutrition information about Weight Watchers products can be obtained by writing to Weight Watchers Food Company, Consumer Affairs, PO Box 41, Boise, ID 83707.
The National Dairy Council is a division of the United Dairy Industry Association. The National Dairy Council and its affiliated Diary Council units provide a wide variety of nutrition education materials for the professional market, educators, and consumers. An excellent catalog is available concerning a wide variety of nutrition education materials (e.g., school curriculum packages for grades 1 through high school, colorful brochures and posters, videotapes, and the LifeSteps Weight Management Program). Of particular interest is Food Power: A Coach's Guide to Improving Performance. This well researched information packet has 7 chapters and 12 handouts on topics related to nutrition and specific sports such as baseball/ softball, basketball, bicycling, bowling, boxing, figure skating, field hockey, football, golf, ice hockey, jogging and running, rowing/crew, soccer, skiing, racquet sports, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball, weight lifting, and wrestling.
The Information Center is a service of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). It is a resource that can help the public and health profession find the most current and accurate information about cardiopulmonary and related disease. Its services include dissemination of public education materials and scientific information for the health professions. The Information Center database contains programmatic information on high blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking, asthma, blood resources, obesity, and heart attack. The Information Center is part of the Combined Health Information Database (CHID), which is available through BRS Information Technologies. Serial publications include "Infomemo," which provides program updates about cholesterol, high blood pressure, asthma, smoking, and heart attack, as well as "InfoLine," which describes the activities of the national Blood Resources Education Program.
Consumers can obtain answers to questions on feeding and caring for babies by calling the toller number at any time throughout the year. Gerber's provides a detailed 53 page booklet on their baby and toddler food products that gives the average nutrient values per 100 grams and the average nutrient values as a percent of U.S. Recommended Daily Allowances for infants.
The Pillsbury Company provides a toller number on all product packages. The 800 number is staffed with representatives who provide product information, including nutrition compilations and printed material, on calories, fiber, complex carbohydrates, sodium, fat, and cholesterol. To obtain detailed information, write or call the Consumer Relations Department.
The Food and Nutrition Information Center serves persons seeking information or educational materials in the area of food and human nutrition. Its many outstanding services include:
This organization publishes adult patient educational materials. Examples in the NutriTopics/ Pathfinders series include Sports Nutrition, Vegetarian Nutrition, Nutrition and the Elderly, Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia, and Sensible Nutrition. Single copies are free.
The Food Service Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture is responsible for ensuring that meat and poultry products are safe, wholesome, and accurately labeled. The FSIS performs mandatory inspection in meat and poultry slaughtering and processing plants. It also issues publications and other informational materials for consumers about its programs and the safe handling of meat and poultry. Examples of free publications include Preventing Food borne Illness, A Quick Consumer Guide to safe Food Handling, Talking About Turkey, Food News for Consumers, and Meat and Poultry Products: A Guide to Content and Labeling Requirements. The FSIS publishes Food News, a quarterly magazine that reports how FSIS acts to protect public safety, covering research findings and regulatory efforts important in understanding how the agency works and how consumers can protect themselves against food borne illness. Fact sheets are available on salmonella and food safety, inspection of meat and poultry imports, and bacteria that cause food borne illness. A teaching kit for use by high school science and health educators, "The Danger Zone," includes a videotape, teaching materials, and a poster. The Meat and Poultry Hotline (800-535-4555) should be called with questions about proper handling of meat and poultry, how to tell if they are safe to eat, how to better understand meat and poultry labels, how to report problems with meat and poultry products in your home or market, how to cope when the refrigerator or freezer fails, safe cooking and storage times and temperatures, and how to care for special foods such as ham, marinades, mayonnaise, canned goods, hamburger, turkey, chicken and duck with stuffing, hot dogs and luncheon meats, and eggs and egg rich foods. Contact the following agencies to obtain further information about foods issues:
Sunkist Growers provides a variety of helpful consumer oriented educational materials about oranges, tangerines, grapefruits, and lemons. Materials include the Fresh Citrus Handbook, booklets with recipes, nutrition research papers, posters, and educational materials for students.
The United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association is the national trade organization that represents all sectors of the fresh fruit and vegetable industry. One of its services, the United Information Center, provides data on all aspects of the fresh produce industry. This includes consumption trends, industry practices, and marketing statistics. The service is available free to members and on a fee basis for nonmembers. Pamphlets, fact sheets, videotapes, posters and charts, and a newsletter are available. Examples of materials include Fresh Ideas for Schools, an 80 slide training program with audiocassette and script for school food service operators; Facts and Pointers on Fruits and Vegetables, a 1200 page report on over 80 fresh fruits and vegetables; and Excite Your Senses: Discover Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, a complete multimedia kit for teaching high school students (included are two 80 frame film strips, activity sheets, teacher's guide, and camera ready masters on selection and care of fresh fruit and vegetables. Contact the association for a catalog and price list.
The Nutrition Information Service (NIS), staffed by UAB faculty, registered dietitians, and a dietetic technician in the Department of Nutrition Sciences, distributes and translates research findings into practical information for the public and professional practitioner. Last year, 25,000 individuals received information from NIS. Examples include a series of fact sheets on various nutrition topics, access to a computer database, providing materials and speakers for continuing education of allied health practitioners and practicing physicians, and a toller telephone service to fulfill requests for educational materials, make referrals, and assist in program planning.
The mission of the NutraSweet Consumer Affairs department is to promote trust, consumer intent to purchase, and brand loyalty by disseminating information about the safety, benefits, and use of its products. Information is provided by specially trained staff and registered dietitians on such topics as cooking and baking, product safety, and use by persons with diabetes.
The Office on Smoking and Health (OSH), an agency of the U.S. Public Health Service, collects and distributes information on the health risks associated with smoking and tobacco products as well as materials on smoking prevention and cessation methods. OSH provides the following services:
OSH designs and conducts periodic national surveys on smoking behavior in the United States and on the attitudes, knowledge, and beliefs of adults and teenagers regarding the health consequences of smoking.
The Technical Information Center can assist with comprehensive research on topics of current interest in smoking and health.
Free publications are available in small quantities to health professionals and the general public. Materials emphasize the relationship between smoking and the development of cardiovascular disease, lung disease, cancer, and complications during pregnancy. Emphasis is also placed on the health benefits of smoking cessation. Annual reports from OSH include the Smoking and Health Bibliography and Health Consequences of Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General. A listing of materials is available upon request.
The Produce Marketing Association provides a Fresh Facts Education Kit. This informative kit contains pamphlets and brochures about a variety of vegetables (Belgian endive, broccoli, iceberg lettuce, onions, peppers, potatoes, tofu), nuts (pistachios), and fruits (apples, bananas, citrus fruits, dates, figs, grapes, kiwifruit, melons, nectarines, peaches, pears, plums, prunes, strawberries, tomatoes, tropical fruits, and watermelons).