NHM Health Focus: Nutrition March 2009

National Nutrition Month®, sponsored by the American Dietetic Association (ADA), is a time to think about what and how much we eat. Fad diets, fast food, tight schedules, and sedentary life styles abound. As a nation, our weight is increasing and our general health decreasing.

"Eating right makes you feel good, and it's important for reducing your risk for diseases like heart disease, certain cancers, diabetes, stroke, and osteoporosis. In fact, healthier eating could reduce cancer deaths in the United States by as much as 35 percent." (HHS)

The USDA suggests that you:

• Subsititute whole grains for refined
• Vary your veggies
• Focus on fruit
• Get your calcium rich foods
• Go lean with protein
• Find your balance between food and physical activity

The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) recommends that we "AIM... BUILD... and CHOOSE... for good health."

• AIM for a healthy weight by evaluating your weight and being physically active each day.

• BUILD a Healthy Base by letting the Pyramid guide your food choices. Each day choose a variety of grains, especially whole grains, and a variety of fruits and vegetables.

• CHOOSE a diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol and moderate in total fat. Choose beverages and foods that limit the intake of sugars. Choose and prepare foods with less salt.

The U.S Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Library's Food and Nutrition Information Center (FNIC) provides "a directory to credible, accurate, and practical resources for consumers, nutrition and health professionals, educators and government personnel. Visitors can find printable format educational materials, government reports, research papers and more. FNIC nutrition information specialists review all site content to ensure top quality resources." (FNIC)

Access Excellence @ the National Health Museum resources related to food and nutrition include:

• Activities Exchange: Fellows' Collection – Be a Nutritional Entrepreneur
• Activities Exchange: Fellows' Collection – Supermarket Science
• Activities Exchange: Activities-to-Go – Nutrition Analysis
• Activities Exchange: Activities-to-Go – Nutrition Consultants, Inc.
• Activities Exchange: Activities-to-Go – Chefs of the Week
• Health Headquarters: Health Focus – Eat 5 (or more) a Day
• Health Headquarters: Health Focus – Functional Foods
• Health Headquarters: Health Question of the Week – Marketing Messages
• Health Headquarters: Health Question of the Week – Serving Size
• Health Headquarters: Health Question of the Week – School Lunch
• Health Headquarters: Health Question of the Week – Salad
• Health Headquarters: Managing Your Health – The Real Story Behind Obesity
• Let's Collaborate: Science Seminar – The Scientific Basis of Nutrition
• Let's Collaborate: Teaching and Learning – Nutrition Project
• What's News: Newsmaker Interview – Dr. Dennis Bier and USDA Diet Guidelines