Recommended Health & Nutrition Websites

www.healthatoz.com –– Health A to Z. An online encyclopedia of health issues and conditions from acne to zoonosis (diseases that can be passed from animals to humans). The site also features interactive tools and quizzes for determining body mass index, target heart rate, healthy weight, and more. Visitors can also establish an online personal health record, and visit various “channels” with age and gender-specific articles and health and fitness tips.

kidshealth.org –– Kids’ Health is an excellent website just for kids that helps them understand their own bodies and health as well as adult health problems that may concern them. Lots of interactive games, a tour of the body, and even a section on “Dealing With Feelings” addressing anxieties, shyness, blended families, and a full range of situations that challenge children.

www.nutritiondata.com –– One of the best sites we have seen providing nutrition information. Get all the facts on the nutritional content of any food, including calories, carbohydrates, protein and amino acids, fats and fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. The searchable database allows customized searches: “Show me the breakfast cereal that is highest in dietary fiber and lowest in total fat.” Answer: Post Toasties. Visitors can set up their own personal “pantries” with information about their favorite foods allowing them to quickly and easily analyze their daily diets.

www.statehealthfacts.kff.org –– State Health Facts Online is sponsored by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. It is a great resource for the latest state-level data on demographics, health, and health policy, including health coverage, access, financing, and state legislation. Detailed state-by-state statistics are available in a searchable database on a wide range of health issues, including but not limited to prenatal care, mental health, obesity, mortality rates, and sexually transmitted diseases.

www.foodallergy.org –– The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) was established in 1991. FAAN’s membership now stands at more than 25,000 worldwide and includes families, dietitians, nurses, physicians, school staff, representatives from government agencies, and the food and pharmaceutical industries. This site provides critical information for persons with food allergies, including special alerts about food products on the market.

my.webMD.com –– Web MD Health offers a comprehensive website with information on diseases and conditions, diet and nutrition, drugs and herbs, and a online medical library. Web MD’s “Symptom Checker” helps visitors to the site decide whether or not they may have a condition that requires medical attention. The site also carries health news summaries.

www.elderweb.com –– More than 4,000 reviewed links to long-term care information. The information on this website is designed for use by both professionals and family members looking for information on eldercare and long-term care, and includes links to information on legal, financial, medical, and housing issues, as well as policy, research, and statistics.

www.mentalhealth.org –– The website of the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The site features up-to-date and well researched articles on mental health and substance abuse issues. It includes A Family Guide To Keeping Youth Mentally Healthy and Drug Free. Also featured is a “Services Locator” to help families get the help they need in all 50 states.

www.nih.gov/health/InformationIndex/HealthIndex/Pubincov.htm –– Use this referral guide as a quick way to find answers to health-related questions. Each listing includes the abbreviated name(s) of the NIH institute, center, division, or other component to call for information and the appropriate phone number(s).

www.medicare.gov/MPHCompare/Home.asp –– Use this database to compare managed care plans within an area that best suit individual needs. The database allows a search of all the plans within a zip code and compare costs for premiums and types of services. Get information on health plans, nursing homes, dialysis facilities, Medigap policies, contacts, Medicare activities, participating physicians, and prescription drug assistance programs in any area.