We all know it’s wise to read information online with a skeptical eye and consider its source, but it’s especially important when you’re searching for health advice. The good news is that there are many reliable health sites out there — the 12 listed below are great resources to get you started down the path to wellness. GENERAL HEALTH Medline Plus Hosted by U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health, this site has health information sorted by condition, plus a searchable drug and supplements database and a medical dictionary. http://medlineplus.gov/ MayoClinic.com Find practical information on diseases and healthy living, plus an “Ask a Mayo Clinic Specialist” feature. http://mayoclinic.com/ U.C. Berkeley Wellness Letter Find archives for the University of California - Berkeley’s “Wellness Letter” newsletter, as well as other advice on nutrition, fitness and self care. http://www.wellnessletter.com/ HERBAL AND CAM REFERENCES Herbs for Health Magazine Library This handy resource has links to German Commission E Monographs. (The Commission was established by the German government in the ’70s to review herbal remedies.) You’ll also find a link to HerbClip Online, a database of medicinal plants hosted by the American Botanical Council. http://www.herbsforhealth.com/index.php?page=section&do=herballibrary About Herbs, Botanicals & Other Products This extensive herb library is hosted by the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/11570.cfm Rosenthal Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine A Columbia University resource on complimentary and alternative medicine (CAM), including links to other reputable health sites, and advice on how to find a practitioner. http://www.rosenthal.hs.columbia.edu/CAM.html NUTRITION SITES The Nutrition Source A Harvard School of Public Health site on nutrition and vitamins. http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/index.html Center for Food Safety Learn why eating organic food is a healthy choice, as well as which food production technologies to avoid, such as hormone injection and genetic engineering. http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/ USDA Nutrient Data Laboratory Search this USDA national nutrient database to find nutritional information on your favorite food items, including junk food. http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/ USDA Food and Nutrition Information Center Learn what the dietary reference intake (DRI) levels are for common vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. (Note: DRIs were formally known as Recommended Daily Allowances, or RDAs.) http://fnic.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=4&tax_level=3&tax_subject=256&topic_id=1342&level3_id=5140&level4_id=0&level5_id=0&placement_default=0 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH The Collaborative on Health and the Environment Learn how environmental toxins can affect our health. See the “Science” tab for studies and information on health issues such as asthma, cancer and infertility. http://www.healthandenvironment.org/index.php Environmental Working Group Skin Deep Database Search this cosmetic safety database to find out what chemicals may be lurking in your personal care products, such as shampoo, cosmetics, eye drops and baby lotion. http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/
