Finding Nutrition Information Online
It is easy to get information about nutrition
and cancer on the Internet. A recent search provided
more than 10 million references. The challenge
is not so much finding the information, but deciphering
its reliability. Remember there is no editor
on the Internet. Don't fall prey to solicitors.
The following are tips to help you become a more
informed consumer:
- Does the claim sound too good to be true?
Then it probably is.
- Does the claim discourage you from continuing the conventional
treatment? Never stop treatment. There are many ways to pursue both
complementary therapies and conventional treatment.
- Scan the information for buzzwords, such as “miraculous,” “cleansing
systems,” or “detoxifying.”
- Are there testimonials of cures? One individual's success
does not substantiate a claim.
- What is the source? If the provider is a company that sells vitamins,
herbs, etc., or has another financial interest, the information
may be more of an advertisement.
Where do you go to find reliable nutrition information?
I recommend visiting the following web sites:
www.cancer.org |
This
is the web site for the American Cancer
Society. There is information regarding
nutrition and prevention, nutrition through
treatment and nutrition for survivors. |
www.oncolink.upenn.edu |
Through
OncoLink® you can get comprehensive
information about specific types of cancer,
updates on cancer treatments and news
about research advances. There is a daily
update and the information is provided
at various levels, from introductory
to in-depth. If you are interested in
learning about cancer, you will benefit
from visiting OncoLink®. |
www.aicr.com |
The
American Institute for Cancer Research
(AICR) supports research into the role
of diet and nutrition in the prevention
and treatment of cancer. It offers a
wide range of cancer prevention education
programs and has a wealth of information
including a newsletter, recipes, and
multiple helpful brochures. |
www.cancerrd.com |
Diana
Dyer, MS, RD, is a cancer survivor and
nutrition specialist. Diana is an inspiration
and this web site is a tremendous resource
for those pursuing nutrition and complementary
therapies. |
www.cancernutritioninfo.com |
The
goal of this web site is to provide up-to-date,
comprehensive, and scientifically sound
information about nutrition and cancer.
Suzanne Dixon, MPH, MS, RD, coordinates
this web site and provides individuals
living with cancer, as well as their
family, friends, and health care providers,
unbiased information on nutrition and
cancer. This information can be used
to make the best choices for promoting
healing from cancer. |
www.quackwatch.org |
The
mission of quackwatch is to combat health-related
frauds, myths, fads, and fallacies. |
www.consumerlab.com |
This
site provides independent test results
and information to help consumers and
healthcare professionals evaluate health,
wellness, and nutrition products. It
publishes results of its tests online
and includes listings of brands that
have passed testing. This is a consumer
watchdog web site, which evaluates vitamin
and herbal supplements to analyze the
actual contents and determine if they
contain what the label claims. There
are also listings of recalls and warnings. |
Who to Call?
Navigating the Internet can be confusing and
frequently result in contradictory and misleading
information. Please utilize Nutrition
Counseling at the Joan Karnell Cancer Center to help evaluate
your resources and therapies and most of all,
communicate with your health care team the
additional complementary therapies you may
be pursuing. For more information, please call
215-614-1822.
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