We have applied our best effort to ensure that the information that we provide in response to your inquiries and requests is based on, confirmed by or derived from the most reliable, unbiased, authoritative and respected organizations or publications available in the United States. In many cases you can easily view the references that are applicable to given information.

Primary Source - US Government

The primary sources and/or the confirmation of the information presented on our site or displayed on your cell phone include the following US Government publications and Web sites:

• US Department of Agriculture. USDA provides a comprehensive and authoritative collection of publications and electronic data on nutritional content of various food items and products as well as dietary guidelines. By far, the dominant source of information on our web site is the USDA data, including numerous Web sites and publications. Includes USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans (www.health.gov/DietaryGuidelines, www.nutrition.gov and www.mypyramid.gov).
• National Institute of Health (NIH) of the United States. Perhaps the most widely respected authority in the world on the latest research and available information on health, fitness and diet. Our sources include NIH - Office of Dietary Supplements Web site (ods.od.nih.gov), MedlinePlus Health Information – a service of National Library of Medicine and NIH (www.MedlinePlus.gov) among others.
• Dept. of Health and Human Services. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (www.cdc.gov)
• National Cancer Institute. (www.cancer.gov)
• National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC). A Service of National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and NIH. (diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/index.htm)
• The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (www.fitness.gov)
• US Dept of Health and Human Services; US Environmental Protection Agency
• Dash Eating Plan; Your Guide to Lowering Blood Pressure with Dash; US Dept of Health and Human Services; NIH; National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute

Secondary Sources

We also found the following sources useful, but we favored the data and the information available from our primary sources:

• Institute of Medicine - Food and Nutrition Board - Dietary Reference Intakes. (www.iom.edu)
• Dietary Reference Intakes - The essential Guide to Nutrient Requirements (Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. The National Academies Press. 2006)
• The PDR Family Guide to Natural Medicines & Healing Therapies (Ballantine Books; New York. First Edition; May 2000)
• The PDR Family Guide to Nutritional Supplements (Ballantine Books; New York; 2001)
• The American Pharmaceutical Association Practical Guide to Natural Medicines. This book rates the effectiveness and safety of more than three hundred herbs and natural remedies based on available scientific research and data. American Pharmaceutical Association (APHA) was founded in 1852 and is the largest organization for the pharmaceutical professionals in the U.S. (Andrea Pierce; Morrow; 1999)
• MayoClinic.com. Reliable information for a healthier life from Mayo Clinic (www.mayoclinic.com)
• Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide (Anthony Komaroff, MD; Simon & Schuster; 1999)
• American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org)
• American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (www.aapmr.org)
• American Diabetic Association (www.diabetes.org)
• American Dietetic Association (www.eatright.org)
• Multiple Sclerosis Society (www.nationalmssociety.org)
• Harvard School of Public Health (www.hsph.harvard.edu)
• John Hopkins prescription for longevity (John Hopkins Medical letter Health after 50; 2004)
• Living Well With HIV/AIDS - A manual on nutritional care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
• www.foodallergy.org
• Natural Cures and Gentle Medicines That Work Better Than Dangerous Drugs or Risky Surgery (Frank K. Wood and the Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing; 2004)
• Prescription for Natural Cures (James F. Balch, M.D. and Mark Stengler, N.D.; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.; 2004)
• Wellness Made Easy (University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter. 1999)
• The Medical Advisor: The Complete Guide to Alternative & Conventional Treatment (Time Life Editors; New York; Time Life, Inc.; 1997)
• Health Library at MerckSource; includes The Merck Manual of Medical Information, home edition. (www.mercksource.com)
• The Merck Manual of Medical Information: Second Home Edition (Mark H. Beers; Pocket; 2nd edition; April, 2003)
• Australian Institute of Sports (www.ais.org.au)
• www.Atkins.com
• www.Mendosa.com
• The South Beach Diet: The Delicious, Doctor-Designed, Foolproof Plan for Fast and Healthy Weight Loss (Arthur Agatston; St. Martin's Griffin; April 19, 2005)
• The Herbal Healer (Prevention Health Library; Rodale Press; 1998)
• The Complete Book of Vitamin Cures (Prevention Health Library; Rodale Press; 1998)
• Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld
• The RealAge Makeover (Michael F. Roizen, MD; Harper; 2004)
• www.healthandage.com (Sponsored by Boomerang Pharmaceutical Communications)
• Foods that Harm Foods that Heal (Reader's Digest; 1997)
• www.herpes.com
• The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods (Michael D. Murray ND and Joseph & Lara Pizzorno; Atria Books; 2005)
• Discovery of the Ultimate Superfood (Young G., R. Lawrence, and M. Schreuder; Essential Science Publishing; 2005)