Health-conscious owners of “smart phones” and home computers are thumbing and clicking their way to nutritious food choices by using a downloadable version of USDA’s National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference. The database lists more than 76-hundred food items.  Nutritionist Joanne Holden at the Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center heads to program which provides free electronic access to SR in a variety of formats online from its web site.

There are hundreds of free and for-fee apps for iPhone, iPod Touch, Android, Windows Phone 7, and BlackBerry hand-held devices. Many of these apps are related to nutrition and health, and are based on the download and import of BHNRC national nutrient databases. To download the nutrient database software, go to the Nutrient Data Laboratory Home page, then click “Download search programs.

The new and improved USDA “SuperTracker” tool provides users with free diet and physical activity assessment and planning tools. SuperTracker demonstrates how a person’s diet and physical activity compare to the Dietary Guidelines, recommended intakes for nutrients, and physical activity guidelines. Users can get a free nutrient-by-nutrient report, complete with a status for single nutrients.

Courtesy: NAFB News