Before I go further, I must admit that I am not an avid smartphone user and am way behind most of my acquaintances, family and friends when it comes to utilizing apps. However, it is hard to not be intrigued with the amount of diet and nutrition information we have available at our fingertips.
Current research suggests the utilization of diet and nutrition apps may help people to self-monitor their dietary intake and lead to weight loss or improved dietary intake. However, there is limited research assessing the impact of diet and nutrition apps on nutrition knowledge and long-term behavioral diet-related change. For example, does using a diet and nutrition app help the individual stay on the diet longer and sustain weight loss?
Although these answers may not be completely clear and more research is being conducted, diet and nutrition apps are popular and continue to be developed.
I want to leave you with some tips before you download that newly developed diet and nutrition app all your friends are discussing, for not all apps may be providing sound and reliable diet and nutrition information or may be user friendly.
So here are some tips to find reliable diet and nutrition apps as well as some of the apps that have been rated by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as the best and the worst.
Janet Hackert from the University of Missouri Extension provides some great ways to ensure you have a reliable diet and nutrition app. She suggests asking questions, which spell out SMART.
S = What is the Source of the app?
M = Does it Meet your needs?
A= What Action will you take with the app?
R = What do Reviews say about the app?
T = Do you have Time to use the app?
You can find more about finding a good app at http://extension.missouri.edu/harrison/documents/extconnect/SMARTStartToFindingNutritionApps.pdf.
Furthermore, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has reviewed and rated several diet and nutrition apps. You can find this review at the following link: www.eatrightpro.org/resources/media/trends-and-reviews/app-reviews.
Some of the apps rated highest by the Academcy include My Fitness Pa, EaTipster, Gluten free daily, Calorie counter, Calorie tracker by Livestrong.com and Calorie counter: diet and activities. Some highly rated diabetes management apps were WaveSense diabetes manager, Glucose buddy, Blood sugar tracker, GluCoMo, Bant and Diabetes Companion.
Now go hit that app store and find a SMART diet and nutrition app you feel fits your needs and wants.
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