October 25, 2002 02:28:48 PM PST, Reuters

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has just made it easier for people with Palm Pilots and other handheld personal digital assistants (PDAs) to maintain healthy diets while on the go.
Their National Nutrient Database of more than 6,000 food items can now be downloaded into PDAs, making nutrient information as easily accessible as the PDAs' calendars and calculators.

"It's nutrition in your pocket, at home or at work," Phyllis Johnson, director of the USDA's Agricultural Research Service, which manages the nutrient database, said in a statement. And it is available to consumers free-of-charge, as an "e-government service," she added.

The database program, which is categorized by food groups, allows users to scroll through an alphabetized list of foods, and gives consumers information on approximately 30 nutrients in each food listed. It also includes a handy "portion modifier" feature that allows consumers to adjust the given portion size, either upwards or downwards, to the portion size that they would ordinarily eat.

What's more, doctors can also use the database to recommend low-sodium foods to patients with heart conditions, or to help their patients choose foods that are appropriate for their weight-loss plan.

The database will also soon be available for downloading onto personal computers.

"Easy access to nutrient information on thousands of foods provides a new tool to help consumers follow a healthy diet," USDA Secretary Ann M. Veneman said in a statement. "Consumer information and education about healthy lifestyles and diets will help advance President Bush ( news - web sites)'s Healthier US initiative."

Consumers who own handheld personal digital assistants with the Palm operating system can download the software in about 30 seconds from www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/

The USDA's Agricultural Research Service launched the portable nutrient database in cooperation with HealtheTech, Inc., of Golden, Colorado. The announcement was made earlier this week during the American Dietetic Association's annual conference, held in Philadelphia.

http://health.yahoo.com/search/heal...=s&p=id%3A30500