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LIBRARY

NUTR 100 SP25

This video provides an overview of library resources available for NUTR 100 students.

Welcome NUTR 100 Students!

I'm here to support you with your research & citing.

Questions? Email Stacey at svonwinckelmann@miracosta.edu

Nutrition Guide The Learning Centers
APA Citations MLA Citations

Keyword Tips

Use "Phrase Searching"

Place quotation marks around words you want to keep together.

  • Example: "plant-based diet"
  • Example: "heart disease"

Use AND to Connect Keywords

Each result must contain all words linked by AND.

  • Example: nutrition AND misinformation
  • Example: ketogenic AND "weight loss"

Think Like an Expert

Use professional terms when searching. Instead of "bad diet," try:

  • Example: nutritional deficiencies
  • Example: dietary risks AND "chronic disease"

This video demonstrates how to effectively search academic databases for nutrition-related topics.

Keyword searching is not an exact science! Experiment with different word combinations to get the best results.

Credible vs. Non-Credible Health Information

Credible Health Information

Use sources that are backed by scientific research, expert review, and reputable organizations.

Example: An NIH study reviewing the effects of Vitamin D on immune function.

Non-Credible Health Information

Look for misleading, sensationalized, or biased nutrition claims.

  • .com sites – Unless written by credentialed experts (e.g., WebMD), commercial sites often sell products over facts.
  • Social media influencers – Be cautious of health claims from non-experts (e.g., TikTok trends, Instagram wellness coaches).
  • Miracle cures & quick fixes – Promises of instant weight loss, detoxes, or “hidden health secrets” are likely pseudoscience.
  • No cited research – If there are no sources, studies, or expert reviews, it's unreliable.
  • Conflicts of interest – Be wary of sponsored content promoting supplements, diet pills, or extreme diets.

Example: A TikTok video claiming celery juice “cures” fibromyalgia.

Gale Health & Wellness

EBSCOhost

Google Scholar

Databases

Gale Health & Wellness

Trusted medical reference database with articles from over 400 health/medical journals, reference works, over 700 videos from Healthology, and articles from more than 2200 sources.

EBSCOhost : All Databases

New interface! Cross-search all EBSCO databases (50+); magazines, journals, ebooks, news, and primary sources, covering many topics.

Google Scholar

Google Scholar is a search engine for scholarly literature, including academic articles, books, and theses. You can also search the MiraCosta Library using Google Scholar.

Nutrition Databases

Citing Your Sources

MLA Citation Guide (9th Edition)

MLA Formatting Rules

  • Author Names: Last Name, First Name (e.g., Smith, Jane).
  • Title Formatting: Use Title Case (Capitalize Major Words).
  • Italics vs. Quotes: Italicize book and journal titles; use quotation marks for webpages and articles.
  • URLs: Include the full link but remove "https://".
  • In-Text Citations: (Author Last Name Page Number) → (Smith 45).
  • Works Cited Page: Double-space, indent second line of each entry.

More details: MLA Style Center.

APA Citation Guide (7th Edition)

APA Formatting Rules

  • Author Names: Last Name, First Initial. (e.g., Smith, J.).
  • Title Formatting: Use Sentence Case (Capitalize First Word & Proper Nouns).
  • Italics: Italicize book and journal titles
  • DOIs & URLs: Always include them. No "Retrieved from" needed.
  • In-Text Citations: (Author, Year) → (Smith, 2023). For quotes: (Smith, 2023, p. 45).
  • Reference Page: Double-space, indent second line of each entry.

More details: APA Style Guide.