
- With Mayo Clinic nutritionists
Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Katherine Zeratsky and Jennifer Nelson
Jennifer K. Nelson, M.S., R.D., L.D., C.N.S.D.
Jennifer Nelson is your link to a better diet. As specialty editor of the nutrition and healthy eating guide, she plays a vital role in bringing you healthy recipes and meal planning."Nutrition is one way people have direct control over the quality of their lives," she says. "I hope to translate the science of nutrition into ways that people can select and prepare great-tasting foods that help maintain health and treat disease."
A St. Paul, Minn., native, she has been with Mayo Clinic since 1978, and is director of clinical dietetics and an associate professor of nutrition at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.
She leads clinical nutrition efforts for a staff of more than 60 clinical dietitians and nine dietetic technicians and oversees nutrition services, staffing, strategic and financial planning, and quality improvement. Nelson was co-editor of the "Mayo Clinic Diet" and the James Beard Foundation Award-winning "The New Mayo Clinic Cookbook." She has been a contributing author to and reviewer of many other Mayo Clinic books, including "Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight for EveryBody," "The Mayo Clinic Family Health Book" and "The Mayo Clinic/Williams Sonoma Cookbook." She contributes to the strategic direction of the Food & Nutrition Center, which includes creating recipes and menus, reviewing nutrition content of various articles, and providing expert answers to nutrition questions.
Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
As a specialty editor of the nutrition and healthy eating guide, Katherine Zeratsky helps you sort through the facts and figures, the fads and the hype to learn more about nutrition and diet.A Marinette, Wis., native, she is certified in dietetics by the state of Minnesota and the American Dietetic Association. She has been with Mayo Clinic since 1999.
She's active in nutrition-related curriculum and course development in wellness nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and nutrition related to weight management and practical applications of nutrition-related lifestyle changes.
Other areas of interest include food and nutrition for all life stages, active lifestyles and the culinary arts.
She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, served a dietetic internship at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and worked as a registered dietitian and health risk counselor at ThedaCare of Appleton, Wis., before joining the Mayo Clinic staff.
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Oct. 17, 2009
Soda tax: Should sugar-sweetened beverages be taxed?
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
A recent report in "The New England Journal of Medicine" proposes a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages — drinks with added sugar in the form of sucrose (table sugar), high fructose corn syrup or fruit juice concentrates. Why? The average American consumes about 175 calories daily in sweetened beverages. It only takes 100 extra calories a day to gain 10 pounds in one year. You don't have to be a scientist to see the association here.
Why pick on sugar-sweetened beverages? Sugar-sweetened beverages have been linked to obesity, diabetes and heart disease. The soda tax is intended to decrease consumption and thereby decrease obesity-related health care costs. Revenue generated by the soda tax would fund health initiatives such as childhood nutrition and obesity prevention programs.
Public opinion polls show increasing support for food and beverage taxes that generate revenue for health promotion and obesity prevention programs. Do you agree? Disagree? Why?
As you can imagine, with so much at stake beverage manufacturers are making their opinions known. You the consumer have a stake in this too. Let your voice be heard.
To your health,
Katherine
98 comments posted
February 18, 2013 6:57 a.m.
What I think people are not aware of is that sugar is Big Business. It is not ONLY in the drinks (like coke etc) but in a lot of processed foods and even things we might think are quite healthy i.e. baked beans (then they put in salt too!) crazy stuff. So of course we all get a bit fatter every year while the governments think its ok to let people eat this junk - as for trans fats... come on people lets just get self aware and start eating the things we know - fresh veg, fruits for example and stop eating and drinking junk. There is nothing wrong with a glass of milk or herbal tea. Just think before you eat.
- Kate
January 7, 2013 5:57 a.m.
do you people really think taxing everything your going to make people stop using a product.thats like charging a person with a million dollars ,200 dollars for speeding to him money dont matter.remember taxes made the boston tea party
- lenny
October 21, 2012 1:24 p.m.
As a young person, sugar destroyed my life. In my profession I see many sugar addicted people with the challenge of trying to quit their sugar habit. Most people can't. There is nothing good about refined sugar. Sugar-sweetened beverages are poison as a well-known San Francisco endocrinologist discusses in his youtube presentation.
- Shelly
June 24, 2012 2:16 p.m.
Yes, yes, yes, sugar-sweetened beverages should be taxed. They're not healthy foods.
- Ellisen
April 16, 2012 4:37 p.m.
For All THE PEOPLE SAYING "GOV SHOULD NOT BE TELLING US WHAT TO EAT" They are NOT. . . they are TAXING IT. . . NOT TELLIN YOU NOT EAT IT .. .BUT WILLING TO TAX YOU FOR EATING THE FOOD THAT MAKES YOU FATTER!!!!! So if the parent wants to spend their hard earn money on TAX fat food. . so be it. . . NOW to the free loaders . .. . they should not be aloowed to by soda, candy, ice-cream, chips with FOOD STAMPS .. . .. yes, understood with the way we are now with the economy. . I know more people are getting food stamps. . they are not the free loaders I am talking about .. . . BUT, REALLY, why are we letting anyone by these JUNK foods with out tax dollars. Just so later we can cure them?????
- MIKE
April 16, 2012 4:29 p.m.
TAX IT. . .AND . .TAX IT NOW ..AND TAX IT HIGH . . .TAKE A LOOK AT ALL THE PEOPLE GETTING FREE BENIFITS (FOOD STAMPS, EXCESS CARDS) AND SEE WHAT THEY ARE BUYING IN THE STORE. . . IT IS UNBELIEVABLE WHAT THEY BUY .. .AND SO HERE WE ARE. . .NOT ONLY PAYING FOR THEIR FOOD THAT IS KILLING THEM AND MAKING THEM FAT(FATTER) BUT THEN I AM PAYING FOR THEIR DOCTOR BILLS. . . . NOT TO SOUND RACIST, BUT THE FOLKS FROM SOUTH OF THE BORDER ARE A FINE EXAMPLE - - -- SAY WHAT YOU WANT ABOUT WHAT I WROTE. .BUT IT IS TRUE!!
- MIKE
March 20, 2012 7:21 a.m.
The fat people don't want the Government telling us what to do but we want the government to foot the bill when they need knee or hip replacements. Let the tax help pay for medicaid.
- No name given
March 1, 2012 7:36 p.m.
Absolutely not. What happened to taking personal responsibility for our own actions and that of our children. Just what we need. MORE NANNY GOVERNMENT.
- Mae
February 21, 2012 1:57 p.m.
Tax Soda, candy AND bottled water ? ABSOLUTELY!!!!! Won't stop us from being unhealthy. Use the money for educating our children.
- Peggy
February 20, 2012 5:25 a.m.
Do you know that there is a sugar substitute suitable for diabetics and weight watchers, NATVIA , do away with sugar all together
- Michael
February 2, 2012 7:01 a.m.
Oh my gosh! There goes more of our freedom of choice. Great excuse to raise money for our government. Where will this end?
- Bruce
January 1, 2012 5:01 p.m.
NO! Why in the world would anyone want another government program. I DO NOT NEED ANY- ONE FROM THE GOVERNMENT TELLING ME WHAT TO DO. There are way to many busy bodies trying to legislate their agenda. Please leave me alone. What I eat is my business not yours.
- Kurt
November 7, 2011 3:30 p.m.
Tax sugar beverages.No! Why not BAN alcohol beverages instead,,,,,,,but that would mess up the lucrative tax scheme. It sounds good to talk health, but wake up folks it is all about tax money and how to get more of it.
- David
October 27, 2011 6:31 a.m.
I say yes to that Amen
- nancy
September 21, 2011 12:54 p.m.
I know... Let's get a "FAT tax" too!! We could tax butter, whole milk, then get a "High Cholesterol" tax where they get us for buying eggs and cooking oils! how about using your BMI as your tax rate for the year!!! people want lower taxes...then lose weight! (I was being sarcastic at first, but the "BMI tax thing I came up with sounds pretty good!!LOL) MODERATION IS THE KEY!!! I'm fat...but I don't blame anybody but myself! I think the best thing to do is to tax the "DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS" or "weight loss" pills! These things are making people believe they don't need to exercise or eat healthy in order to lose weight. Don't tax everyone for my shortcomings!
- Mike
August 10, 2011 8:53 a.m.
No more taxes. A tax isn't going to change how someone eats or drinks. Cigarettes are bad for you--a fact--are there people who still smoke!!??
- Nancy
June 23, 2011 2:12 p.m.
Soda Tax - bad idea. I for one find that your supposedly healthier sugar substitutes make me ill. They make me sick to my stomach and give me headaches. Let's not even get into the nasty after tastes. So, how can that possibly be a healthier choice? Quit trying to control every aspect of people's lives. What next - mandatory calisthenics every day?
- Shar
May 31, 2011 3:03 p.m.
Soda Tax: Another Bad Idea. Hurts business, takes away freedom and the funds will be misused. NO more taxes or govt regulations. It would be another failed policy by the govt control minded.
- Mark
May 16, 2011 4:30 p.m.
when did we stop being adults and making chose of what we eat. It is none of your business what I consume and none of mine what you consume. Haven't we chased enough business away from our country. Now who is partly to blame for our present job situation. how many more jobs go away.
- ann
April 24, 2011 10:33 a.m.
Give me a break, we already tax just about everything in this country except the air that we breathe. You'd never know that we started this country because of high taxes. Sick to death of people who love big government telling you how to live you life.
- Dan
April 21, 2011 2:27 p.m.
Yes - state and local governments should be applying special sales taxes on sugary, carbonated soft drinks (and perhaps the diest sodas as well) as there is not much any thing more disgusting to witness at a grocery store than some unwashed butterball loading up their shopping cart with soft drinks and donuts.
- Roberto
April 4, 2011 9:45 p.m.
Government has no right to tax my food or soda choices simply because they want to discourage it's usage. It is simply a tax grab. My medical bills are paid only by me. If I was on public assistance, then maybe government could restrict my food and beverage choices. But a tax -- never.
- Eileen
March 24, 2011 5:24 p.m.
no , sugar is not the problem, it gluttony that is the problem ,people should think before they put any food into their body. People need to start taking responsibility for their body. Everyone wants to blame the food, the problem is people think they have to have a soda everyday or two or three.If people would cut back and drink regular water they would be more healthy. The same with all sweets and food.t
- MARTHA
February 17, 2011 6:22 p.m.
Why don't we just give all our money to the government, and let them take care of us the way they see fit. Apparently none of us has the intelligence or personal responsibility to eat properly. What guarantee do we have that they will use this tax to fund health care. Most states have failed to use tobacco settlement funds for tobacco prevention programs. With the current budget shortfalls of most states, this extra money will be used for what ever is convenient. Do not let them fool you, this is just another ploy to get more of your money to shore up other failed programs.
- Larry
February 1, 2011 7:23 p.m.
Why does it even need to be discussed? It is a no-brainer.
- Satya
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98 comments posted