- With Mayo Clinic nutritionists
Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
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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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Nutrition-wise blog
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March 6, 2010
Relaxation drinks: Does calm come in a can?
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Ever tried a warm glass of milk at bedtime to help you sleep? What about coffee to get you going in the morning? Or an energy drink for a boost in the afternoon? How about a drink to help you unwind after a stressful day? No, I don't mean beer or wine.
I'm talking about "relaxation drinks," a new line of beverages that claim to help you chill out. Relaxation drinks contain ingredients such as theanine and melatonin, which are purported to reduce anxiety or induce sleep. These two ingredients are "generally considered as safe" by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. However, the FDA doesn't strictly regulate dietary supplements like these, which is why you should always talk with your doctor before trying any supplement. (And children and women who are pregnant or nursing probably shouldn't partake of relaxation drinks.)
Have our bodies gotten so out of sync that we can't stay awake, fall asleep or even relax without a chemical or herbal aid? Have you tried these relaxation drinks? Did you find them to be beneficial? Or do you eschew energy and relaxation drinks and similar beverages? What do you do instead to rev up or wind down?
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