- With Mayo Clinic nutritionist
Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
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Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
As a specialty editor for 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, Katherine is certified in dietetics by the state of Minnesota and the American Dietetic Association. She has been with Mayo Clinic since 1999.
She is active in nutrition-related curriculum and course development in wellness nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and nutrition education 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.
Nutrition basics (31)
- Phenylalanine in diet soda: Is it harmful?
- Diet soda: Is it bad for you?
- Stevia: Can it help with weight control?
- see all in Nutrition basics
Healthy diets (10)
- Canola oil: Does it contain toxins?
- Butter vs. margarine: Which is better for my heart?
- Detox diets: Do they work?
- see all in Healthy diets
Healthy cooking (7)
- Moldy cheese: Is it OK to eat?
- Food poisoning: How long can you safely keep leftovers?
- When the heat is on, which oil should you use?
- see all in Healthy cooking
Healthy menus and shopping strategies (8)
- Calories in sushi: What are the low-cal options?
- Sodium nitrate in meat: Heart disease risk factor?
- What is BPA? Should I be worried about it?
- see all in Healthy menus and shopping strategies
Nutritional supplements (18)
- What is wheatgrass — And why is it in my drink?
- Do the benefits of vitamin C include improved mood?
- Prenatal vitamins: OK for women who aren't pregnant?
- see all in Nutritional supplements
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Question
Vegetable juice: As good as whole vegetables?
Is vegetable juice as good as whole vegetables for meeting the number of recommended servings a day?
Answer
from Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
Vegetable juice can be an easy way to increase the amount of vegetables in your diet, but you shouldn't routinely use it to replace whole vegetables.
Most adults should get at least three to four servings of vegetables a day, depending on their age, sex and level of physical activity. Any type of vegetable counts, whether it's raw, cooked, fresh, frozen or canned. Vegetable juice counts, too. Just make sure it's 100 percent vegetable juice and low in sodium.
While vegetable juice has plenty of vitamins and minerals, it's lower in fiber and less filling than is a serving of most whole vegetables. Enough fiber in your diet may reduce your risk of constipation, high cholesterol, high blood sugar and weight gain.
Next questionBrominated vegetable oil: Why is BVO in my drink?
- What foods are in the vegetable group? U.S. Department of Agriculture. http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/vegetables.html. Accessed March 6, 2012.
- Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/DGAs2010-PolicyDocument.htm. Accessed March 6, 2012.
- USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 24. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. http://ndb.nal.usda.gov. Accessed March 6, 2012.
- Anderson JW, et al. Health benefits of dietary fiber. Nutrition Reviews. 2009;67:188.
- Zeratsky KA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 6, 2012.
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