- 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 Food & Nutrition Center, 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 is active in nutrition-related curriculum and course development in pediatrics at Mayo Clinic Rochester and nutrition education related to the physiology and recommended intakes for premature infants.
Other areas of interest include breast milk and formula safety, neonatal feeding, and nutrition for breast-feeding mothers.
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 (21)
- Diet soda: Is it bad for you?
- Nutrition rating system: What's behind the new food labels?
- Underweight? See how to add pounds healthfully
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Healthy diets (8)
- Diverticulitis diet: Can certain foods trigger an attack?
- Butter vs. margarine: Which is better for my heart?
- Detox diets: Do they offer any health benefits?
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Healthy cooking (10)
- Canned pumpkin: Better than fresh?
- Lentils: How do I cook with them?
- Food poisoning: How long can you safely keep leftovers?
- see all in Healthy cooking
Healthy menus and shopping strategies (6)
- Sea salt vs. table salt: Which is healthier?
- White whole-wheat bread: Is it nutritious?
- What is BPA? Should I be worried about it?
- see all in Healthy menus and shopping strategies
Nutritional supplements (15)
- Vitamin D toxicity: What if you get too much?
- Prenatal vitamins: OK for women who aren't pregnant?
- Fiber supplements: Are they safe to take every day?
- see all in Nutritional supplements
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Question
Dietary supplements vs. food: Which is better?
My husband and I take various dietary supplements, including calcium, vitamin C, garlic and fish oil. My brother-in-law says we're wasting our money. Can you really get all the vitamins and minerals you need from food alone?
Answer
from Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
A balanced diet can provide all the vitamins and minerals you need. If you're generally healthy and eat a wide variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, lean meats and fish, you don't likely need dietary supplements. If you want assurance that you're getting all the vitamins and minerals you need, stick with dietary supplements that contain no more than 100 percent of the Daily Value (DV) for any given nutrient. Although there's little conclusive evidence that dietary supplements in general help prevent disease, fish oils or other specific supplements may be beneficial for some people. Talk to your doctor about which supplements and which doses might be appropriate for you. Be sure to ask about possible side effects and interactions with other medications.
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