- 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.
More answers
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- Water softeners: How much sodium do they add?
- Fiber supplements: Are they safe to take every day?
- Olive oil: What are the health benefits?
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- What is BPA? Should I be worried about it?
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- Thanksgiving turkey: Can you cook it frozen?
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- Vitamin D: How much do I need?
- Multivitamins: Do young children need them?
- Buying beef? A guide to choosing the leanest cuts
- Calcium supplements: Should they be taken with meals?
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- Calories in sushi: What are the low-cal options?
- Vegetable juice: As good as whole vegetables?
- Butter vs. margarine: Which is better for my heart?
- Acai berry products: What are the health benefits?
- Percent Daily Value: What does it mean?
- Coffee and health: What does the research say?
- Detox diets: Do they offer any health benefits?
- Freezing meat: Does it kill harmful bacteria?
- Chocolate: Does it impair calcium absorption?
- Vitamin C: Can too much be harmful?
- Alkaline water: Does it have health benefits?
- Canola oil: Does it contain toxins?
- Dietary supplements vs. food: Which is better?
- E. coli: How can I tell if food is contaminated?
- Roasting nuts: Lower fat by roasting in the shell?
- Yerba mate: Is it safe to drink?
- Water after meals: Does it disturb digestion?
- Ground flaxseed: Better than whole?
- Diverticulitis diet: Should I avoid nuts and seeds?
- Monosodium glutamate (MSG): Is it harmful?
- Canned pumpkin: Better than fresh?
- Smart Balance: Are cholesterol-lowering products safe for everyone?
- Vitamin water: Better than plain water?
- Diet soda: Is it bad for you?
- Microwave popcorn: Is it linked to lung disease?
- Too skinny? How to add pounds safely
- Sea salt vs. table salt: Which is better?
- Caffeine: Is it dehydrating or not?
- Prenatal vitamins: OK for women who aren't pregnant?
- Grape juice: Same heart benefits as wine?
- Diverticulitis diet: What should I eat after an attack?
- Lentils: How do I cook with them?
- see all
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Question
Energy drinks: Do they really give me energy?
Can energy drinks really boost my energy?
Answer
from Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
Energy drinks may give you a temporary energy boost. However, this "boost" — which may last as long as a few hours — typically results from the large amount of sugar and caffeine these drinks contain. (Sugar-free versions of many energy drinks still contain large amounts of caffeine.)
Although the various sugars used to sweeten energy drinks can briefly increase energy, consuming large quantities of sugar is likely to cause weight gain. Caffeine is a stimulant, which also can temporarily perk you up. But too much caffeine can cause adverse side effects, such as nervousness, irritability, increased blood pressure and insomnia. Caffeine can also make your heart beat faster and trigger abnormal heart rhythms, which is especially dangerous if you have any type of heart disease.
If you're consuming energy drinks because you're frequently tired or run-down, consider a better — and healthier — way to boost your energy. Get adequate sleep, exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet. These strategies not only will increase your energy in the short run, but also will help you maintain your overall physical and mental fitness in the long run.
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