DANCE HEALTH

Should Dancers Avoid Milk?

By Emily C. Harrison MS, RD, LD www.dancernutrition.com Food trends come and go, and the latest fad involves avoiding or limiting dairy. Milk and all dairy products have been historically considered nature’s perfect food, but some nutrition researchers don’t believe that this is true. Current US government recommendations are to consume three servings of dairy [...]
Five Super Foods for Dancers

By Emily C. Harrison MS, RD, LD www.dancernutrition.com It’s no accident that all five of these top foods are fruits and vegetables. The more colorful your dietary choices the better you will look, feel, and dance. Fruits and veggies are a storehouse of vitamins, minerals and compounds called phytonutrients that all work synergistically to promote [...]
Eating Right on a Dancer’s Budget

By Emily C. Harrison MS, RD, LD I don’t know any dancers who have money to throw away. Here are a few tips to help stretch those hard earned dollars. Get your protein from more plant based sources Protein from beans, peas, nuts, whole grains, seeds and soy is so much cheaper than animal based [...]
Hydration for Dancers

By Emily C. Harrison MS, RD, LD Even mild dehydration can affect performance. Staying hydrated is extremely important to a dancer’s performance because the first signs of dehydration are fatigue and poor balance. Thirst actually only kicks in after the body has lost 1-2 liters of water. If you are thirsty then you are already [...]
Summer Skin Care

By Christine Dion of Mode Dion Summer is here in full swing and now it’s time to adjust your makeup colors for the bright light and protect your skin from the burning rays. Here are a few tips to keep you looking and feeling cool and radiant. Switch to oil-free products. To help control shine, [...]
A Dietitian’s Top 10 Tips for Lowering Cancer Risk

By Emily C. Harrison MS, RD, LD 1. Eat more vegetables I can’t stress the importance of this strongly enough. Aim for at least 4 servings per day, and the more colorful your selection the better. Vegetables contain important bioactive compounds such as phytonutrients like polyphenols, flavoinoids, carotenoids and lycopene. These are powerful cancer fighters. [...]
Healthcare for Dancers

Part 2: Obama Care, What Does it all Mean? By Stephanie Wolf. Right now, the nation is on the brink of historical legislation concerning the American healthcare system and those in the individual market will feel the greatest effects. Consequently, staying informed on the changes within American healthcare is important for dancers. James Brown, Director [...]
Healthcare Solutions for Dancers

Part 1: Getting Insured. By Stephanie Wolf. A dancer’s ability to work and earn income is dependent on optimal health and physical condition. Therefore, proper healthcare is essential for longevity in the dance profession. But, unfortunately, many American dancers are under or uninsured due to the rising costs of healthcare and the complexity of applying [...]
Energy Balance?

We always hear about the importance of what you eat, but could when you eat be just as important? By Emily C. Harrison MS, RD, LD. What’s the secret for dancing stronger, improving body composition, building muscle, having more endurance, and improving performance? Energy Balance. Backed by sound science, the concept of energy balance is [...]
Anorexia Epidemic?

La Scala dancer fired after speaking out about anorexia. By Rebecca Martin. As a ballet dancer, the pressure is always on. Get your legs up, turn more, jump higher, be thinner, be stronger, turn out, rehearse harder. We look at ourselves in full length mirrors in the studio wearing next to nothing and criticise every [...]