By Emily C. Harrison MS, RD, LD.
www.dancernutrition.com

Dancers tend to be cautious about fat in their diets. This is completely understandable given that we have to look good in tights and fat is a very concentrated source of calories. Fats have nine calories per gram versus four calories per gram from carbs or proteins. But what about all the reported benefits of coconut oil, olive oil and omega-3s? Would a dancer’s bone health be at risk without adequate fat to help absorb and metabolize bone building vitamins D and K, both of which are fat-soluble? Plus, fat makes food more palatable, and helps you feel fuller longer.  Smart choices and moderation are what we need for this misunderstood, but tasty, nutrient.

How Much?

The American College of Sports Medicine recommends getting 25-30% of your total calories from fat. As a dietitian for dancers, I typically recommend getting 25% because it’s necessary, but we don’t want to get too much. It is saturated fat that you want to avoid. Recommendations are to get less than 10% of total calories from saturated fat. We all should entirely avoid trans fats. Trans fats undergo hydrogenation, which makes them more shelf stable. Baked goods, doughnuts, fried foods and chips are sources of this heart-damaging fat. As athletes, our cardiovascular system is a big part of what makes us perform well and it makes sense to eat foods that support the one muscle that never stops working. Most teenagers and adults can eat between 35 to 60 grams of total fat per day, but choose your sources of fat wisely, picking plants such as nuts, seeds, avocados and small amounts of unsaturated oils. Portions matter! All foods naturally contain some fat. Even green beans and other veggies have a little.  

What does 25% of total calories really mean?

It’s different for everyone, but for approximately 2,000 calories per day, 500 of those can be from fat. This amounts to up to 55 grams per day. A pat of butter, 1/3 hamburger patty or 2 tablespoons of avocado all contain about 5-8 grams of fat, but the different kinds of fats in these foods can have profoundly different effects on the body.  

The importance of fats

Fats provide critical biological functions in the body. Phospholipids are components of cell membranes, and glycolipids are components of brain tissue. Fat can also be an important fuel source during a long show. Fats are essential for the absorption of vitamins A, E, D and K. 

Different types of fat

You want to replace saturated fats with unsaturated sources. When you hear of saturated or unsaturated fats (both poly and monounsaturated), those terms are referring to the structure or the chemical bonds. The structure can influence how it is metabolized by the body and then how it is used by cells. Different types of fat can also have different effects on athletic performance. Coconut oil is popular now. While it is very saturated and should be eaten in moderation, it has the type of fat that can be absorbed rapidly and can be a quick fuel source before dancing.

Below are some examples of fat sources. These are all naturally a mixture of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, but this gives a general idea of which fat sources are healthier options.

Saturated Fat (usually solid at room temperature) includes:

• Meats, cheeses, butter, chocolate, coconut oil, palm oil, shortening, hydrogenated oils/ trans fats. 
  Linked to heart disease, hardening of the arteries, higher cholesterol, cancer, liver disease and poorer athletic performance.

Poly and Monounsaturated fats (usually liquid at room temperature) includes: 

• Oils from flax, safflower, canola, olive, sesame. All seeds such as chia, flax, hemp, and sunflower. All nuts such as walnuts, almonds, peanuts.
  Linked to decreased cholesterol, better heart health, lower risk for cancer.

Omega-3s/ fish oils (Unsaturated and considered “essential” because the body can’t make them):

• Flax and chia seeds, walnuts, cold water fish, canola oil, soy, wheat germ.
  Linked to decreased inflammation, lower risk for depression, improved brain function and better heart health.

Making good choices when dancing

Because fat slows stomach emptying and digestion, choose a high carbohydrate meal that is moderate in protein and low in fat one hour or more before a show or rehearsal. Nerves can affect digestion as we all know. Options could be a low fat meal of pasta with light marinara sauce (easy on the oil) or rice, veggies and edamame or a veggie burger on bread with a side of carrots. During long class or rehearsal days, try trail mix with nuts and seeds with a carb like pretzels or crackers. Add flax or chia seeds to your oatmeal in the mornings.

Anyone who is watching their weight and wants better performance doesn’t need to fear fat, they just need to be smart about not eating too much and getting their fat sources from plants.

Emily Harrison
Emily Cook Harrison MS, RD, LD
Emily is a registered dietitian and holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in nutrition from Georgia State University, USA. Her master’s thesis research was on elite level ballet dancers and nutrition and she has experience providing nutrition services for weight management, sports nutrition, disordered eating, disease prevention, and food allergies. Emily was a professional dancer for eleven years with the Atlanta Ballet and several other companies. She is a dance educator and the mother of two young children. She now runs the Centre for Dance Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyles. She can be reached at emily@dancernutrition.com www.dancernutrition.com

Photo (top): © Alen Dobric | Dreamstime.com

Are you preparing for a dance competition? Do you find that you dance well in the studio but nerves often get the better of you when it comes to performing on stage? Dance Informa recently talked to two dance professionals to help you come up with an action plan for dealing with nerves so your talents can shine through.

Alexandra Cownie

Alexandra is a former professional dancer and the author of How To Be a Ballet Dancer. Having performed extensively in Europe, she now lives in Australia where she is a renowned master class and classical repertoire teacher.

What are your top three tips for dealing with stress and nerves at a competition?

“1. While you warm up, think about a time when you danced really well and felt very confident. Visualise how you felt and use that feeling to pump yourself up. Smiling, shaking your limbs dynamically and looking upwards will help you do that.

2. Practice positive thinking. The quality of your self-talk can literally make or break your performance.  Watch out for negative thinking that comes up by watching the other competitors. These thoughts are very harmful to the quality of your performance, so stay positive and be there for yourself.

3. Keep in mind that everyone is nervous and wants to do their best. If you can be calmer than them, with only the ‘good’ stress, you will be way ahead of the competition.”

Dancer and author Alexandra Cownie

What can we do to combat negative thinking when nervous?

“Think of something funny! You can even have your favourite funny video ready to go on your smart phone (or your mum’s) in case you start to feel too tense. Laughter will help you let go of the unnecessary pressure. Once you feel in a brighter mood, take a moment to refocus on your dance with a short meditation.”

Is there an optimum diet and time to eat leading up to a competition?

“Eating is something that needs to be tested to suit your specific needs. However, here are some tips:

-      Eat a healthy dinner the night before

-      Never skip breakfast, no matter how nervous you are

-      Test in rehearsals when is the best time for you to eat before you go on stage so you can be ready for the big day

-      Drink small sips of water all day long

-      Eat smaller meals and snacks, but eat them more often to keep your blood sugar regular”

What happens when something goes wrong on stage?

“Every single dancer in the world has made mistakes on stage. From memory loss to falling, how you deal with the issue will impact the outcome of the competition. Keep going, keep smiling and focus on what is to come instead of what went bad. As long as you are on stage, you still have a chance to impress.”

As a dancer, did you have any pre-competition rituals or routines?

“I would always visualise my dance routine done perfectly in my head before going to bed the night before and again while warming up before the show. It helped me focus on doing things right instead of worrying about what may go wrong.”

“I would also always take a moment to look quietly at the stage from behind the curtain, take deep long breaths and remind myself why I am doing this and how much I love dancing. This helped me give to the audience, because even in competitions, dance is dance and the judges are your audience – you have to dance for them and not only perform technical moves. That is what makes a real dancer.”

Aaron Smyth performing with Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School.

Aaron Smyth

Aussie Aaron Smyth is a Genee Gold medal winner who is currently dancing as a guest artist throughout the USA and South Africa, as well as performing with English National Ballet. He has previously worked with American Ballet Theatre II and the Royal Ballet and has been a medallist and finalist in many international ballet competitions.

Skill and artistry aside, what do you think gave you the edge to do so well in competitions?

“I take a lot of pride in my stage presence and charisma on stage and making sure I portray whichever character I am dancing spot on. I think that really sorts the boys from the men.”

Is there a particular win that you are most proud of?

“Yes, winning the Gold Medal at the Genee International Ballet Competition, as well as the Bravo Audience Choice Award. It was a very special win as I had been planning to compete in this competition ever since I was a young boy. Also, hearing about all the previous winners going onto exceptional careers was very inspiring. There was also a lot of excitement as the Genee was on at the same time as the Beijing Olympic Games, so when I got Gold I felt like I did Australia proud. Also, Dame Antoinette Sibley was a judge and she doesn’t give Gold Medals easily!”

What are your tips for staying calm in a big competition?

“To breathe and treat it like a performance. Really just try to have fun and learn from your other competitors.”

Do you have a pre-show ritual?

“Not really, I just like to have a nice warm up, iPod stuck in my ear and stay focused. I also have a special hand shake with my mum before I go on stage.”

How do you spend the day before a competition?

“By this time I am feeling excited, anxious, nervous and stressed. I try to be surrounded by family and friends and try to distract my nerves and have one last run through of my variations.”

In general, do you feel nervous before a competition or performance?

“Yes, I get very nervous before a comp or just a normal performance. I think it’s a good thing, because when you hit the stage adrenaline kicks in and it’s all okay.”

Have you had any onstage mishaps, and if so how did you deal with them?

“YES! In the first round at the USA International Ballet Competition we were dancing the pas de deux from Coppelia and there was a panel of the most prestigious judges from major companies around the world. We weren’t even half way through the pas de deux when the cuff of my costume got caught in the back of my partner’s dress and it was stuck! We had to literally re-choreograph the pas de deux whispering to each other, with me attached to her. We ran off stage screaming ‘scissors!’ and I had to be cut from her costume. Then I ran on for my solo and it was fine from then on. We thought we were going to be cut, however, we ended up winning the Silver Medal!”

Good luck readers! May you perform exceedingly well in your upcoming competitions, learn a lot and enjoy the experience.

Photo (top): Aaron Smyth and Alys Shee compete at Varna IBC 2010. Photo courtesy of Aaron Smyth.

By Emily Yewell Volin.

Technique classes and rehearsals are a dancer’s job and a common misconception is that this training schedule provides enough exercise and conditioning to make a dancer performance ready. Not so. Dance Informa spoke with Nehemiah Kish (Principal Dancer, The Royal Ballet), Alice Hinde (Australia’s Dancenorth) and Glenn Allen Sims (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater) to learn how they augment their workout regimes to achieve top fitness, stamina and sculpted physiques.

What type of fitness activities do you do in addition to your technique classes and why?

Nehemiah Kish – The Royal Ballet, UK
In addition to our daily ballet class, we are very fortunate at The Royal Ballet to have two sports scientists on staff as well as Pilates and Gyrotonics instructors. This season I have been working with our sports scientists. They test our strengths and weaknesses and give exercises accordingly. When I want to improve a certain area of my dancing or build a specific group of muscles they tailor the exercises to my needs. How much I do is based on my performance schedule, because some of the exercises leave me sore or fatigued. I like to take advantage of the days when I have fewer rehearsals and use those days to work on strengthening the areas I want to improve.

Dancenorth Company Dancer Alice Hinde. Photo by Bottlebrush Studios.

Alice Hinde – Dancenorth, Australia
In addition to ballet and contemporary technique classes, I cycle, do yoga and skip. I have these activities on rotation so that my body is subject to different kinds of movement patterns. I enjoy doing all of these activities because they are also a rest for the mind. I aim to reduce the noise of a busy mind and just enjoy focusing on my breath in yoga or even the scenery while riding. Cross-training is great for the body, it helps improve stamina and strength and overall shape and performance.

Glenn Allen Sims – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, USA
I am always working out, especially at the gym, when I am not in my technique classes. While at the gym my main concern is free weights, basically sculpting my upper body and breaking down muscles groups into days of the week (ie. Monday- abs and shoulders, Tuesday- back, Wednesday- abs and cardio, Thursday- chest, and Friday- abs and arms). This schedule can be altered depending on what I am dancing that evening, if there is a performance or the free time I may have during a rehearsal period. I also take Pilates classes that are generally on a private basis with a Master Trainer. I feel that a man should look like a man from the stage, not to say that someone that is slighter than I doesn’t look like a man, but it is my prerogative. As an Ailey man, it is part of the history and legacy that the men always looked great, sexy and fit. I am just trying to live up to this standard as best as possible with all the knowledge that I know about fitness. Working out really plays a huge role on how good you feel about yourself, and when you are feeling great in your skin it really shows!

What is your strategy for staying fit and conditioned during your off-contract time?

Glenn Allen Sims
I try to make sure that I am at the gym on a daily basis. When I am on off-contract time I make sure to really focus on as much cardio as possible – it’s the only way I can come back to work with the same amount of stamina that I left with. I love taking a spin class or just simply running on the treadmill. The best cardio workout that I am head over heels for is aqua aerobics! You tone and work all the muscle groups without the impact on your joints, which is a huge plus for me as a dancer. In terms of my eating habits, I eat the same for the most part. I food combine what I’m going to eat, meaning that I don’t mix proteins and carbohydrates in a meal. This really aids the digestive system in processing the food I am taking in. I’m big on eating whole foods and loads of greens (especially green juices), and making sure that what I am eating is of quality – no junk foods. I try to stay away from desserts.

Alice Hinde
During the summer holiday, I try to allow ten days to two weeks for rest. In that time I might do some gentle stretching. Swimming and biking are two of my favorite ways to keeping my body moving while I’m on holiday.

The Royal Ballet’s Nehemiah Kish and Zenaida Yanowsky in Raymonda Act III, photo by Tristram Kenton, courtesy ROH

Nehemiah Kish
Maintaining the same level of fitness and conditioning I have on contract is very difficult when I’m off contract. It basically comes down to time allocation – how can you give at least 5 hours a day to training as you would if you were working? So, I generally lead an active lifestyle which helps maintain some level of fitness, including regularly hiking, swimming and diving. As I am constantly on the move between cities and even countries, attending regular classes becomes difficult. To remedy this I always pack a skipping rope. It is lightweight and it’s easy enough to find a space large enough to skip in. Skipping also gets your heart rate up rapidly. I set my iPod to my favourite up-beat tracks and I can skip happily for 15-20 minutes.

How do you augment your exercise regimen while touring?

Alice Hinde
Touring doesn’t affect my routine that much. I don’t use a lot of machines or props when working out. Most of my exercises are based on using my own body weight.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Glenn Allen Sims and Linda Celeste Sims in Jirí Kylián’s Petite Mort. Photo by Paul Kolnik.

Glenn Allen Sims
I carry a range of travel equipment with me. I have Spree resistance straps that help tone the body, the Perfect Push-Up and a Multi-toner, which is like the Pilates magic circle, but this was designed by DLFit and is a complete body workout. Of course, there’s only so much you can do in the hotel gym so most of my workout augmentation happens either in the hotel room or at the theater, unless there is a gym nearby.

Nehemiah Kish
I aim to tailor any fitness activities to things that can be done in a hotel room such as skipping and yoga. I find stretching extremely beneficial when on tour because of the increased workload when performing a show. Cardio and strength are usually taken care of by actually performing! A spa or bath also works wonders in decreasing lactic acid levels and keeping the body supple.

Top photo: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Glenn Allen Sims and Antonio Douthit in Alvin Ailey’s Opus McShann. Photo by Paul Kolnik.

By Emily C. Harrison MS, RD, LD
www.dancernutrition.com

Dance Informa is celebrating heart health this Valentine’s Day by highlighting five red foods that are good for the one muscle in your body that never gets a rest. These foods are also great for recovering from a tough rehearsal, for keeping a healthy body weight and for preventing cancer and heart disease – but most importantly, they taste good!

Heart disease is a leading cause of death for both men and women¹. Being physically active, maintaining a healthy body weight, and eating more colourful fruits and veggies can reduce your risk.

Strawberries
At only 43 calories per cup, berries contain vitamin C, folate and potassium, in addition to cancer-fighting flavonoids, such as anthocyanins. Flavonoids are antioxidants that combat oxidative stress on the body and protect against free radicals that cause cell damage. This is good news for dancers who push their bodies to the extreme and is especially helpful in urban areas where city pollution can be a source of oxidative stress. The Nurse’s Health Study II reported that people who ate berries more frequently (more than once a month) were 32 percent less likely to have a heart attack than people who ate berries infrequently. Berries also protect the heart with their anti-inflammatory properties. Be sure to choose organic berries as often as possible. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) lists these on their “Dirty Dozen” list of fruits and vegetables that are typically high in pesticides².

Capsicum
Sweet or hot, raw or cooked, there is no doubt that these are super healthy foods. Sweet red capsicums contain vitamins C and A, but they are also a good source of vitamin B6, which aids in protein metabolism. Because red capsicums have been left on the plant to mature longer than green ones, they are better sources of antioxidants. They are great sliced and dipped in hummus or on top of a pizza. These are also on EWG’s Dirty Dozen list so it’s worth the money to buy organic.

Tomatoes
These are a great source of vitamins C and K. They also contain vitamin A and the carotenoids lutein, and lycopene. These are antioxidants, powerful cancer fighters and are very heart protective. Research has shown that cooked tomatoes, like in sauces and stews, can have additional benefits. So enjoy them raw and cooked. Eat the skins as well, as the skins contain many health-promoting phytonutrients. This is another food on EWG’s Dirty Dozen list, so once again we recommend that you buy organic.

Red Beans
A fantastic source of plant based protein and fibre, red or ‘kidney’ beans also contain folate, iron, manganese, copper, potassium and several other minerals. Current recommendations from a variety of health organisations tell us to get protein from more plant-based sources in general. Beans are a cheap source of organic protein, which with the fibre will help you feel fuller longer and can keep blood sugar more stable. I would strongly recommend avoiding canned beans because canned products are lined with a plastic coating that contains BPA, which is a known neuroendocrine disruptor. It’s so easy to throw some beans in a slow cooker in the morning and they are ready when you get home. During cooking, don’t add salt or something acidic like tomatoes. Wait until the beans are softened to add these. If you soak beans overnight and then give them a good rinse before cooking or eating you can reduce the substance that gives them their reputation for being gas-producing.

Beetroot
These bright red root veggies are hot in the sports nutrition field right now because they are a great source of naturally occurring nitrates. Naturally occurring nitrates in foods like beets, rocket, spinach and rhubarb have been shown to significantly improve athletic performance with better power output, more endurance and speed. Dancers might see benefits by eating more of these veggies or drinking beetroot juice. Nitrate supplementation from pills has not shown the same benefits as consuming the actual vegetable. It’s important to note that cured or processed meats contain nitrates too, but interestingly these have a completely different effect on the body and cause cell damage instead. Cook beets in water until soft and then add them to salads.

There are plenty of other great red foods out there so don’t forget to also include these in your daily food choices – cherries, watermelon, red cabbage, raspberries, cranberries, ruby red grapefruit, pomegranate, apples and many others. Enjoy!

Emily Harrison
Emily Cook Harrison MS, RD, LD
Emily is a registered dietitian and holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in nutrition from Georgia State University, USA. Her master’s thesis research was on elite level ballet dancers and nutrition and she has experience providing nutrition services for weight management, sports nutrition, disordered eating, disease prevention, and food allergies. Emily was a professional dancer for eleven years with the Atlanta Ballet and several other companies. She is a dance educator and the mother of two young children. She now runs the Centre for Dance Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyles. She can be reached at emily@dancernutrition.com www.dancernutrition.com

Sources:
1. Centers for Disease Control USA: www.CDC.gov
2. Environmental Working Group: www.ewg.org

Photo: © Svetlana Kolpakova | Dreamstime.com. 

By Emily C. Harrison MS, RD, LD

The holidays are nearly upon us. With them comes an abundance of delicious high calorie foods like chocolate. Usually thought of as the classic high calorie junk food, you’ll be happy to hear that chocolate actually has some health benefits.

Can dancers enjoy chocolate and still look great in tights?
Certainly! Chocolate can be a part of an overall healthy diet.  Here’s how and why:

Chocolate, like many plant based foods, is packed with health promoting flavonoids¹. The cocoa beans come from the pod of a cacao tree (Theobroma Cacao). They are harvested from the pods, fermented, dried, and then sold for processing into the many yummy products we have come to love.  It takes over 400 beans to make only one pound of chocolate. Given the high global demand, you can imagine what a difference it can make to buy sustainably sourced and fair traded chocolate².

The flavonols in dark chocolate have real science to back up the health claims.  A review article that analyzed data from 1297 participants found that cocoa improved insulin resistance, improved the flow rate of blood in the cardiovascular system, and showed a beneficial effect on LDL cholesterol³ (the bad kind).  Another review reported that multiple studies showed lowered blood pressure and improved cholesterol in spite of the fact that chocolate contains fat and sugar ⁴.  The studies that showed health promoting results were consistently completed with participants eating high quality cocoa or dark chocolate, not milk chocolate or a low quality chocolate flavoring that is mostly sugar or worse – corn syrup. So your source of chocolate matters!

Since chocolate can be a significant source of fat and sugar, how can it be a part of a healthy dancers diet?
According to the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, women who were in a trial to lose weight who included a dark chocolate snack in their meal plan still lost weight and showed improvements in body composition⁵.  The researchers suggested that having a small amount of chocolate was associated with better satisfaction and thus the participants were able to stick to their dietary plans⁵.

Many dancers don’t need to lose weight, but just maintain their instrument. Occasionally eating quality chocolate, in moderation, isn’t going to cause significant weight change.  Certainly dancers want to watch their sources of sugar, and be mindful of where extra calories come from, but you still can get positive health effects from just moderate consumption of chocolate.  Since dancers need to choose their calories wisely, they will be happy to know that the benefits to the cardiovascular system were demonstrated regardless of dose³. Which means that a little bit of good quality chocolate eaten semi-regularly can still give health benefits.  If you love chocolate and can’t even think about giving it up just to look great on stage, that’s fine! The body can handle small amounts of extra treat calories if eaten between meals and if dancers make smart choices about where the other daily calories come from.  If you allow yourself to eat just a little chocolate on occasion, you are much less likely to binge later.

While some studies have shown heart health benefits, chocolate like other holiday favourites, should still be enjoyed in moderation. Flavonoids can also be found in foods like grapes, apples and blueberries – there are plenty of other great sources of these health promoting polyphenols.  If most of the time you eat a wide variety of colorful fruits and veggies, then a little dark chocolate can be a part of your Nutcracker survival plan.

Wishing you healthy holidays from Emily at the Centre for Dance Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyles, Atlanta USA.
Emily Harrison
Emily Cook Harrison MS, RD, LD
Emily is a registered dietitian and holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in nutrition from Georgia State University, USA. Her master’s thesis research was on elite level ballet dancers and nutrition and she has experience providing nutrition services for weight management, sports nutrition, disordered eating, disease prevention, and food allergies. Emily was a professional dancer for eleven years with the Atlanta Ballet and several other companies. She is a dance educator and the mother of two young children. She now runs the Centre for Dance Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyles. She can be reached at emily@dancernutrition.com www.dancernutrition.com

Sources:

1. Bauer S, et al. Cocoa consumption, cocoa flavonoids, and effects on cardiovascular risk factors: an evidence-based review. Current Cardiovas Risk Reports. 2011;5:120-127.

2. The Rainforest Alliance. http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/

3. Hooper L, Kay C, Abdelhamid A, Kroon PA, Cohn JS, Rimm EB, Cassidy A. Effects of chocolate, cocoa, and flavan-3-ols on cardiovascular health: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.   Am J Clin Nutr. 2012 Mar;95(3):740-51. Epub 2012 Feb 1.

4. Tokede OA, Gaziano JM, Djoussé L.   Effects of cocoa products/dark chocolate on serum lipids: a meta-analysis.  Eur J Clin Nutr. 2011.  Aug;65(8):879-86. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2011.64.

5. Piehowski KE, et al. A reduced calorie dietary pattern including a daily sweet snack promotes body weight reduction and body composition improvements in premenopausal women who are overweight or obese: a pilot study. J Am Diet Assoc. 2011;111:1198-1203.

Top Photo: © Fantasista | Dreamstime.com

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 protein. Think about how much more a steak costs verses some beans and rice. If you buy the dried beans from bulk bins you will save even more.  Most beans are sources of protein, iron, potassium, folate and fibre. In general, plant based meals are lower in fat and calories but high in nutrients.

You can make totally organic (and delicious) homemade soup and rice and even add kale for about $2.00 per serving.  It’s easy to throw everything in a slow cooker or make something ahead of time for an easy meal after a long day of rehearsals.  Quinoa is a wonderful high protein grain that you can get for less than $0.50 per serving, and it cooks faster than rice for a quick week night meal.

Soy is a versatile and cheap source of protein. Add some tofu or endamames to a veggie stir fry.  Eat more plants in place of meat and dairy – you’ll be fighting off cancer and reducing your impact on the environment while saving money!

Think critically about your grocery store

Food companies are businesses, and their ads are designed to get you to buy food and more of it. The system is designed for higher and higher profits, but that’s not always what’s best for our waist line, wallets, or our health. The word “natural” is now used on everything from chips to cookies and ice cream.  “Natural” has no legal definition in the U.S. so it gets overused.  It can lure people into believing that chips are somehow good for you just because the word natural is on the package.

Health claims are also a big part of the advertising market. Some companies will put random vitamins and “functional” ingredients into all kinds of foods and beverages touting health claims that might be flimsy at best or even dangerous. One example is mega doses of vitamins in beverages. No one needs 1000mg of vitamin B or C in a juice. The body wasn’t meant to absorb nutrients in this way and it can cause problems.  Our bodies absorb nutrients best through real food.  Stick to the outside aisles of a grocery store where you will find fewer boxes and bags and more fresh ingredients.  We all like convenience, but we pay for it.  Chocolate bars are right at eye level at the checkout counter and high fat foods are placed at high traffic areas for a reason.  Bargains aren’t bargains if they are full of sugar, fat, or refined flour.

Is it really a bargain?

Buying in bulk might not always be a good thing. No one really needs a gallon container of cheese puffs.  Big box retailers of wholesale food items might be selling you much bigger portions of unhealthy packaged foods. Is a 20 pack of croissants really a deal when each one packs up to 400 calories?  Use care and read food labels if you shop at the big wholesale stores.

Some terms on packages are legally defined and can help when deciding what to buy. The term “organic” has strict guidelines, and while the system isn’t perfect, it is better to buy organic. But keep in mind that organic cookies are still cookies – enjoy them in moderation.  It’s better to buy organic fruits and veggies, even though they usually cost more.

“Low fat” means that the food item must have 3 grams or less of fat per 100 grams, or no more than 30% of calories from fat.  This can be helpful when looking at food labels. But one trick to be aware of is that “low-fat” baked goods often have way more sugar content than regular to make them taste better.  So those low-fat treats might still have close to the same number of calories.

Prepare food at home and avoid packaged foods

Less packaging = less cost. Planning ahead can save you lots of money. Having fruit and veggies ready to go at home make it easy to grab them while you are racing out the door to class. You are much more likely to eat well on a budget if you don’t have to pick something up from a deli or restaurant.  Have grapes washed and ready to eat in your fridge, peel and cut carrots yourself and put them into your own reusable containers. Keep a box of low calorie muesli bars in your car. When snacks are easy to grab, you are less likely to eat junk food which will cost you more money and many more calories.

Eat in season and reduce portions

Off season tomatoes shipped from miles away not only taste terrible, but are much more expensive. Shop local, support your farmers markets, and buy in season. You will get better quality food, with higher nutrients and your hard earned food dollars will stay in your local economy.

One of the main reasons for weight struggles are out of control portions.  Make smaller portions and serve food on smaller plates.  When eating out, split a main meal with a friend, or order an entrée size. You’ll save money, and won’t overload on calories.

You CAN eat well on a tight budget: plan ahead, make your own food, shop local, and eat more plants.

Emily Harrison
Emily Cook Harrison MS, RD, LD
Emily is a registered dietitian and holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in nutrition from Georgia State University, USA. Her master’s thesis research was on elite level ballet dancers and nutrition and she has experience providing nutrition services for weight management, sports nutrition, disordered eating, disease prevention, and food allergies. Emily was a professional dancer for eleven years with the Atlanta Ballet and several other companies. She is a dance educator and the mother of two young children. She now runs the Centre for Dance Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyles. She can be reached at emily@dancernutrition.com www.dancernutrition.com

Top photo: © Digitalpress | Dreamstime.com

How much, what kind, and when?

By Emily C. Harrison MS, RD, LD

Do dancers need extra protein? Do they need to use powders, drinks, shakes or amino acid supplements or should they just eat more?  In the wake of the highly misguided “low carb” craze and in light of all the recent headlines about how  eating too much meat and dairy can increase risk for long term diseases…what is a dancer to do?  How much is enough, what kind of protein is best, and does timing matter?

How Much?

Yes, dancers need more protein than the average non-athletic person, particularly if they are still growing adolescents.   However, it is important that we get away from this incorrect idea that most of our food should be protein and that we should avoid carbohydrates. Protein is important, but too much protein is actually harmful to the body.  Everyone is a little different, but it is recommended for athletes that 12-15% of total calories should come from protein.

What does that mean exactly?

Everyone’s caloric needs vary, but if a dancer needs approximately 2000 calories a day, then they need about 60-75 grams of protein in their diet. (This is an average and not intended to be the amount for all).  

Here are examples:

A 52 kg female dancer needs about 60-78 grams of protein each day.
A 77 kg male dancer needs about 90-108 grams
There’s a range, because different dancers have different activity levels and therefore need more calories.

Real food examples of protein content:  

What Kind?

Unless a dancer is dieting or restricting calories (which I generally don’t recommend), they can easily meet their protein needs through food alone. Supplemental protein is expensive and unnecessary. In general, people in Western society, including athletes, get far more protein than they need. It is a myth that you need to load up on protein powders, drinks, or bars or that it should form the bulk of your food intake. Carbs are actually far more important fuel for working dancers. Protein drinks and bars can be convenient for busy dancers, but it is always better to get nutrients through real food. Research shows that the risk for long-term disease such as stroke, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer is significantly decreased when the majority of protein consumption comes from plant-based foods. Some examples are beans, peas, lentils, nuts, seeds, grains, and of course vegetables.  Whey protein (isolated from cow’s milk) has been in the news lately as good for recovery.  Some whey protein supplements, such as in a recovery beverage, might help dancers bounce back on a heavy show weekend, but there can always be too much of a good thing. 

When?

The body is better able to utilize protein when it is eaten in moderate regular doses throughout the day and also post workout.

Try to divide up total daily dietary protein into regular meals and snacks. For example, a professional level dancer would need to eat a little protein (10-20 grams) every 2-3 hours during the work day.  Aim for at least 6 small meals/ snacks per day.

Try to eat 10-20 grams of protein with a balanced meal within 1 hour post-exercise. However, some studies show that the body’s muscle building/repair response will still occur if the protein is eaten within 24 hours of exercise.  

According to K. Tipton PhD “there is a limit to the amount of protein that will effectively increase the anabolic response”. Essentially, when an athlete eats up to approximately 20 grams of protein at one sitting then it may be used to build muscle, but there is no difference in muscle response when given 20-40 grams at a time. So it seems that protein loading doesn’t do any good. When total dietary protein is ingested in small, frequent amounts throughout the day then the body responds much better and can utilize it for what protein is meant for.  Eating beyond the body’s capacity to use it, means it gets stored as fat or used as fuel. And the body doesn’t really like to use protein as a fuel source.  

Excess protein…what’s the problem with eating too much?

When protein is used as fuel, particularly when there is not enough carb or fat in the diet, it is hard on the body and can actually do more harm than good. Here’s why:

• The body doesn’t like to use protein as fuel or energy. The body wants to spare valuable protein for muscle building, making hormones, enzymes, controlling fluid balance, etc.
• Excess protein means excess nitrogen, a part of protein (amino acids) that must be removed. This can be hard on the kidneys. More importantly water gets excreted in this process and can lead to dehydration. 
• High protein diets can lead to more calcium being lost from the bones, a big problem for dancers who are at higher than average risk for stress fractures.  Protein overload = weaker bones.

Emily Cook Harrison MS, RD, LD 
Emily is a registered dietitian and holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in nutrition from Georgia State University, USA. Her master’s thesis research was on elite level ballet dancers and nutrition and she has experience providing nutrition services for weight management, sports nutrition, disordered eating, disease prevention, and food allergies.  Emily was a professional dancer for eleven years with the Atlanta Ballet and several other companies. She is a dance educator and the mother of two young children. She now runs the Centre for Dance Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyles.   She can be reached at emily@dancernutrition.com   www.dancernutrition.com

Resources:
- Joint Position Statement American College of Sports Medicine, American Dietetic Association, Dietitians of Canada. Nutrition and Athletic Performance. Medicine and Science in Sports & Exercise. 2009;41(3):709-731. 
- Kevin D. Tipton.  Protein Nutrition and Exercise: What is the latest?  SCAN’s Pulse spring 2011, vol. 30, no2.
- T. Colin Campbell. The China Study. Benbella Books Inc. Dallas, TX 2006
- USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard reference.  www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/

Photos: Dreamstime

Stress, dance and diet.

By Paul Vander Straaten 

What is stress?

According to Dr. Tamara Hunter*, “stress is the emotional, mental and physical state resulting from an imbalance between your perception of the demands being placed on you and your perception of your own abilities to cope with the demands.” (Juice Plus Health Education Series, Stress Less Live Longer 2007). In this regard stress is different for everyone and the way we handle our stress is very significant in terms of how it impacts on our health.

Not all stress is bad. Dr Tamara Hunter believes there are three main types of stress.

1. Eustress is the good stress such as getting a new job, getting married or beginning a sporting event. This is the type of stress that prompts us to succeed in task performance.
2. Hypo stress is the type of stress that gives us low levels of arousal and manifests in poor performance and / or procrastination.
3. Distress or being ‘stressed out’ is when our negative emotional state has us believe that our ability to cope with a given situation is inept. This is the bad stress in which most of the time we melt down and fail in task performance.

Some of the physical responses to stress include:

• Muscle tension increases
• Immune responsiveness decreases
• Respiration, circulation and perspiration increase
• Blood pressure, blood fats and blood sugars increase
• Gastro intestinal function decreases
• Saliva production decreases

As a dancer, if your muscles are over tense and your circulation is too high, you just won’t achieve peak performance and can injure more easily. If you find yourself in this state then it is fair to assume that your mental state is not ideal either.

When your immune system is not functioning adequately your risk of sickness is increased. In turn your risk of missed dance opportunities or poor performance also increases.

It’s sometimes hard to know whether stress is responsible for immune suppression or whether it is the actions we take when we are stressed that are responsible. Dr Tamara Hunter has theorised the COPS behaviours (Caffeine, Overeating, Pick me ups, Smoking). These are things we do in times of stress that are bad for us and only challenge our long term health.

Hypertension, stroke, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and Alzheimer’s are just some of the long term negative effects of today’s stressful lifestyles. When we are stressed our body’s cellular oxidation increases. In fact, stress actually increases free radical damage to brain cells and a life time of stress can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

To combat cellular oxidation we need to load our body up with antioxidants. Antioxidants slow down cellular ageing and prevent disease. We find antioxidants in fruits and vegetables. Oxidative stress conquers and leads to disease when we do not have enough antioxidants in our body to offset the cellular rusting.

Fruits and vegetables are nutrient dense and contain thousands of phytochemicals. Good sources of antioxidants include tomatoes and watermelon which contain lycopene (a powerful antioxidant for the brain and for the prevention of prostate and cervical cancer). Sweet potato, carrots and pumpkin are good sources of beta-carotene. Blueberries, broccoli, apples and onions are all rich in flavonoids. It is the wide selection of plant food colours that give our immune system a fighting chance.

The reality is that in the western world we are all too busy. Although we all have different things going on in our lives the one thing we have in common is stress and a lack of time. To help reduce your stress you may consider yoga or breathing exercises (see our article on Yoga for Dancers). Also set aside some time for the things you love doing. And, of course, feed your body with what it needs to grow and perform.

Don’t let stress be the cause of your poor health and rob you of your love for dancing. Be sure to make the most of every meal and incorporate lots of fruits and vegetables into your daily nutritional plan. If you want to take a simple, convenient and affordable step towards improving your base line nutrition please visit www.fruitandvegwithjuiceplus.com to get started on Juice Plus whole food based nutritional support.

Give your body what it needs to be stress free and dancing with ease.

By Paul Vander Straaten
Health & Fitness Consultant
Director of Healthaddiction Personal Fitness Training

Paul has been working in the fitness industry for 9 years. His focus for the last 6 years has been on nutrition and how important it is in achieving optimal health. He believes that nutrition is vitally important when it comes to good health and that a plant based diet must rule our daily nutritional plan if we are to live long and strong. Good health is easy and Juice Plus just makes it even easier.

* Dr. Tamara Hunter is an Exercise Physiologist and Registrar in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Sort after speaker in the areas of stress management nutrition, women’s health, body image and exercise physiology.

Dance Informa online magazine and website are produced by Dance Informa Pty Ltd and Dance News International LLC. Any opinions presented in any of these media are not necessarily the opinions held by Dance Informa Pty Ltd or Dance News International LLC and its employees or directors.  Dance Informa does not take responsibility for any information deemed to be incorrect.

Top photo: © Andystjohn | Dreamstime.com