Dancers like to eat. Unfortunately, a lot of them don't. Smart ones eat more because of the energy they need for the physical demands of dancing . Dancers come thin, fat, slim, skinny. You name it, they are all there in the dance studio. You've seen them if you have been to several dance studios around the country.
Whatever shape you are in now, eating the "wrong, too much, not enough" foods does not give you the energy you need to dance. Haven't you heard a dancer say, "oh, I'm so tired I don't have any enery left to continue this dance class, my routine, my solo dance etc"?
What are the right foods to eat,you ask? Difficult question to answer because ALL dancers require different amounts of energy at any given moment during the day, rehearsal, or performance on stage. There are rehearsal days and a performance that same evening. ENERGY REQUIRED! Or, rehearsals all day long for 5-6 hours and no performance in the evening. DIFFERENT ENERGY REQUIRED! To eat or dance? That is the question YOU have to decide. Think for a moment.
Calories are the energy content of food. How many calories do we need each day? The Department of Health recommends that men should take in around 2500 calories per day amd women around 1940. (Where they came up with those numbers is anybody's guess). Keep in mind these are averages and some people will need more and some less - it depends how active you are.
It has been known that marathon runners consume 4-6000 calories while training before their run. And if the average person needs only 1940 - 2500 calories per day, the ACTIVE dancer may need 3-4000 calories per day!
Dancers are very ACTIVE! Some facts: dancers achieve peak performance by eating a variety of foods; dancers gain most from the amount of carbohydrates stored in the body; Fat also provides body fuel; dancing may increase the dancer's need of protein.
With all this physical exertion during rehearsals and performing you will find yourself a bit thirsty, maybe a lot thirsty, so thirsty that you want to drink just about anything cold, or your favorite drink. No matter what you do, WATER is a critical nutrient for ACTIVE dancers! It is necessay for the digestion of food, for the transport of food to the tissues (very important for the dancer's energy) for the elimination of body wastes, for the circulation of body fluids (blood and lymph) and for regulating body temperature.
Research also indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers. Well, dancers occasionally do have aches and pains so water may help them. When plain water is at its peak level in the body , improved blood viscosity, joint cartilage, blood capillaries, digestion help achieve top performance! Drinking water is FREE.
Thirst is your best indicator. If you lose 1% to 2% of body water, you will know if you are thirsty. If you are sweating and dancers do perspire (animals sweat) and can't get a drink, your body will begin to squeeze water from its own tissues, including the brain and the skin. And that's why you may get a headache and why your skin can look ragged and dry. Dehydration can cause muscle cramping and fatique.
So make sure you drink plenty of WATER!
More on THE ENERGY YOU NEED AS A DANCER IS THROUGH HEALTHY EATING HABITS on www.ballet-feetfirst.com/Pointeshoe-Nutrition.html
