Your Best Body

Are you getting enough protein? Dancers need almost twice as much as normal people because our bodies require protein to repair the muscle fibers that get broken down in class and rehearsal. According to the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science, dancers' daily diets should include about 1.4-1.6 grams of protein for every kilogram of body weight. That means a 120-pound dancer would need almost 80 grams a day.

Do you avoid eating nuts because of their high fat and calorie counts? You shouldn't! Researchers recently gathered the results of 31 trials across the world, and found that there was little difference in the weights or waist sizes of people who ate nuts and those who didn't. They believe this might be because nuts' protein, unsaturated fat and fiber all help suppress our hunger. Just don't go nut crazy—keep your servings to a small handful.

Still aching from last night's rehearsal? Don't use sore muscles as an excuse to skip today's class. In fact, getting moving again will actually help you feel better. A new study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that light activity could help ease soreness as much as a massage. Researchers believe that because exercise increases blood flow, it may help your body drain the metabolic waste and chemicals that are making your muscles sore— and it will speed up the delivery of healing nutrients.

It's finally springtime! Which means it's the season for getting your fill of juicy, fresh fruit. Two of my favorites are blueberries and raspberries, both fantastic options for dancers. But I was curious: Which gives you more nutritional bang for your buck? In Pointe's April/May issue we broke down the details.

Blueberries (1 cup)

84 calories

4g dietary fiber

15g sugar

24% vitamin C

Do you have difficulty remembering choreography? Try spraying on some rosemary oil before rehearsal. A recent study at the University of Northumbria at Newcastle in the UK found that smelling the scent of rosemary could help boost your memory. Researchers think this might be due to eucalyptol, a compound found in rosemary oil that evaporates into the air and can be absorbed as you breathe, and has been shown to play a part in memory formation when it reaches the brain.

I’ve always told myself that when my ankle swells, that's just my body attempting to heal itself. I'm not completely wrong: Inflammation—and the swelling, heat, pain and redness that comes with it—is our body’s first response to injury. However, sometimes this attempt to destroy the damaged tissue goes a little too far and our body starts attacking healthy tissue, too. That's where anti-inflammatory medications come in, preventing the negative consequences of inflammation. The only problem?

The monthly cycle of blues and bloating before your period can make dancing feel infinitely more difficult. But there's good news: A recent study from the University of Massachusetts shows that simply adjusting your diet can reduce PMS symptoms. The researchers followed 3,000 women over 10 years, assessing physical and emotional PMS symptoms as well as diet. The results showed that a high intake of iron decreased PMS symptoms. The type of iron that works best is found in plants and supplements, not in meat.

Fruit can be a difficult snack to pack in a dance bag—one wrong squish and juice gets all over your pointe shoes.

Need a quick workout on the go? Download Yogify, a free app for the iPhone or iPad produced by EA Sports. It comes with five sample classes ranging from 15 to 45 minutes long, beginner to advanced level—plus the option to purchase up to 40 additional classes. Although it's not the same as having a live teacher in the room, the program makes everything super clear. Before you even start the video, you can preview the series of poses with a step-by-step list of pictures (including tips on how to perform each correctly). Best of all?

Some mornings, the only thing I want to eat is an ice cream sundae. (Okay, maybe most mornings.) A healthier option? A yogurt parfait. With some maple syrup and crunchy granola, this recipe from Pointe's favorite dancer-chef, Shelby Elsbree, hits the spot no matter how badly my sweet tooth is acting up.

Greek Yogurt & Granola Parfait:

1 cup of Greek yogurt

1/2 cup of apple sauce

1/3 cup of granola

1 to 2 tablespoons of maple syrup