It’s pretty standard that a sunny day brings out a good mood
in all. I just love opening the curtains wide and letting the sun’s rays flood
the house and jump at the chance of visiting the beach in some shorts to catch
some colour. Well it turns out that the sunshine isn’t just good for our moods,
but also building a healthy body…
With limited hours being spent in natural sunlight due to
many hours being spent inside from classes or rehearsal, dancers are at a
greater risk of Vitamin D deficiency. A 2013 study by Wyon et al. found dancers
to have insufficient levels of vitamin D, especially within the winter months.
Vitamin D is a vital nutrient for maintaining strong bones
and helping the body to absorb calcium. Calcium is vital for growth, immune
function, blood pressure, muscle mass and strength. So it is no coincidence
that research has found vitamin D supplementation to be beneficial in
increasing vertical jump height and isometric muscle strength, whilst also
reducing injury rates within elite ballet dancers.
It is believed that due to the high levels of stress which
is placed on dancer’s bones and muscles, a vitamin d deficiency can cause
greater harm on their bodies, than others who train at a less intensive level. A
stress fracture is a common injury within the dancing population, and although it
may be caused by poor programming, technical or biomechanical factors, it could also
be linked to a vitamin D deficiency.
Dr Wolman (National Institute of Dance Medicine and Science)
recommends that dancers need about 1000 IU of vitamin D3 a day, however for the
deficient dancer higher levels may be needed. If you are worried about your
Vitamin D levels, contact your Dr who can perform a simple blood test to calculate
your levels.
Vitamin D can be found in natural sources of food such as
salmon, tuna, eggs, cheese and milk. You might, therefore wish to contact a
registered dietician who can advise you further.
