Nutrition for Irish dancers

Appropriate diet and nutrition are key to supporting health and empowering dancers to perform to the best of their ability. Adopting healthy dietary practices should be a fundamental consideration in optimizing the holistic wellbeing of the dancer. However research indicates that both dietary knowledge and practices in Irish dancing (ID) fall well below par. Poor diet, lacking the recommended macro and micronutrients, and inadequate hydration, can lead to a host of issues including energy deficiency, poor muscle building and repair, cognitive and attentional deficits, weakness and injury. Elite dancers who are not adequately fueling their bodies for dance are also are risk of developing Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), which can have devastating effects on the dancer. Careful planning and preparation can overcome these challenges and support better health and performance in ID.