Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of thick tissue on the bottom of the foot called plantar fascia. It often shows up in dancers as pain in the heel, especially when doing weight-bearing exercise. Metzl notes that it’s often most painful first thing in the morning, and symptoms can ebb and flow throughout the day.

Shin splints, or medial tibial stress syndrome, refers to “pain in the muscles on the front of the lower leg, below the knee and along the shin bone,” says Joshua Honrado, DAT, an athletic trainer who works with dancers at NYU Langone’s Harkness Center for Dance Injuries. Dancers are particularly prone to shin splints, especially when they experience a sudden increase in rehearsals or performances, such as during Nutcracker season.

Pumpkin, in its various forms, provides a versatile canvas for creativity in the kitchen. Canned pumpkin purée, a pantry staple, can be easily incorporated into soups and pies, and frozen pumpkin can be added to oatmeal and pancakes. When fresh pumpkin is roasted, its caramelized edges and tender interior add a delectable dimension to salads, pastas, or a standalone side dish. Don’t overlook the seeds; toasted pumpkin seeds make a crunchy, nutritious snack or a flavorful salad topper.

Processed foods get a bad rap—the most common concerns being that they’re full of chemicals or packed with sugar. Processing is nothing more than transforming ingredients, such as vegetables, beans or meat, from their original state into another form—bagged baby carrots and tofu are processed foods, as is frozen pizza. Processing food can do things […]

If you’ve ever experienced a stomachache, fatigue or even nausea after eating a larger meal, then you know what “over”-eating feels like. Whether it was during the holidays, over a festive weekend or simply after dinner at the end of a long dance day, chances are you stepped away from the table feeling discouraged about […]