Have you ever tried to sing and had a little cough suddenly appear?
Or have you got a big audition coming up and you want to make sure you’re energised and in top form for the big day? If so, we’ve written this blog for you!
Singing is much more physical than many people realise and singers use a lot of different muscles in a very controlled way to produce their sound. Although we can’t often see this as most of these movements happen inside our mouths and bodies, our muscles are still working hard in the same way as when we exercise and so it is really important that we look after our bodies and fuel them correctly.
Some foods and drinks can effect how well we are able to sing so in this blog we’re going to list some of the things that are good for your vocal health but also some foods and drinks you should try to avoid before a performance.
In general, a healthy balanced meal is the best thing to have before a performance, to keep you energised and full (but also not too full!) Cooking from fresh is always better than other processed meal options so get learning some tasty new recipes for your singing days!
Fresh Fruit and Vegetables
We all know we should get our 5 a day, but make this a priority when you have a performance. Fruits and veg contain a lot of fibre and vitamins, helping you get the nutrients you need to function at your best. Fruits and vegetables that contain Vitamin A are especially good for singers as vitamin A helps to keep your mucus membrane healthy. Eating the actual fruit is generally a better choice than juice so you may be better to stock up the fruit bowl!
Top Tip:
We recommend you choose sweet potatoes, dark leafy greens or yellow fruits like mangos and melon to get your fix.
Honey
A singer’s cupboard staple as it helps to coat the lining of your throat. Although it’s high in sugar, it has unique antibacterial and antimicrobial properties so will help keep those pesky cold and sore-throat germs away.
Top Tip:
You can look after your voice by adding a spoonful of honey to your cup of hot water or ginger tea for a warm, soothing experience!
Water
Yes you read that correctly… it may sound boring but the best thing you can do for your voice is to stay hydrated.
Our vocal cords take time to hydrate, so make sure you have that water bottle constantly at your side and continue to keep sipping throughout your day.
Top tip:
Water at room temperature is better than ice cold as the cold temperature may constrict your vocal cords.
Liquorice Root
Not the sweets unfortunately, but the root of the plant. Liquorice is brilliant at protecting your throat from irritation as it forms a coating over your cords and their mucus membranes. This helps with vocal flexibility as your vocal cords can vibrate together freely and clearly.
Top Tip:
There are a number of herbal teas out there containing liquorice root so grab yourself a box ready for those big sing days (make sure it’s decaf though.) You could also add a spoonful of honey for a double hit of vocal health goodness!
Sadly there are a number of foods and drinks that can actually hinder your ability to sing well. Some singers actually stop having these things altogether… but if you aren’t up for big change we would recommend avoiding them on the day of your performance.
Dairy – Milk, Cheese, Yogurt…
Sorry, we know cheese is great. Unfortunately dairy is probably the top food item to avoid as a singer as it is difficult for our bodies to digest and can cling to our vocal cords. It thickens the mucus that is already in our throats and stops your vocal cords from being able to vibrate together freely, causing that little annoying cough and making you need to clear your throat (yuck.) In worse cases, eating dairy can actually cause acid reflux which can travel up and burn your vocal cords… so yeah, best avoided on those big singing days.
Sugary Foods and Drinks
Again, feeling like a kill joy, but sugary foods and drinks won’t help you perform your best. Sugar also likes to hang around in your mouth and throat causing that lovely phlegm, and if it’s not balanced out with protein then you can feel zapped of energy when the sugar rush fizzles out.
Caffeine
Although found in many drinks, caffeine actually dehydrates you as it causes the fluid in your system to be flushed out more quickly. Our voices need to stay hydrated in order to work well so having caffeine in your system will have a negative effect and can dry your throat and vocal cords. It can also constrict your muscles which can put extra strain on your voice when trying to sing. Switch to decaf when needed ( you won’t notice the difference in taste, and your voice will thank you!)
Chocolate
The triple threat! It’s sugary and contains caffeine and dairy – put all the above side effects together and that’s what you get if you eat chocolate before singing. Unless you can’t live without it, we recommend you save youe bar of Dairy Milk (other brands also available!) for after your show!
Fizzy Drinks
Fairly self explanatory but no-one wants to risk an awkward burp mid-way through a performance. Sugary and carbonated means the bubbles could rise at the most awkward moment!
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading our ListenLoveLearn blog. If you’re interested in learning to sing you can find out more about our website page online singing lessons and you get in touch for more info or book your FREE taster session online.
