What are good foods/drinks for your vocal cords/voice?

Question

My choir teacher told me about tea and honey already, but I would like to know more. Thanx! :^)

Answer 1

Eating lemons helps. Of course, tea, honey, and, most importantly, a LOT of water. Make sure to keep your vocal chords and throat hydrated at all times. You could blow your voice if you don't.

Things to avoid: dairy products. Milk causes phlegm buildup in your throat. Avoid caffiene. I'm not sure what it does to your voice, but it makes it hard to control.

These are all just things that I have been told by my theatre and vocal directors. However, some of it may just be in your head. Some of it is just superstition. But, drink as much as possible. I would encourage water, but it doesn't really matter as long as it hydrates.

Answer 2

Most importantly drink 6-8 glasses of room temperature water to keep your voice organ hydrated. If you only have cold or hot water available, swish it around in your mouth for a moment. This action will keep your voice organ from being startled or stressed by different temperatures. Please forget ice-cold drinks unless you have some sort of trauma to the throat area, i.e. tonsils removed, that sort fo thing. The reason is that it tightens up your vocal cords. They must be warm and loose in order for you to sing properly.

Suck on lemons often. This will reduce phlegm and will allow for a better vocal performance. Remember that lemon is drying so don't overdo it. I prefer gargling, here's the best way: If your throat feels gunky and/or irritated: mix 1/4 teaspoon baking soda + one cup warm water. Take a small amount of fluid in your mouth and gargle at a high pitch-this causes your vocal cords to contract and rise closer to where you are actually gargling (your epiglottis will prevent the fluid from actually reaching your vocal cords). Spit and repeat several times.


Honey soothes the voice as you have mentioned your teacher said before.

Drink licorice/herbal teas. Which teas to drink varies from person to person so you may have to experiment.

Suck on lozenges.

Answer 3

Boiled gingerroot is excellent for the voice. Take a piece of gingerroot, wash it well, and slice it thin. Boil this is a pan on the stove, covered with 2-3 inches of water. Let boil for about 20-30 minutes. Strain out the pieces of gingerroot and discard them. Sorry this doesn't sound like an exact recipe. It doesn't need to be, really. It works anyway.

Drink the liquid piping hot with some honey in it. It is really good for your voice. When mine is strained, I use this. It keeps well in the fridge and can be heated in the microwave, too. We always have a small pitcher of the stuff on hand in the fridge around here.

Answer 4

As a professional singer and entertainer and recording artist the best food for your vocal chords is no food before any performance. If you eat before or drink any beverage with sugar or honey it will make your vocal chords sticky. and will prevent them from being more flexible. Rest is very important to a vocalist. I prefer just room temperature water without ice. Gargle with salt and hot water 1/2 an hour increments 3-4hrs before a show if you have heavy mucous from colds or from a household that has smokers. Avoid heavy meals before any singing it causes indigestion and will give your stomach and diaphram cramps. I suggest drinking a Jama Juice or a smoothy 2-3hrs before a performance and gargle as i mentioned with hot water and salt to remove food partles and phlem from your throat and chords. Gingsing tea increase stamina and oxygen to your bloodstream. It also increases memory retention and has many healthful benefits to your immune system. I avoid too dairy products for they cause too much mucous. Salads, fruits, cranberry juice gives you energy and also keeps the system clean. remember to have your nasal cavities and chest clear from what we eat and breathe. We are living in a pretty polluted environment and me being as asthmatic for over 50yrs singing saved my life. my email is [e-mail] I hope I have been of assistance to you're most critical concerns for your vocal and physical being. God Bless and stay strong and healthy our vocal instrument cannot be replaced.

Answer 5

A little bit of honey and lemon juice. Very soothing.

Answer 6

if your teacher didn't tell you to drink water... that's scary. LOL WATER WATER WATER!!!! :D!!