HOW DIET EFFECTS THE VOICE

Our breathing mechanism is affected.

It is advisable to refrain from consuming a substantial meal prior to singing. A full stomach can exert pressure on the diaphragm, the muscle responsible for regulating our breathing, which may lead to significant discomfort. This is particularly problematic during the deep breathing exercises that are essential before vocal performance.

Our vocal cords can be affected:

The following foods or food substances affect the singing process:

  i.        Fatty foods: e.g. fried foods, chocolate, dairy foods, etc. coat the vocal cords causing the sound to be unclear and unpredictable.  The phlegm these foods produce may also cause unwanted throat irritation.

ii.        Sugary foods: e.g. sweets, mints, cake, etc also coat the vocal cords.  If you have a postnasal drip or for some unknown reason have a phlegm problem, do not clear the throat (the “looking for attention” sound); but rather try and cough the phlegm out by spitting it into a tissue.  As you continue warming up the chords, the phlegm will be naturally loosened. Some health experts state that any foods causing phlegm in the body can be the cause of many diseases and allergies.  It is therefore worth the effort limiting the intake of foods that cause this condition. We can always be supplementing our diet with Vitamin and Mineral Supplements.

iii.        Drinks: any cane sugar in drinks will poorly affect your voice.

·       The best drinks to have before singing are water, clear, diluted juices like Apple, Grape and Berry for energy and general health.

·       Any cells in juices may attach themselves to your vocal cords like those in guava or some pear juices and may cause throat irritation.

·       Gas in drinks will also have an uncomfortable affect on your breathing, so its best to avoid these. 

·       Hot drinks can cause a change in the natural state of the vocal muscles and therefore hinder vocal performance. 

·       Cold drinks will cause muscle constriction, so it’s best just to have room temperature water whilst singing.  A good substitute for a sugary drink is cooled honey in tea or herbal tea.  Lemon and honey in tea is also delicious and seems to clean the vocal cords somewhat.

DIETARY GUIDELINES PRIOR TO SINGING

Although we should be in tune with general health as individuals, applying these guidelines would only really apply a few hours before a singing engagement.

1.              Watch when you eat.  A meal normally takes about three hours to digest, so plan meals before attempting a time of practicing or performance. 

2.              Watch what you eat.  A fat-free, sugar free meal, containing much natural liquids, e.g. Fruits and vegetables with lean protein or nuts for energy.  Certain hard vegetables and fruits like carrots and pears digest longer and will give you more energy. Bananas are good for fatigue.  These meals are good one to two hours before singing.

If you can only manage a meal for more than three hours before you sing, avocado on whole-wheat bread or a rice cake for example, is an excellent source of energy and the fats in avocado don’t seem to coat the throat. 

3.              Stay hydrated: Drink lots of water (8 glasses per day) – it will maintain good general health and combat fatigue during singing.  Seeing that we lose a lot of moisture during the singing process, moisture levels must be kept up and should become a lifestyle.  It has been said that by the time you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated.  It’s always a good habit to have your water bottle handy during your lessons or while you are practicing.

4.              Do not attempt to “fix your throat” if it is overworked or sore.  Throat sprays or lozenges are not recommended because it is always wisest to heed to the natural messages of the body, i.e. when we are to rest for recovery. One cannot therefore feel what the throat is saying if it is anesthetized. Some singers use acidic substances like lemon juice to “clean up” the chords – know however that it is always better to prevent a condition than to cure it.

Enjoy your singing!

Love Adele Visser of NobleLight Music School South Africa