As a singer, it is important to know what types of things to consume, or not consume. to keep your vocal cords healthy. And because we at Voicercise care about your singing health so much, we are going to give you some tips!

Why Water?

First things first, water needs to be your best friend as a singer. Like your best friend, it should always be right by your side and keeping you strong and ready for whatever. So if water is not your BFF already, you need to reevaluate what you keep around your vocal cords. Keeping your vocal cords moist with plain, room temperature water is the key to singing at your best. Water is absorbed in our stomachs and distributed to body parts that need it. For the water to get to your larynx (where our vocal cords are located) it takes about 30 minutes, so it is imperative to drink water constantly. You could not just drink water right before you hit the stage and expect your cords to be prepared. This brings me to the importance of hydration. Because you are a singer, that means your body is your instrument. Keep your instrument as clean and healthy as possible or it could cause problems. Dehydration can lead to your vocal cords not vibrating properly, which means your singing voice is not at its’ best. How do you know if you’re hydrated enough? It may sound a bit gross but check your urine color! If your urine is a dark yellow color then you are not hydrated enough, it should be a clear/very light yellow coloring. If your voice becomes dry and scratchy or you constantly feel thirsty, that is another sign of vocal dehydration. The solution to this problem is, again, water!

About Caffeine

Now, what should you stay away from? Now that you know water is your friend, let me tell you why caffeine is your foe. Yes, caffeine is a liquid so you would think that it moisturizes but really it acts as a drying agent. It actually pulls water out of your system, which defeats the whole purpose of the water you’ve been drinking all day. Caffeine is in coffee, energy drinks, and sodas. Now I’m not saying to never consume caffeine again, I’m just saying how much you consume and when! Consuming too much of this drying agent can increase your risk of vocal injury and it will be more difficult to recover from. Another important thing to know as a singer is how to take care of your voice when you have a sore throat. A sore throat can be caused by illness, overuse of your voice, and even yelling. To avoid a sore throat, always be sure to warm up before singing! You don’t want to just jump into all your cool vocal techniques just yet; you must wake your voice up first.

Ginger and Honey Does Wonders…

If you do get a sore throat, best thing to do is drink warm tea and ginger with honey. Ginger increases blood flow to anything that it touches, which warms up your vocal cords. Ginger is also anti-inflammatory; this means that it can soothe your sore throat. Honey is also something that soothes your throat with its thick coating. Honey is high in nutrients, and the darker the honey the more nutrients it contains.

Warm Tea

Warm, green and herbal teas are also very soothing for your voice. Peppermint tea is good for energizing but still soothing due to its warmth. Some teas do contain caffeine so it is best to stick to these types for the best results! Now that you know how to maintain a healthy singing voice, what habits do you need to change? Remember, it is never too late to begin your vocal health journey! Written by: Airis Kemp (Instagram: @loveairisstyle)