Did you know there are some things you want to avoid drinking before you're upcoming singing performance or rehearsal?
You don't want your throat to dry out, so you don't want to eat or drink things that can dry you out. You also want to avoid some drinks that can cause you to have phlegm.
If you weren't singing or performing, it might not be a big deal to have some phlegm in your day, but for singing, that can be a huge headache and possibly impede your performance.
Lastly, you don't want to eat or drink anything that would cause you gas or acid reflux.
Burping or tasting acid during your song will not do any favors to your singing technique, so those that are prone to these symptoms need to be extra careful with what they allow in their diet.
First things first, you should drink water. Of course, we should drink water throughout the day to keep our bodies, especially vocal cords, nice and hydrated for all of the singing we're about to bless someone's ears with.
I'm sure you're looking for more advice than just "drink water", right? Here's one short tip regarding water: room temperature water is better than ice-cold water since the coldness can tense your vocal cords up!
But besides that, below are a few recommendations and how they can help you sing in a more healthy manner than just with plain ol' water.
Related Post: Vocal Steamers - Pros And Cons For Singers
Tea is always a great choice when it comes to your throat and vocal health. Make sure the tea you're going to drink is decaffeinated since caffeine dehydrates you and will likely cause your throat to dry out. No one wants a dry throat while singing!
Honey is also an excellent addition to add to your tea that will promote smooth, hydrated vocals thanks to the many antioxidants, antibacterial properties, and lubricating consistency.
Another great choice for tea is the popular Throat Coat flavor, often rich in medicinal properties that support proper throat health.
Read My Best Teas For Singers Post!
This is a winning combination for a few reasons. As I mentioned, you can't go wrong with the water, honey is from the vocal gods themselves, and when you add a bit of lemon into the mix, the acidic properties can help you clear out any phlegm you may have.
Be warned, overdoing the lemon can also cause your throat to get dry similar to the way caffeine would, so keep it light with that added portion of the mix, and you'll be fine.
Related Post: Vocal warmups can also help clear your phlegm and make your voice clear for singing.
Here are a few things that you definitely want to avoid before that performance, recording, rehearsal, or lesson.
Caffeine - As mentioned above, caffeinated drinks like coffee and green tea can dry out your throat.
Alcohol - Liquid courage might give you more confidence to hit some of those high notes when you're singing, but it will definitely dry out your voice and likely make you hoarse super fast.
Alcoholic beverages are definitely not what to drink before singing high notes or low notes.
Dairy - Phlegm City. You will be clearing your throat like no one's business, and clearing your throat isn't actually good at all for your throat, ironically enough. Try dairy-free alternatives!
Those who are lactose intolerant can also become gassy, and that's not a good look during a performance. Having these products at a very low intake might be fine, but try not to overdo it.
Chocolate - This also causes a bunch of phlegm in your throat. Not to mention the caffeine in chocolate, which will surely put your vocals through a weird roller coaster between phlegm and dry, depending on what note you sing.
Spicy Food - Spicy foods are also known to cause phlegm in your throat. This is mostly due to the amount of oil usually found in them.
Why did I list the things NOT to drink? Well, there will always be those good singers out there that aren't always keen on following the rules of only drinking tea or a healthy water concoction :) Either way, it's good to know which drinks will cause what problems, at the very least.
Read Next: What To Eat (And NOT Eat) Before Singing
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