How to Eat for Voice Training

Performing takes discipline. It requires you to pay attention to your body, your looks and your voice. In order to perform well you must be able to communicate effectively, and this means that you should train your voice for optimal performance. Not only do the foods you choose to eat make your body feels its best, but you have to think about what foods to eat for voice training success.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Drink for vocal health. Instead of picking up a bubbly soda or acidic juice, reach for water. Water is the best thing for keeping your vocal chords moist. Eat for voice training by having at the very least eight glasses of water per day, and drink one to two glasses of water before you perform.

2. Avoid salty foods. Salt will dry out your body and your vocal chords. This means that you should be reaching for non-citrus fruits and vegetables at snack time instead of salty nuts or potato chips.

3. Say no to chocolate and any other caffeinated foods or beverages. Not only does caffeine affect your anxiety levels, it is a diuretic that can deplete your body of the water it needs.

4. Steer clear of anything dairy. Cheese, milk, ice cream and butter all thicken the mucus in your throat. Eat for voice training by eating as little dairy as possible to keep your throat clear of mucus.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't smoke or hang around in smoky places. Smoking and second hand smoke will damage your voice.
• Don't drink warm water with lemon before a performance. Lemon can dry out your throat. Gargling with baking soda or salt water is more effective.
• Don't let allergy season threaten your throat. Over the counter and prescription medications can be too drying. Use saline nose sprays to clear your nasal passages, and put some Vaseline in your nose to avoid getting any more allergens in your system.
• Don't let dry air debunk your hard work. Eat for voice training by keeping your body hydrated when traveling and in the winter. Drink even more water than usual and use herbal lozenges to help keep your throat healthy.