Between singing along to your favorite carols and video calling your loved ones this holiday season, you may find that your voice is more fatigued than it has been during the past several months of social distancing. It’s important to care for your voice in order to avoid common issues like vocal cord nodules or polyps. Below are some of the best and worst foods recommended by voice coaches, singers and professional speakers for a healthy voice.
Best Foods
Some foods that promote a healthy voice include…
Water
Be sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Room temperature water allows the body to rehydrate faster since it’s absorbed more quickly. It can also help aid the digestive process after eating.
Toast and Unsalted Crackers
You can keep your voice naturally hydrated by eating toasted bread and unsalted crackers. This is because as the bread becomes stuck, the mouth produces extra moisture to help it break down, which then is swallowed, lubricating the throat.
Cantaloupe
Cantaloupes and other melons are about 90% water. Try munching on them for a healthy snack or popping some chunks into a glass of water for extra flavor and hydration.
Warm Herbal Tea
While caffeine can negatively impact your voice, naturally decaffeinated tea works like a sauna for the throat, warming the vocal cords. Adding honey may also be beneficial.
Worst Foods
Below are some of the worst foods and beverages that will take a toll on your voice.
Milk
When you drink milk, it increases the mucus in the back of the nose and throat. This can make your voice unclear and cause you to cough and clear your throat more often, which can damage your vocal cords.
Ice Cream
Ice cream causes the same issues, not just because of the dairy but also because of the sugar. If you need to satisfy a sugar craving, try sucking on a hard candy, which will increase mucus production.
Bacon
Bacon is extremely salty, which is drying. Avoid bacon and other salty foods in order to keep your hydration levels high and your voice clear.
Citrus
While there’s nothing more refreshing than citrus, it is very drying. This includes fruit juices made with citrus.
Alcohol
Alcohol may make you feel like you sound better, but this is not the case. While also being incredibly drying, alcohol consumption can cause you to lose control of your vocal cords, which can be especially harmful when singing or giving a speech.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call ENT of Georgia today.
