The best drinks before singing are warm drinks without caffeine or milk, warm water and herbal teas containing manuka honey, lemon and ginger are ideal. Warm or room-temperature water will hydrate your vocal cords, making them more supple and less liable to injury.
Citrus fruit juice can be great for singers as it increases the amount of saliva you produce (lovely!) This keeps your throat from getting dry which results in your voice staying fresh. Just make sure that the juice isn't ice-cold as this can create tension than limits your vocal range.
Singers will want to make sure to drink plenty of water the day before, and morning of a vocal performance. Some foods and beverages that can be dehydrating include: caffeine, alcohol, nuts, crackers or chips, and other salty snacks. Be aware of hidden salt contained in candy, bottled sauces, and sports drinks.
Is it okay to eat dairy? For most people, eating dairy products like milk, yogurt, ice cream or cottage cheese will create mucus, and should be avoided within a couple of hours before singing. For most, hard cheeses don't do that. Mucus coats your throat and makes it harder to sing.
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.
Like dairy, bananas increase production of mucus and phlegm, and their thick, mushy texture is not ideal for being - and feeling - clear in the throat and vocal cords.
While these conditions can temporarily damage our vocal cords, with a little care – such as vocal rest and good hydration – we should recover fairly quickly. Sometimes, though, vocal problems persist, and that's when you need to take action to avoid long-term or permanent damage.
A daily workout for your voice will strengthen your vocal cords, improve your vocal range, and develop a better vocal tone. You should practice singing for at least thirty minutes a day (making sure you do your warm-ups first). If you don't have a daily routine, work with your vocal coach to create one for you.
Best drink for singing voice
Drinking water at room temperature is the best possible drink you can have as a singer. Cold drinks or beverages with ice will shock your vocal cords, causing them to tense up. Hot drinks are just as risky before a performance, as they can inflame your vocal cords.
So yes, if you need a gatorade after a room run or a performance, you better drink your Gatorade! Remember though that most of the possible negative effects of Gatorade come when you don't expend the level of energy that the football players for whom this drink was crated, expend on a regular basis.
Cold water can actually shock your vocal cords and create tension in your throat. This can reduce your vocal range and ability. While it is important to stay hydrated and water is an obvious source of hydration, room temperature water is best.
Dairy is highly inflammatory and it can cause acid reflux and excessive mucus in the throat, which can irritate the vocal cords.
Fruits containing large amounts of water are excellent hydration-conscious snacks, including apples, pears, watermelon, peaches, melons, grapes, blueberries, oranges, pineapples, plums and raspberries. These fruits are a good source of water that helps to keep lubricated the vocal cords.
It may also cause acid reflux, which irritates your vocal folds. Processed sugar: anything that contains processed sugar is no good for your voice. Just like dairy, sugar is quite hard to break down, and it has inflammation enhancing properties.
Fruit Juice
Many fruit juices should be avoided when singing due to their acidic properties. The mucous membranes of the vocal folds get burned and dried out if acid reflux occurs, especially from the juice of oranges, grapes, lemons, and pineapples.
Some foods and beverages to avoid prior to singing are mucous producing foods such as dairy, stimulants such as caffeine and spicy foods, soft drinks, refined sugars, chocolate, iced drinks and alcohol (including wine and beer).
Foods that are rich in iron, such as leafy vegetables like spinach or broccoli, can help maintain vocal strength and stamina. Singers should also stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day to avoid dehydration which can lead to hoarseness.
What are the best drinks for your singing voice? The best drinks for your singing voice are water (especially room-temperature water, perhaps with a squeeze or two of lemon) and tea, but be careful about consuming too much caffeine, which can dehydrate you. You can find wonderful herbal teas designed for singers.
Decaffeinated tea
The more relaxed your muscles are from hot drinks, the more you'll notice better control of your voice and you'll find it easier to hit higher pitches. Plus, with tea, you'll feel hydrated, but not bloated. Black tea and lemon tea are great options.