The caffeine in dark chocolate can potentially dehydrate your vocal cords and trigger acid reflux before a show, so it's best to steer clear of all types of chocolate before you sing.
The cocoa flavonoids in dark chocolate help to increase blood flow to the vocal cords, which in turn can help to improve vocal range and power. The antioxidants in dark chocolate can also help to reduce inflammation in the vocal cords, which can lead to improved vocal health.
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).
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. This means that it increases the level of mucus present in your instrument.
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.
Milk, yogurt, cheese, and other dairy
But dairy in general is difficult for the body to break down. It's a big no-no before your show. In many cases, it causes acid reflux that can creep up your esophagus and burn your vocal cords.
Foods to avoid include foods with high fat content, like fried or greasy foods, eggs, butter and other dairy products; and acidic meals like spicy foods, peppers, concentrated tomato dishes, vinegar, and citrus fruits.
Bananas moderate your blood sugar levels to reduce your appetite. This is ideal if you have little time to consume a rich meal before a performance. The glycemic index (the speed foods increase your blood sugar levels) of bananas is well-balanced.
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.
Generally, singers should avoid consuming ice cream and other dairy products before singing. Dairy foods cause phlegm and mucus to build up. That mucus is thick and makes you want to clear your throat. Unless dairy products don't bother your voice, avoid ice cream and any other dairy products before singing.
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.
A healthy voice requires a strong body with generally good muscle tone and endurance. So plan to eat a balance of protein, fruits and vegetables, whole grains and beans, and moderate amounts of healthy fats and oils.
Carbonated waters contain carbonic acid, a weak chemical that is said to trigger nerve receptors in your mouth. This type of irritation could affect your voice and tone when you sing. It's best to avoid eating or drinking anything acidic before you perform.
Oily Food. Overdoing food that has a lot of oils, butter, or margarine can also cause phlegm to build up in your throat and irritate your singing voice. You may want to avoid fried foods and pizza for this reason, especially right before a performance.
Milk is bad for singers because it stresses your vocal cords. However, there are many health benefits to drinking milk, so we don't suggest cutting it out from your diet altogether. Instead, avoid drinking milk on rehearsal and performance days.
If you're wondering what to drink to sing better, the answer is simple: water. Water is one of the best drinks for your singing voice, with herbal teas (but not too hot) in second place. Drink water throughout the day, and keep a water bottle nearby during lessons and rehearsals.
The creamy texture of bananas can produce extra mucus and coat your throat, which leads to unclear vocals. The thickness of a banana will inhibit your singing ability and are best to be avoided right before your performance. Eating a banana is essentially the same as eating dairy before singing, both are bad news.
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.
Honey is known to have powerful soothing effects on your voice, vocal cords, and throat. It's rich in antioxidants and has antibacterial properties which help fight bacterial infections in the throat. Honey can help singers recover quicker from strained, sore, and lost voices.
Food You Should Eat
In all seriousness, while it's important to still eat in moderation and to not eat within two hours of a performance, keep an eye out for these voice-friendly foods: Hard- and soft-boiled eggs. Plain baked fish, such as salmon or tilapia, but stay away from the tartar sauce.
Chewing gum could also help lubricate your vocal cords. Your mucous glands are active when you are chewing and in turn, your vocal cords get lubricated.
Dairy. Dairy is one of the most recognized “No-Nos” for singers. Consuming milk or cheese is known to cause the vocal folds to produce more mucus.
Peanut butter – a classic choice. Natural peanut butter contains protein, which will help you feel full and provide the energy required to sing well through a long performance.
As a singer, you should avoid eating too spicy, fatty, and junk food items. There are several food & beverages that trigger mucous secretion and can affect your singing abilities badly. So before and after singing, avoid eating such edibles as spicy food, acidic meals, greasy food, fried items, caffeine, or alcohol.