Can the Foods You Eat Protect Your
Voice?
Other natural sources of water are fruits, vegetables, and soup. A
light meal with low acidic content at least two hours before a performance is better than sugar-rich or spicy foods
that may cause gas, bloating, indigestion, heartburn, or acid reflux.
There is also an advantage to breathing through your nose as
opposed to your mouth whenever possible to protect your voice. Nasal passages clear dust particles and warm the air
you breathe before it reaches the throat. This can make a big difference in cold, dry environments where the
slightest irritation can promote coughing or a raspy throat.
Bad Influences on your
Voice
The areas where you socialize are also important for your vocal
health. Noisy, smoke-filled restaurants, bars, and gathering places encourage
shouting and introduce polluted air into your system that can have a terrible
impact on your voice over time. The tissues in your lungs and throat can easily swell and become red with
irritation, and the more exposure you allow, the worse it gets.
Some people suffer from acid-reflux
diseases that force stomach acid back up through the esophagus into the throat. This leads to a host
of potential problems from coughing or clearing your throat excessively. If medication for this
condition is necessary, it adds to dryness in the throat.
Smoking has, by far, the most
detrimental impact on a singer’s voice. It draws hot, polluted air into your airway that dries out and
irritates the larynx so completely it takes hours to recuperate. Secondhand smoke is even worse, since it contains
thousands of harmful chemicals that linger in the air long after they are expelled or burned off.
To protect your voice you must think of it long before
you ever reach the stage. Common sense, good nutrition, and sensitivity to potentially harmful conditions
are the keys to ensuring your voice remains strong and healthy throughout your life.
Learn More about
Singing
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