The crucial question: what should singers eat, and what should they avoid?
What should you drink before a performance? How can you keep your voice well hydrated and healthy?
Most singers focus a great deal on these questions.
Will caffeine dry out my vocal cords?
Will milk prevent me from singing? Will spicy foods affect my overall vocal health?
The answers to these questions are not as straightforward as one might hope.
Let us focus on a few key categories that often raise many questions.
Dairy Products
Milk, cheese, butter, yoghurt. Singers are often advised to avoid these products, as they are thought to create a sensation of a “blocked voice” or a sticky feeling in the throat.
If you are lactose intolerant or vegan, it is probably easy for you to avoid these products.
For others, this can raise concerns, especially before a performance and because of worries about mucus.
Mucus is a viscous substance found in the mucous membranes of the respiratory and digestive systems, as well as in the eyes and ears.
It plays an important role in helping to eliminate fungi, viruses, bacteria, and other harmful particles.
One might therefore assume that dairy products increase mucus production because they contain bacteria.
However, it has been shown that they only create the sensation of increased mucus, without actually increasing its production.
Oat milk and soya milk can create a similar sensation.
If you consume dairy products and your voice feels irritated afterwards, this may be due to acid reflux or lactose intolerance.
However, if you have never experienced this type of problem, dairy products are unlikely to affect your singing.
Another important point: if your throat feels tighter or less flexible after consuming them, pay attention to their temperature.
Was it cold? Was it hot? Cold drinks or foods — whether water, tea, or dairy products — are often responsible for this sensation of tension.
In conclusion, every singer is different, and each body reacts differently to dairy products. If you are lactose intolerant or prone to acid reflux, it is best to avoid them.
Otherwise, there is no reason to be concerned about increased mucus production — so feel free to enjoy them!
Caffeine
It is common to hear, both among singers and vocal teachers, that coffee “dries out” the vocal cords.
Caffeine is generally recognised as having a dehydrating effect, but does it really affect the voice?
Several studies have been carried out on this subject.
One such study, conducted by the University of Cambridge, asked eight volunteers to consume 250 mg of caffeine (the equivalent of two cups of coffee, and slightly more than a single espresso).
Before and after consumption, they were asked to sing “Happy Birthday”.
Their voices were analysed using a laryngograph (a non-invasive device that measures the activity of the vocal cords in the larynx).
Significant changes in vocal frequency were observed.
This suggests that caffeine can affect the voice.
However, the study concludes that the negative effects of caffeine on vocal quality remain largely anecdotal.
It mainly demonstrates a short-term effect while the caffeine is active.
Much like hands trembling after too much coffee, the voice may react in a similar way.
However, it is important to mention another study, published by the US National Library of Medicine, which tested sixteen participants using only 100 mg of caffeine (approximately one cup of coffee).
This study concluded that caffeine had no impact on vocal acoustics.
It can therefore be concluded that caffeine may influence the voice — but above all that the amount consumed makes all the difference.
Given its dehydrating effect, and considering that dehydration can impair the quality of phonation, it would seem reasonable to assume that caffeine has a direct negative impact.
However, a 2023 report reviewing five studies did not reach a definitive conclusion.
The subject still requires further research.
My advice? Drink water, and perhaps avoid coffee just before singing on stage!
Unless, of course, your artistic vision calls for a faster vibrato — in which case a large coffee with three shots of espresso might do the trick!
Spicy and Acidic Foods
Everyone has a different relationship with spicy foods, shaped by both culture and biology.
In general, spicy and acidic foods often appear on the list of items singers are advised to avoid.
However, the reality is more nuanced.
Chilli peppers, hot sauces, and curry can irritate the throat and trigger acid reflux, leading to discomfort and unpredictable vocal control… but the key issue here is acid reflux.
Let us look at this more closely: gastro-oesophageal reflux (its scientific name) occurs when the muscle at the lower end of the oesophagus relaxes at the wrong moment, allowing stomach acid to rise upwards.
This causes a burning sensation and can make singing uncomfortable.
It can be triggered by many factors: spicy and acidic foods, of course, but also onions, garlic, chocolate, fizzy drinks, tomato-based sauces, and fried or high-fat foods.
Each person has a different sensitivity to these foods.
Conclusion
The most important lesson regarding vocal health and diet is this: whatever the circumstances, it is essential to stay well hydrated.
To keep the vocal cords well hydrated, it is essential to drink water.
However, drinking water immediately before going on stage is not very effective.
The effects of hydration are only felt at least four hours after drinking.
Water must first pass through the digestive system and hydrate the entire body.
You can also stay hydrated by drinking tea and eating low-acid fruits and vegetables.
Remember that every body is different, and each person reacts differently to food and drink.
In general, everything is acceptable in moderation. Simply make sure to stay well hydrated and get enough sleep.
Experiment to discover what works best for you.
You can carry out your own “scientific experiments”: try different foods and drinks and observe their effects.
In doing so, you will obtain the most valuable results — those that relate directly to your own voice!
Citations :
About the Author: Sonya
The crucial question: what should singers eat, and what should they avoid?
What should you drink before a performance? How can you keep your voice well hydrated and healthy?
Most singers focus a great deal on these questions.
Will caffeine dry out my vocal cords?
Will milk prevent me from singing? Will spicy foods affect my overall vocal health?
The answers to these questions are not as straightforward as one might hope.
Let us focus on a few key categories that often raise many questions.
Dairy Products
Milk, cheese, butter, yoghurt. Singers are often advised to avoid these products, as they are thought to create a sensation of a “blocked voice” or a sticky feeling in the throat.
If you are lactose intolerant or vegan, it is probably easy for you to avoid these products.
For others, this can raise concerns, especially before a performance and because of worries about mucus.
Mucus is a viscous substance found in the mucous membranes of the respiratory and digestive systems, as well as in the eyes and ears.
It plays an important role in helping to eliminate fungi, viruses, bacteria, and other harmful particles.
One might therefore assume that dairy products increase mucus production because they contain bacteria.
However, it has been shown that they only create the sensation of increased mucus, without actually increasing its production.
Oat milk and soya milk can create a similar sensation.
If you consume dairy products and your voice feels irritated afterwards, this may be due to acid reflux or lactose intolerance.
However, if you have never experienced this type of problem, dairy products are unlikely to affect your singing.
Another important point: if your throat feels tighter or less flexible after consuming them, pay attention to their temperature.
Was it cold? Was it hot? Cold drinks or foods — whether water, tea, or dairy products — are often responsible for this sensation of tension.
In conclusion, every singer is different, and each body reacts differently to dairy products. If you are lactose intolerant or prone to acid reflux, it is best to avoid them.
Otherwise, there is no reason to be concerned about increased mucus production — so feel free to enjoy them!
Caffeine
It is common to hear, both among singers and vocal teachers, that coffee “dries out” the vocal cords.
Caffeine is generally recognised as having a dehydrating effect, but does it really affect the voice?
Several studies have been carried out on this subject.
One such study, conducted by the University of Cambridge, asked eight volunteers to consume 250 mg of caffeine (the equivalent of two cups of coffee, and slightly more than a single espresso).
Before and after consumption, they were asked to sing “Happy Birthday”.
Their voices were analysed using a laryngograph (a non-invasive device that measures the activity of the vocal cords in the larynx).
Significant changes in vocal frequency were observed.
This suggests that caffeine can affect the voice.
However, the study concludes that the negative effects of caffeine on vocal quality remain largely anecdotal.
It mainly demonstrates a short-term effect while the caffeine is active.
Much like hands trembling after too much coffee, the voice may react in a similar way.
However, it is important to mention another study, published by the US National Library of Medicine, which tested sixteen participants using only 100 mg of caffeine (approximately one cup of coffee).
This study concluded that caffeine had no impact on vocal acoustics.
It can therefore be concluded that caffeine may influence the voice — but above all that the amount consumed makes all the difference.
Given its dehydrating effect, and considering that dehydration can impair the quality of phonation, it would seem reasonable to assume that caffeine has a direct negative impact.
However, a 2023 report reviewing five studies did not reach a definitive conclusion.
The subject still requires further research.
My advice? Drink water, and perhaps avoid coffee just before singing on stage!
Unless, of course, your artistic vision calls for a faster vibrato — in which case a large coffee with three shots of espresso might do the trick!
Spicy and Acidic Foods
Everyone has a different relationship with spicy foods, shaped by both culture and biology.
In general, spicy and acidic foods often appear on the list of items singers are advised to avoid.
However, the reality is more nuanced.
Chilli peppers, hot sauces, and curry can irritate the throat and trigger acid reflux, leading to discomfort and unpredictable vocal control… but the key issue here is acid reflux.
Let us look at this more closely: gastro-oesophageal reflux (its scientific name) occurs when the muscle at the lower end of the oesophagus relaxes at the wrong moment, allowing stomach acid to rise upwards.
This causes a burning sensation and can make singing uncomfortable.
It can be triggered by many factors: spicy and acidic foods, of course, but also onions, garlic, chocolate, fizzy drinks, tomato-based sauces, and fried or high-fat foods.
Each person has a different sensitivity to these foods.
Conclusion
The most important lesson regarding vocal health and diet is this: whatever the circumstances, it is essential to stay well hydrated.
To keep the vocal cords well hydrated, it is essential to drink water.
However, drinking water immediately before going on stage is not very effective.
The effects of hydration are only felt at least four hours after drinking.
Water must first pass through the digestive system and hydrate the entire body.
You can also stay hydrated by drinking tea and eating low-acid fruits and vegetables.
Remember that every body is different, and each person reacts differently to food and drink.
In general, everything is acceptable in moderation. Simply make sure to stay well hydrated and get enough sleep.
Experiment to discover what works best for you.
You can carry out your own “scientific experiments”: try different foods and drinks and observe their effects.
In doing so, you will obtain the most valuable results — those that relate directly to your own voice!
Citations :
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