The Best and Worst Foods for Your Voice

Eating and drinking is something we all have to do, but let’s be honest: some of us do it better than others. And by better, I mean they make better choices. Most of us know by now what types of foods and drinks are healthy and which aren’t, but these are usually in the context of dieting for weight loss and better health. What about how certain foods/drinks pertain to our voices, though?

What you consume has a direct impact on your vocal health as well as the health of the rest of your body. Here are the best and worst foods for your voice:

Worst

●     Dairy products. Dairy items like milk and ice cream have a nasty way of causing mucous build-up that can negatively affect your voice.

●     Bacon (this one makes me the saddest). Bacon is super high in salt, which has a drying effect on your vocal chords.

●     Citrus. I love a juicy orange as much as the next guy, but oranges and other citrus fruits can also cause a “dry” voice.

●     Alcohol. Enjoying one too many drinks can really do a number on your voice. In addition to causing dryness in your throat, imbibing too much can make you do things you wouldn’t normally do - like yell or talk really loud. Both of these are hard on the vocal chords and can impact your sound quality.

●     Caffeinated drinks. Soft drinks, coffee, and even tea are no good for voice over artists. These beverages are diuretics that can lead to dehydrated throat muscles and vocal chords. Personally, I get my Caffeine from pills I take with a handful of my regular vitamins and herb supplements. 

Best

●     Water. The importance of water for vocal health cannot be overstated. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate - your voice will thank you.

●     Toast or non-salty crackers. Sounds strange, but eating a bit of toast or unsalted crackers can actually improve your voice. Because they’re so dry, your mouth goes into overdrive producing saliva, and this moisture is extremely beneficial to your voice.

●     Cantaloupe and watermelon. The water content of these fruits is insane. Remember, lots of water = better vocal health.

●     Warm decaf tea. Herbal, decaffeinated tea will make your throat and vocal chords all warm and comfy, which in turn makes you sound better. Add a bit of honey to up the goodness even more.