Singers eat honey for its soothing, coating effect on the throat, helping with dryness and irritation, and its natural antibacterial properties to fight minor infections, often mixed in warm water or tea to relieve strain before or after performances, though it's important to note it doesn't directly touch the vocal cords but offers relief to the surrounding area. It's a popular natural remedy, but moderation is key as it's still sugar, and proper hydration is paramount.
For singers, a sore throat can mean a raspy voice and limited range. Honey can help target a sore throat holistically, from fighting bacteria to helping the body recover and function optimally. Plus it's a great all-rounder for oral health, so eating honey for singers is a win-win!
Honey is one of the most effective natural remedies and protectors of the voice. Simply take a spoonful (or 3) daily and coat your throat with it without water. Drink lots of water before, during, and after singing.
Home remedies like salt water gargles and tea with honey are mostly harmless, although there's no evidence they work for fixing laryngitis. If you have a sore throat, they might temporarily alleviate some of this pain. But they definitely won't reduce the roughness, hoarseness or “breathiness” of your voice.
Hydrate your voice
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.
In most cases, the voice reaches peak stamina, range, and clarity between ages 20 and 40. The vocal folds are fully matured, the respiratory system is efficient, and the brain's coordination of complex motor patterns is sharp. Singers in this stage can: Expand range.
Grammy Award winner and platinum vocal artist Adele underwent vocal cord surgery in October 2011 to alleviate recurrent hemorrhaging caused by a benign polyp on her vocal cord.
Top 6 Beverages to Support Vocal Health
Yes, when consumed in moderation. Packed with antioxidants, vitamins and beneficial enzymes, honey offers a variety of health benefits that make it a healthier alternative to regular refined sugar. Honey can be a sweet and nutritious addition to your diet, but it's important to remember that it's still a form of sugar.
The best types of honey to help your vocal cords are raw, dark versions. These won't feature added sugar or sweeteners, which can be bad for singers. Manuka honey and Jarrah honey are among the best types to try for vocal recovery, as they offer the most health benefits.
However, honey itself is another form of sugar, and it should be consumed only in moderation, experts say. Studies show added sugars can be empty calories that increase the risk for obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure and cavities.
What to avoid before singing:
Raw honey may contain allergens
Symptoms could range from itching in the oral mucosa to anaphylactic shock. People who are allergic to pollen or with severe seasonal allergies (hay fever) should be aware of the potential risk of eating raw honey.
Tips for Maintaining and Strengthening a Healthy Singing Voice
There are tons of lozenges marketed to singers and actors. Which lozenge is best for a singer's voice? Honey and lemon lozenges are fairly well-known. Honey soothes the throat and has antibacterial properties that can help with inflammation.
Breathing exercises: Deep breathing exercises can help relax your vocal cords and allow you to speak from your diaphragm instead of your throat – this method usually results in a deeper voice. Vocal exercises: These can help lower your voice by strengthening and stretching your vocal cords.
Do not refrigerate honey. Keeping your honey in the refrigerator preserves it but the cool temperatures will cause your honey to form a semi-solid mass, so this method of storage is not recommended.
Safety and side effects
Among healthy individuals, 70g daily of natural and unprocessed honey consumed over a month, compared to sucrose, decreased triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels and increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels.
Bromelain is a natural anti-inflammatory made from concentrated pineapple extract, and when taken on an empty stomach can greatly aid with vocal fold inflammation!
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.
Rest Well.
Go on “vocal rest” the day before you perform. Limit your talking, avoid either shouting or whispering, and be sure not to sing much or too forcefully.
An aesthetic expert has revealed how Adele has a more defined and sculpted facial appearance following her reported seven stone weight loss, suggesting the possibility of a few subtle non-invasive treatments such as dermal fillers or anti-wrinkle injections.
Elton John
Once renowned for a remarkable vocal range spanning nearly four octaves, John developed nodules and had throat surgery in the 1980s to remove them. After the surgery, his voice was noticeably deeper.