Posted on
Which fruit is good for the voice? And should you be drinking juice or smoothies before going on stage, or is it better to give these beverages a miss?
The best fruits for singers include berries, mangoes, plums and apricots – the latter can even ease stage fright. Whereas oranges or bananas are better left in the bowl ahead of a gig if you want your vocals to be on top form.
Read this article to find out which varieties are good for the voice and which may hinder your performance.
The best fruits for singers
There’s no doubt that fruits are full of health benefits, however, that doesn’t mean that they are all great for your voice. What singers eat and drink can have a huge impact, and some fruits are certainly much better than others.
Did you know that the benefits of some fruits even extend beyond vocal health? Apricots contain high levels of magnesium which is a great natural remedy for preventing anxiety. So, if you regularly suffer from stage fright, apricots are a fantastic way to calm your nerves and feel performance ready!
The fruit is also high in vitamin A which provides your body with the antioxidants it needs to repair cells and prevent any damage from free radicals. So, if you’re looking for a way to boost your confidence and protect your throat, apricots are the way to go.
Peaches have very high levels of water. This makes them a great snack to indulge in an hour or so before your performance. As a singer, your vocal cords vibrate very fast and are put under a lot of strain. Make sure that they are appropriately hydrated to perform to the best of your ability.
As peaches are yellow, they are also very high in vitamin A, much like mangoes. So, keep that mucus in check by eating a peach!
What singers should eat for a healthy voice
Eating fruit is a great way to maintain high energy without causing a blood sugar spike. So, it’s useful to snack on in between songs whilst performing. It’ll keep your vocal cords hydrated and prevent any excess strain on your voice. But choose options with high water and alkaline content. Vegetables also contain a whole host of vitamins and minerals that are a vital component of a healthy diet. So be sure to add plenty into your diet, eaten whole and where possible, raw, for extra benefit.
It’s not only what you eat but how you eat it. Consume your fruit at room temperature. Cold foods and drink can tighten your vocal cords. Watermelon is delicious cold but make sure that it’s at room temperature if consuming before a performance . Watermelon contains over 90% water so it’s the perfect way to hydrate yourself and your voice before a performance. If you are dehydrated, your throat will feel tight and your vocal cords will not be able to vibrate freely.
So, is all fruit good for your voice or are some better than others?
Which fruit is good for the voice?
The best fruit for singers will depend on whether you are performing or not. Bananas, for example, are great at making you feel full but the creamy texture can produce excess mucus. Whilst pineapples are naturally anti-inflammatory and soothe your throat. It really depends on what type of fruit you are eating and when. It’s fine to eat bananas in your day-to-day life but not right before a performance. However, the high levels of vitamin C in almost all fruit can boost your immune system and help overcome sore throats.
Does eating apples affect your singing?
Apples are a great way to get your daily fix of vitamin C which is great for singers. Your immune system, tissues and fatigue prevention will all be more effective. On top of this, apples also have a very high water content which keeps your throat hydrated.
If you are planning on having an apple before your performance, it’s far better to chew it than drink it. Your body will absorb all of the great vitamins. Also, there’s far less sugar content in the whole fruit rather than juice. You don’t want to overload on sugar before a performance as it can cause you to crash.
Pineapple is a great anti-inflammatory that will soothe your vocal cords and prevent them from becoming strained. On top of this, pineapple cuts through any mucus build-up in your throat, keeping your voice sounding both clear and strong. The sweet fruit will also help you to produce saliva that will keep your throat hydrated.
Are oranges bad for your singing voice?
Oranges are packed full of vitamin C which will boost your immune system and aid tissue repair. If you sing a lot, your vocal cords can certainly get strained so vitamin C certainly is something you want a lot of.
However, oranges are very acidic which can cause excess gas and disrupt your performance. It’s a good idea to include oranges in your daily life to boost your immune system. However, it’s best to avoid eating them right before a live performance. Choose a mango instead.
Citrus fruits can have a very drying effect on your throat which isn’t ideal before you sing. However, the combination of lemon and honey has been praised as a cure-all for singers vocals. It’s a great way to soothe and hydrate your voice in the run-up to a performance.
Furthermore, lemon is a natural disinfectant that can get rid of toxins in your body. This is a fantastic way to keep your voice strong and healthy. While citric acid can be drying, it also can break down any mucus build-up in your throat. Therefore, you need to work out whether lemon helps your voice or not. Try lemon and warm water before singing and see if it helps your vocal cords.
Are bananas bad for singing?
Bananas are great for your health, they boost your serotonin levels and keep you feeling fuller for longer. However, they aren’t the best choice of fruit for singers before a show. Whilst they maintain blood sugar levels, which is exactly what you want before a performance, they can be detrimental to your singing voice.
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.
Superfoods for singers
Instead of getting into the age-old debate as to whether cucumber is a fruit or vegetable, let’s discuss why it’s so great for singers. Cucumber is almost completely water and so is the perfect thing to keep those vocal cords running smoothly. It also has a PH of over 7 which makes it very alkaline.
- Grapes are both high in antioxidants and are anti-inflammatory, two of the best things to ingest before a performance. On top of this, grapes are incredibly hydrating which will help your vocal cords to vibrate freely when singing. Grapes are a great thing to have with you when performing, they are easy to eat and don’t produce any mess.
- Strawberries, blueberries and raspberries are all anti-inflammatory and also rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants will repair your cells and prevent infection. It’s great to eat anti-inflammatory foods as they won’t affect your vocal cords negatively. Berries, therefore, are the perfect easy snack to consume right before your performance. Your vocal cords will be both protected and hydrated.
- Plums are another inflammatory fruit with a very high water content which will keep your vocal cords nice and hydrated. Plums also have a low glycemic index score which won’t cause any unwanted spikes in your blood sugar levels. This makes them an ideal snack to have before your performance as you won’t suddenly crash halfway through.
Singing after eating fruit
Singers are encouraged to eat an alkaline diet on the day of a performance. Too much acidity can damage the health of the vocal cords and lead to poor performance.
What you eat right before a performance can seriously affect your singing abilities. Some foods can make your voice sound better whilst some can have a negative effect. Flush away any phlegm caused by certain fruits, by drinking plenty of water.
Coconut boosts your energy and mood, keeping you fuller for longer. This is a pretty good position to be in right before a performance and your body will thank you for it. Even better, coconut can fight viruses which are definitely something you don’t want, illness can wreak havoc on your vocal cords.
Coconut oil is also very soothing for the throat. If you are looking for a drink, coconut water can be extremely beneficial too. Yes, it could be debated that coconut is a seed but we still felt that it deserved a mention. Similarly, olives, tomatoes and avocados, technically part of the fruit family, have a host of benefits for singers.
So, we’ve learned that fruit can be very good for singers and that it’s a great component to add to a balanced diet. But try and eat it whole rather than in the liquid form and aim for higher water content, non-acidic varieties. Your voice – and your teeth – will thank you for it.
Related Questions
Why is my voice weak?
This will be down to a lack of correct technique and practice. The voice must be worked to be strengthened. Just like muscles. Begin with the foundations of good posture and diaphragmatic breathing. Keep within your range initially and gradually extend it with daily scales.
What should I drink to have a good voice?
The concentrated nature of fruit juice makes the liquid acidic. This not only erodes the enamel on teeth, leading to sensitivity and tooth decay, but it can also affect your stomach too. Instead, drink water or a herbal infusion where possible
What do you think is the best fruit for singers? Which fruit have you found to be good for your voice? Let us know in the comments below.