Tips To Take Care Of Your Voice - by Deborah Torres Patel

Most of us use our voices all day long but do you know how to take care of your voice to guarantee optimum vocal health and vocal power? Whether you realize it or not, even what you eat and drink has a lot to do with how well you sound.

If you are leading up to an important presentation and are in any way nervous about it, here are some simple vocal rules that will really help you.

In order to perform, present or speak well, it is best to do everything you can to get out of our own way physically, vocally and psychologically. These simple vocal care tips will help you to become more confident, keep your vocal cords in tip-top shape, and put your best voice forward.

1. Keep your vocal folds hydrated
A moist vocal tract will give you the best sound with the least amount of vocal effort so it is wise to stay hydrated. Vocal health experts agree that you should drink a minimum of eight glasses of water per day.

To keep your vocal cords functioning optimally, before and during an important presentation, anything you drink should be room temperature or close to body temperature. Ideally drinks should not be too hot or too cold because extreme temperatures can de-neutralize your sensitive vocal instrument.

If you travel frequently via airplane, drink lots of water while flying. Recycled air in planes is extremely dehydrating to the voice and skin. Speaking above the level of the constant often-unnoticed engine noise can put a great strain on your voice, so talk as little as possible if you need to deliver a presentation on the same day that you fly.

On the day before and the day of an important presentation, try to avoid alcohol, smoking and second-hand smoke, as well as antihistamines and chocolate. Penicillin and many prescription drugs also dry out vocal cords, so hydrate more if you are taking medication.

2. Prevent excess phlegm and vocal mucous
Many coffee, tea, coke or soda drinkers need to clear their throats frequently. Caffeine is also a diuretic and flushes water out of your body.  Loss of fluid creates mucous and phlegm that is thicker and more concentrated. This makes you want to cough and clear your throat more often.

If you are a die-hard caffeine drinker, don’t despair.  One or two cups won’t kill your voice but after that it’s best to drink decaf, herbal tea or plain water for the rest of the day.

Many people find dairy products phlegm-producing, so if this is an issue for you avoid all dairy products. Also limit your sugar intake, including sugary drinks and fruit juices before performing or presenting.

3. Alcohol
If you need to entertain for work or feel like an alcoholic drink with dinner on the night before or the day of your presentation, it’s best to avoid red wine, grain alcohol, vodka and beer. They can sometimes spark allergic reactions that decrease your vocal power. If you must drink for social reasons or simply cannot abstain, choose white wine instead.

4. Women
Women who are pregnant, lactating or menstruating will generally experience extra vocal mucous and vocal cord swelling. To manage this, simply take more time to warm up than usual and drink extra water to ensure your vocal cords are moist and flexible.

5. Coughing and whispering
Speakers often clear their throats as a nervous habit or because they have consumed too much caffeine. Try not to clear your throat too much. Instead, cough gently or silently. Then build up saliva in your mouth, lower your chin to your chest, and swallow.

If you are feeling unwell or struggling vocally, don’t speak with a forced whisper. The reason for this is that your tiny crycothyroid muscle at the back of your throat weakens and wears out much faster than if you just speak normally.

6. Soothing an irritated or tired throat
To comfort a fatigued voice, many vocal professionals choose to add honey and lemon to drinks. However, consuming lemon or citrus like grapefruit and orange causes you to salivate more and also produce excess phlegm. This will mean you need to clear your throat more often.

Warm water and non-caffeinated teas (without lemon or sweeteners) are very soothing to the voice. Two of my favorite herbal teas are peppermint, which will give you energy, and chamomile, which will calm you.

If you need to suck on something to relieve your throat, lozenges with glycerin are the most soothing. Stay away from menthol flavors because they tend to irritate delicate vocal folds.

The best way to manage an ailing voice is to use your voice as little as possible or to give yourself complete vocal rest for 12 to 24 hours. If that isn’t possible, make sure you warm up slowly and gently, doing your best to keep any strain off your throat and voice. Only light and gentle vocal exercises should be performed if you are unwell.

Finally, ample sleep and complete vocal rest are the best solutions to heal an overly stressed voice.

7. Peak performance
Many peak performance trainers suggest following basic food combining principles like not combining protein and starch in the same meal and eating fruit only on an empty stomach. The food combining rules aren’t for everyone, but if you do choose to follow them your body doesn’t have to work as hard to digest the food in your stomach. Consequently more energy can be channeled into your presentation.

For optimum vocal performance before or during an important presentation, don’t drink anything carbonated because it could cause you to burp.

It’s actually best to stick with warm or room temperature water all the time for peak vocal performance.

Deborah Torres Patel is a founding member of APSS and the World’s #1 Voice Trainer.  To interact directly with her and her an empowering community, ask questions, post videos about your voice or presentation, and get free feedback, simply click the “Like” button on her Public Profile Page at www.facebook.com/DeborahTorresPatel2.