Fuel Your Singing Voice With The Right Nutrition

 

 

Food and nutrition are fuel. When you feed your body the right nutrition and foods, your voice feels effortless. When you feed it the wrong foods, your voice peters out.

One of my artists who is on The Voice this season shot me an email last week asking about what is the right food to eat prior to performance. I wanted to share it with you, my tribe, so you could get the benefits of fueling your performances the right way.

Early on in my training as a singer, I was fascinated by the impact of food and nutrition on our bodies and consequently on our voices. The voice being an instrument housed in our body – what we feed it makes or breaks how our voice performs.

 

Here’s my Top 9 Vocal Super-Foods:

 

1. Fresh REAL food is superior to packaged or processed food. If it didn’t grow from the ground, don’t eat it (or limit your consumption.) Veggies & fruits have more “energy” because they are “living” foods – singers need energy and oxygen in their blood (which real foods give us). Leafy greens, in particular, are energy givers: wheatgrass, watercress, kale, arugula, spinach (raw not cooked), romaine, mixed greens, broccoli rabe, escarole, etc.

2. Foods with high water content are hydrating. Hydration from plants is an additional source that adds nutrition, too (8-10 oz. of water, too!). Celery is great for nerves (try a celery or carrot juice the day of – or sprinkle some on your salad.) Bok choy is actually a real super-food. And watermelon and melon of any kind is super hydrating for your voice. (I throw some pieces in my water for extra hydration.)

3. Salads are the main dish. Dr. Joel Fuhrman (my nutritionist) says “make salads your main dish.” I squeeze a little lime or lemon & olive oil or use just a little balsamic. Top with avocado – great for lubrication.

4. Speaking of olive oil, some people swear by it for a little extra lubrication (but use sparingly.)

5. Green juice! SHAZAAM! My favorite juice is celery (remember, great for nerves), cucumber, cilantro, sunflower sprouts, pea shoots + parsley with a smidge of ginger and garlic. Try adding more leafy greens too (watercress, kale, arugula, spinach raw not cooked, bok choy.)

6. Strawberries are great for the larynx (notice how it’s shaped like the thyroid cartilage 😉 – love that). Google it – you’ll find some awesome articles about it.

7. Broth soups hydrate – miso, garlic soup, veggie soups (but no tomato or cream base – causes reflux.)

8. Tofu-quinoa-turkey-salmon: good sources of protein. Stay away from ketchup (too much sugar) and sugar in general – depletes energy.

9. They say carbs the night before a performance gives energy – sweet potatoes are better than rice or pasta, which turns into sugar.

What foods do YOU find helpful for your voice (actual foods not remedies)? Post here!

Happy Healthy Singing!!

©2014 Cari Cole, Vocal Mag, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Hi, I’m Cari Cole.

You’ve got talent, but you want to become great at it. You’re in the right place! My mission is to help you refine your unique artist vision to bring to the world.

About Cari Cole

Cari Cole is the CEO / Founder of caricole.com and CCVM: Label Without Walls. She is a Holistic Vocal Coach, Artist Development Expert, A&R Director, and Songwriter based in New York City helping artists for the past 38 years. She is a mentor for Women in Music and The Association of Independent Music Publishers.

Her latest venture, CCVM a label services company, provides artists with a seamless path from creation to completion. After 30+ years of observing the overwhelm and challenges that artists face, Cari pulled together the best top creative professionals and designed a new approach to supporting our artists.

Disclaimer:
The information provided on Cari Cole's website is informational only and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. Those seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on Cari Cole's website. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.

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