NBC News tells us that 10-20% of the population have an aptitude for singing, and 62% of people can hold a tune and enjoy a bit of crooning. Whether you’re an operatic performer or just enjoy a bit of shower singing – it doesn’t matter. What matters is that singing, either on your own or in a group, brings joy and is good for wellbeing. If you too enjoy singing, there are some good teas to drink that are excellent for the vocal cords, helping you to carry a melody and sing smoothly.
Teas to Avoid
Learning to sing is easy, and anyone can train their vocal abilities – you can even sign up for an online singing course to improve technique. A dedicated vocal coach can help you understand your voice and what is best for your vocal cords. If you start to do any performing as a soloist or in a choir, black tea containing caffeine is best avoided. Too much caffeine can stimulate anxiety, which is no good for performance, especially if you generally get nervous anyway. Caffeine can also dehydrate you and acts as a diuretic. If you do drink black tea, switch to a decaffeinated version. You should also avoid loading your tea with sugar – this can cause a big surge of energy, but can also cause a slump pretty soon afterwards. Milk in your tea is also best avoided, as milk increases the production of mucus, which will muffle your tone.
Good Tea For Vocal Cords
If you want to soothe your vocal cords, especially after a singing session, then a simple honey and lemon tea is perfect. Honey is incredibly soothing and is also a natural anti-inflammatory that has been used in medicine for thousands of years. Lemon is a good antioxidant that will also refresh your palette. Ginger tea is also a very popular choice amongst singers – it helps to balance your blood-sugar levels, and it doesn’t contain caffeine. Ginger is also a natural antioxidant that will soothe an irritated throat caused by too much singing.
Good Tea For Your Body
Singing isn’t just making a sound with your vocal cords – it’s a whole-body experience. There are several teas that can help you with breathing. Mint tea is an excellent choice, and there are several different types including peppermint and spearmint. The natural menthol in mint helps to clear the airways so that you can breathe easily. Mint is also good for your digestive system – if this is not functioning properly, you will have problems using your lungs and diaphragm muscle, which are essential for singing. Fermented tea is also good for your digestive system, and can help to settle your stomach if you are nervous before a performance.
Whether you are a seasoned professional or an amateur singer, there are plenty of different teas that can help soothe your vocal cords and give you a boost. Drinking tea both before and after singing is a great way to look after your body so that you can concentrate on making beautiful music and doing what you love.
Photo “Photo of Woman Singing in Music Studio” is copyright under Free Use No-Attribution License to the photographer Papa Yaw and is being posted unaltered (source)
