Vocal Health Products & Tips

Click an image below

A store with various

vocal health products

Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa syrup

Throat Coat Tea

Throat Relief Spray

Throat Lozenge

Vitamin C Supplement

Vocal Care

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1. Stay hydrated: Make sure to drink plenty of water to keep your vocal cords refreshed. During a recording session, it is recommend that you drink room temperature water. This also helps to prevent "mouth clicks" (the sound that saliva makes in our mouths as we talk). Eating green apples is another great solution to eliminate mouth clicks.
2. Get a good amount of sleep: It is important to at least get 7-9 hours of sleep. The amount of sleep you get effects your overall health, which greatly effects your vocals.
3. Keep warm: If you are outside in the cold, wear a warm scarf around your throat and chest area. Breathing in cold and dry air can irritate your throat.
4. Know what food and drink to avoid: Before a recording session, it's important to avoid caffeine and dairy. This includes caffeinated tea, coffee, butter, and chocolate. Caffeine dries out your throat, and dairy tends to cling to your throat while thickening the mucus that is already present. In come cases it can cause acid reflux in your esophagus and burn your vocal cords. Other drinks and food to avoid before a recording session: Fried foods (Anything that has been deep-fried or prepared in a lot of oil tends to gunk up your vocal cords with too much fat. Fried food is also another heartburn trigger), Soda (soda is not only full of sugar (and sugar substitutes), but it’s also carbonated. This can cause burping at inopportune times), Ice water (this constricts the muscles in your throat, leading to unnecessary stress and loss of flexibility), and alcohol.
5. Know what food and drink to consume: Before a recording session, it is recommended that you eat beforehand to avoid any tummy rumbles during your session. Items can include non acidic fresh fruit (apples, grapes, mangos, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and plums), Chicken or fish (great sources of protein), nuts, honey (which helps soothe and coat the throat), and vitamin A rich foods (this helps keep your mucus membranes nice and healthy. You'll find vitamin A in yellow veggies like sweet potato and squash, or in fruits like mangoes, peaches, and melon. It's also in dark leafy greens like spinach and kale. Eggs and meat are also great sources of vitamin A and protein.
6. Avoid vocal strain: It is best to avoid yelling and screaming if at all possible. Using your diaphragm will greatly reduce any vocal damage. And contrary to popular belief, when you are sick and have a sore throat, the worst thing you could do is whisper. This will have the opposite effect of preserving your voice. Whispering actually strains the vocals, so it is best to go on complete vocal rest when needed.
7. Steam Breathing: Simply put, it's the process of breathing in steam in order to soothe and open up your nasal passages when you have a cold or sinus infection. The warm moist air helps to loosen mucus and relive cold symptoms. You can breath in steam from a pan or kettle on the stove, or you can take a hot shower and breath in the steam, allowing the hot water to hit the sinus and larynx areas.
8. Don't clear your throat too often: When you do this, it's like slamming your vocal cords together. Doing it too much can injure them and make you hoarse. Try a sip of water or swallow to quench that urge. If you feel like you have to clear your throat a lot, get checked by a doctor for possible acid reflux disease, allergies, or sinus conditions.

9. Use a humidifier: Humidify your home and work areas. Moist is good for the voice.
10. Always warm up your voice: Before a session, try warming up with tongue twisters to loosen your mouth and improve your articulation.

If you feel you need to seek vocal help, I recommend reaching out to Dr. Gupta or the Vocal Therapy Institute of LA.