Scott Johnson86 As stated by:
Hey everyone.
I find myself increasingly preoccupied with everything that affects vocal cord health—all the factors that either bolster or degrade the voice.
What to drink, how to act, don't smoke... blah, blah, blah. It’s all the same tired advice. How do you actually preserve them?
I'm open to any and all advice, so thanks in advance.🙂
I happened to stumble upon this thread by chance, so I figured I’d weigh in and offer a few thoughts on the matter.
If you want to actually be able to sing, the single most important thing you can do isn't practicing scales or buying expensive gear—it’s simply getting enough sleep. 👍 It’s an old truth that most people tend to overlook, but the reality is quite simple: the more sleep you get, the better you’re going to sing.
I'm not going to waste anyone's time by preaching about smoking, because we all know the healthiest choice is to never pick up a cigarette in the first place. I smoke, so clearly, I’m not exactly setting the gold standard for wellness.
You can drink whatever you feel like, really, but there are certain things that aren't exactly ideal, and frankly, there are a few unwritten rules you should probably follow.
First things first: the rules.
If you’re going to drink something hot, then just commit to the heat; if you prefer it cold, stick to the ice. Don't try to find some middle ground between the two.
Take hot coffee paired with ice-cold Coca-Cola, for instance; that’s a recipe for disaster if you actually care about your vocal cords.
If you’re going to eat ice cream, you might as well go all in and eat it by the bucketful, but please, for the love of god, don't pour hot tea over it—which is highly unlikely, I realize, but still entirely possible.
Carbonated drinks are definitely on the less desirable list, though that isn't some absolute rule you have to live by. It’s not worth stripping away everything you actually enjoy just for the sake of "protecting" your vocal cords. If you end up constantly stressed and agitated because you can't drink what you love, that nervous tension is going to do far more damage to your voice than a little soda ever could.
And just as importantly, those heavy-hitting spirits aren't exactly anything to write home about either.
Red wines contain tannins that tend to settle on the vocal cords, though that doesn't necessarily mean they're damaging; it just results in a voice that sounds a bit "deeper." It’s worth noting that tannins are also present in coffee and tea, yet nobody ever comes around to tell you to stop drinking those.
When it comes to the so-called "medical devices" on the market, my recommendation is pretty straightforward.
Vitamin C is best taken in powder form—pure ascorbic acid, nothing else. You just take a small spoonful, mix it with some water, and you're done. Simple enough.
Regarding Laringo Plus and Laringo Forte, there isn't much to dissect beyond the basic utility of the two. If you're looking for a recommendation, I suppose I could offer one, though I make no promises about whether it will actually suit your specific tastes.Calcium is really just a last resort when you’ve run out of options. If you find yourself completely losing your voice, sure, there might be some benefit to taking it. But honestly, you're better off saving the dose for the evening, assuming you'll finally have some peace and quiet once night falls. 🙂 Why? Because that's just how it works. You end up doing far more damage to yourself if you try to talk or sing when calcium is actively affecting your vocal cords. 🙄
Vitamin B is actually quite beneficial—for instance, you can find it in beer. No, I’m being serious here: Vitamin B. 👍
Eggs. 😕 It’s absolute nonsense.
Sucking on those endless varieties of lozenges and hard candies is nothing more than a complete waste of money. It doesn't actually accomplish anything useful. All it really does is dry out your mucous membranes, which honestly just makes the whole situation worse.
Gargling with sage tea. 🙄 That all sounds fine in theory, I suppose, but I find myself wondering about the actual reasoning behind it. 😕 What’s the point? 😕 If you head over to Laringo-Plus, you can find everything you need without having to deal with that constant, irritating gargling routine. 🤣
When you strip everything else away, life really boils down to a few simple essentials: eating well, getting enough sleep, and singing your heart out as much as possible.
There is no such thing as singing without the actual act of singing, just as there is no way to sprint a hundred meters without putting in the training.
You might find these things useful in an absolute crisis, but let’s be clear—they're strictly for those extreme, last-resort scenarios where everything else has already failed you.
I trust my input was of some use to you