Healthy foods not only improve the health of your mind and body, but they also improve your vocal abilities. If you’re wondering why some days you can perform much better than others, it may be what you’re eating before your voiceover sessions. The following can help you understand how food affects your voice.
Acidic Foods
Acidic foods lead to acid production in the stomach. The acid can travel up your esophagus, burn your throat and give you a sore throat, which can make it painful to perform. When you’re in pain, you’re less likely to do your best. What’s worse is that some voiceover artists lose their voice when they suffer from acid reflux due to eating highly acidic foods.
One of the biggest acid production culprits is caffeine. As a coffee lover, it can be difficult to turn away from it, but for the sake of a productive voiceover session, it’s worth it. Acid production isn’t all that it does; it can also lead to dehydration, which can make your vocal chords stiff. It can lead to an overproduction of mucous that can cause coughing during sessions.
Some other foods that can lead to acid production include:
- Meats
- Processed chicken
- Alcohol
- Highly acidic fruits and vegetables
- Potatoes
- Spicy foods
- Fried foods
- MSG
Fatty Foods
Fattening foods are a huge no-no for voiceover sessions. It can produce acid in the stomach and slow down blood flow to the vocal area. This can make it difficult to adjust the pitch of your voice when working on projects that require you to change your pitch often.
Dairy Products
Dairy products such as sour cream, milkshakes, ice cream, cottage cheese, etc., can lead to an overproduction of mucous. This can be quite cumbersome to deal with during a voiceover session. It’s what makes you want to clear your throat often, which is going to hold you back from getting the work done. It can also cause your voice to be scratchy, and that lowers your voice quality.
What You Should Eat
Small low fat, low-acidic meals, snacks, and room temperature water is what you should consume when you’re busy recording throughout the day. They’ll keep your vocal area hydrated and healthy.
Some of the best foods to eat for meals and snacks are:
- Fish
- Plain chicken
- Yellow vegetables
- Rice
- Apples
- Eggs
- Almonds
- Whole grains
Since water reaches the vocal area of the body last after being absorbed into the bloodstream, it’s important to consume a lot of water – 8+ glasses a day.
Take care of your vocal chords before and during your voiceover sessions. It’ll make your job much easier and enjoyable.