Page 90 - Music

roots or flowers from various edible plants. Figure 6.11 shows recommended
food and drinks for a singer.

Watermelon

Figure 6.11: Recommended foods and drinks for a singer

However, the following are foods and drinks that should be avoided by a singer
before a performance:

(a) Dairy products: Dairy products such as milk, yogurt, ice cream and others
increase the amount of mucus or phlegm in the vocal cords. Mucus or phlegm
refers to a thick liquid produced in some parts of the body, including the throat.

It is naturally present in the vocal cords and acts as a lubricant, enabling vocal
cords to function well by reducing friction against each other. However, too
much mucus reduces the flexibility of the vocal cords and makes a singer
uncomfortable when singing by clearing their throat more often.

(b) Processed sugar: Like dairy products, processed sugar contained in products
such as juice, soda, candy, cake, chocolate and others tend to increase the
amount of mucus in the vocal cords, hence affecting the singer’s voice. Also,
sugar tends to cause dehydration. It reduces the amount of water in the body

and, therefore, affecting the vocal cords which need to be hydrated to function
well.

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