Voice -what foods are good for the throat?

Subject: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: steve in ottawa
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 10:00 PM

Freda has mentioned vitamin c and rutin as being very good for "healing wounds, bruises, scratches, scrapes and...for preventing the formation of haemorrhoids."

I've heard lots about what's good for preparing your throat for singing, but little about what foods are good for keeping your throat healthy or healing your throat.

Any ideas?

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: Deckman
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 10:25 PM

VODKA!

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: Rasener
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 02:31 AM

Try Water dear Stevie dear Stevie dear Stevie :-)

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 02:34 AM

Yes water, particularly the water of life.
eric

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 03:16 AM

Honey is a great soother/healer, but not as it is. Use it instead of sugar (two teaspoonfuls) in hot drinks.

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: Celtaddict
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 01:26 PM

As disparate an assortment as singers of the New York Metropolitan Opera and O'Flaherty's pub in New Orleans swear by slippery elm tea, available commercially in U.S. as "Throat Coat" teabags, somewhat licorice-like taste, goes well with honey and very soothing if you are "scratchy." Singers east of the Pond seem to go for the blackcurrant tea, and Lemsip.
Alcohol is not bad as a pain soother, but is dehydrating; exactly what you do not want to do to healing vocal cords. Caffeine also best avoided.
Celtaddict (MD, in Mommy Moment)

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: Marje
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 01:41 PM

Ginger is great for a sore or wheezy throat. You can use something like Twinings Lemon and Ginger teabags ( that's available in the UK at least) or make ginger tea - steep some grated fresh ginger in hot water, strain it and flavour with lemon and honey. It's also a good rescue remedy if you're at all asthmatic.

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: Mark Ross
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 03:38 PM

Opera singers use hot water, lemon, honey, and cayenne I hear. I have used it on a couple of ocassions of dire necessity. It does work.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: breezy
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 04:28 PM

Martin C does not partake of cheese as it is detrimental for the voice

Not a lot of people know that!!

Spotlight tonight

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 05:12 PM

Cheese- is that why Pavarotti has a lousy voice? Somewhere I have a recipe for a cheese sauce he made.

When I was a kid I screamed for ice cream to soothe my throat. I still do. May not be therapeutic, but it feels good going down.

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: dianavan
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 07:41 PM

Oil of orange. Don't drink it. Saturate a Q-tip and carefully apply to the sore spots. It helps if you have someone do it for you.

Gargle with salt water.

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: vectis
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 07:42 PM

Rum and Shrub or Sloe Gin

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 08:27 PM

Apple Cider Vinegar - the real brewed stuff, not the apple juice and vinegar synthetic muck.

One teaspoonfull (also one of honey helps too) in a glass (about 200 ml) of warm/tepid water. Ginger helps too. Sip slowly.

Bonnigton's Irish Moss. (contains carigeenan - the 'active' ingredient) carigeenan is an extract of seaweed. Available in liquid form (now without alcohol for the kiddies - easily fixed - add 5% vodka!) and lozenge form.

Robin

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: Alba
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 08:37 PM

Mark how much Cayenne pepper do you put in, in fact could you post the amounts you use for everything in the recipe. I'd appreciate it.

I have tried most of the others except the Vodka..lol but I use Apple Cider Vinegar, Honey and a crushed clove of Garlic, mixed in a little bottle, leave in Fridge overnight, then sipped in small amounts before performing or if you have a cold and sore throat..sipp throughout the day. Be warned though...don't sing up close to anyone..:>)
Jude

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: Jim McCallan
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 09:04 PM

I have heard that burnt toast is very good for keeping the throat in good order. Also gargling with tea tree oil is a well known remedy.

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 18 Apr 04 - 08:26 AM

I forgot about garlic. You can get "odourless" garlic cloves - they are pickled in a salty solution. There is still a very mild odour, though.

40 clove chicken - stuff the cavity of a chicken with as much garlic cloves as will fit in (traditionally 40 individual cloves, or several complete heads, peeled) - add other herbs lightly to taste. When cooked, the inside is spooned out, crushed, and made into a sauce. The cooking proceedure changes the garlic, and it is mild and not overpowering, there being a wonderful flavour imparted to the meat.

SMALL quantities of alcohol (in dilution) anaethesitise the throat. I know of one local performer who needs her "throat medicine" when performing - Bundaberg Rum!

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: Mary Humphreys
Date: 18 Apr 04 - 09:20 AM

I got a recipe from Sue Coe that sounds like the vegetarian alternative to the 40 clove chicken. You get a paper bag ( or greaseproof paper, constructed into a bag ) and put in scrubbed new potatoes with as many garlic cloves ( unpeeled)as you like. Drizzle olive oil on them and put in the oven at about 200C and leave until baked. The potatoes are great, the garlic can be pressed out of the skin and eaten as it is. Very soothing. Leftovers can be eaten cold if you like-though there is rarely any left over in my experience.
It works wonders for the voice, but doesn't do much for close encounters!
When performing I like a bottle of water handy, with a pint of beer nearby. Best not to drink all the beer in the first half of a gig, or the fingers forget which keys are which on the concertina!

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: JennyO
Date: 18 Apr 04 - 09:27 AM

Little sips of Benedictine or Drambuie are rather nice (hic!)

Seriously though, a few years ago a naturopath gave me a recipe for what she called her "virus buster". It was hot water with lemon, ginger and a small amount of chilli. It works wonderfully well - has stopped quite a few colds in their tracks - and as long as you don't overdo the chilli, is also soothing on a sore throat. I have sometimes used lemsip instead of lemon juice and that is very good.

I have also taken some stuff called "Astraforte" which contains astragalus, in hot water, and have found it very soothing.

In fact, I find that the heat in these drinks is an important factor. A cold drink seems to make it worse, and you should definitely stay away from anything milky when you have a sore throat or cough.

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: freda underhill
Date: 18 Apr 04 - 09:34 AM

Bernard bolan's cordial mix that they sell at festivals (didnt see it this year at the national, jenny) has a simialr cordial with lemon, ginger, chilli, garlic and st john's wort in it - its delicious when added to boiling water, and is very good for the throat.

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 18 Apr 04 - 10:12 AM

"Cordially Yours" is the name of Lyndan's business & Bernard is just one of the folks who has helped her at Festivals. She hasn't been to the National for a few years, I think cos of the enormous price rise for stalls & it was also a very intensive job - they were open over 12 hours every day.

Google search -

Cordially Yours, for non-alcoholic mixer drinks. Most of the flavours have been adapted from traditional Australian recipes by Murray ...
    http://www.cordiallyyours.com.au/about.html

I tried to make a blue clicky but it went feral (maybe it didn't like the idea of non-alcoholic drinks!!)

sandra

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: JennyO
Date: 18 Apr 04 - 10:51 AM

here ya go Sandra

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: v
Date: 19 Apr 04 - 06:04 AM

burnt toast. a time-honored way to reduce burnt out jitters,
It's worth understanding when you know your son or daughter ' s out here on the front lines.. so sad to leave a child without a father...
I expect veggies and sprouts are best for the throat. I could care less what her father needs, at this moment.
trying an trying,
v

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 19 Apr 04 - 09:34 AM

People who've heard mine recommend fishbones!

RtS

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: Splott Man
Date: 19 Apr 04 - 11:25 AM

Martin C has the right idea. Dairy products in general tend to make you produce too much phlegm.

If you've got a cold/sore throat and HAVE to sing, I find Vocalzones (over the counter at the chemists) a great aid in getting through it. Although resting your voice is even better.

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: GUEST,pattyCLink
Date: 19 Apr 04 - 12:00 PM

Apples are good for getting the throat ready to sing, good moisture, pH and texture for clearing away crud.

But be ware of apple's natural partner, cinnamon, it is an irritant to the throat.

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: steve in ottawa
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 12:03 AM

Thanks folks. This is the first non-lyrics thread I've ever printed out for reference. :-)

If anyone still has ideas, what I'm most interested in are aids to healing over the long term, say 3-6 months.

I've always drunks lots of water; perhaps too much (apparently if you fill your stomach completely, it increases acid reflux...although it's much milder reflux...and that's my main? problem -- reflux away up in the voicebox...although my ENT guy seemed almost as concerned about my reported tendancy to breath through my mouth). I finally bought vitamin c with rutin (and rosehips...no clue what rosehips are for). I'll get the slippery elm tea on Saturday. I'm taking much better care to eat lots of veggies, but if anyone has specific veggie suggestions, I'm interested to hear 'em (and is garlic powder almost as good as garlic cloves?) For those who fear milk, I'll say: a little skim milk gives you a little extra phlegm, which is great if you're a little short on phlegm.

I confess I never would have thought of: "hot water, lemon, honey, and cayenne." Zowie.

I've been off coffee for 40 days now. No alcohol. Only 4 cups of black tea. No chocolate or caffeine sodas. Mild headaches in first few days. Generally more energy, but when I'm tired, I'm MORE tired. Interesting. Also interesting how important coffee is socially.

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 12:18 AM

Hmmm. There is useful stuff to print out here. I'll have to pick up a fresh lemon tomorrow. Is that fresh ginger, grated? Can you give some quantities on these items? How much chili powder?

I have a doozie of a head cold right now. Sneezing, blowing my nose, ears plugged, eyes and throat burning. Soon to move into the cough phase, I am sure. Ugg. Sleeping upright in the recliner comes soon, when propping pillows in bed isn't enough. I got this cold from an old guy sitting coughing his lungs out at a meeting last week.

SRS

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 02:21 AM

Rose hips are a natural source of Vitamin C & other ribflavinoids which assist metabolism of Vitamin C. Rutin is a similar bio-assistant.

Fresh ingredients are usually better than dried, preserved, processed, etc.

Garlic is also available in 'pearls' - little beads.

But I like Preserved Ginger. You can also get Pickled Ginger (love this too!), from any place that will supply Japanese Sushi style stuff - it is traditionally eaten with Sushi to aid digestion. You can sugar style or 'diabetic; style - but I can't stand the taste of the chemical, it remains in my throat for hours.

Robin

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: GUEST,Annie
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 01:04 AM

herbal tea usually helps, just dont pour on the sugar. the ones that taste the worst help the most lol

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: GUEST,pavane
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 01:55 AM

Mrs Pavane always has a flask with hot water, honey and lemon to hand. No cayenne in it though.

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: wilbyhillbilly
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 02:02 AM

Hot sperm gargle, cures anything.

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: Lancashire Lad
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 05:28 AM

Robert Plant used to swear by honey and ginger tea. Given the pounding his vocal chords have taken in the last 40 years, there must be something in it.

LL

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: jillfiddle
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 11:33 AM

Honey in anything - my teacher used to recomend a teaspoonful, shaken up in about 1/2 litre fresh o.j.

Horseradish - great for cutting through phlegm (yuk)

and ... very, very good quality chocolate (the 70-80% proof stuff)

xx

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: Kaleea
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 07:52 PM

Horseradish? Scary Monster!

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: Genie
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 11:04 PM

Quote (Steve in Ottawa): "Freda has mentioned vitamin c and rutin as being very good for "healing wounds, bruises, scratches, scrapes and...for preventing the formation of haemorrhoids.""


Um, if your singing technique is giving you hemorrhoids (especially, in your throat), I think you're doing it all wrong. ;-)

Genie

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: Tannywheeler
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 11:34 AM

Wow, Genie!! Talk about hitting nails on heads...
Vitamin C is like garlic, I understand, in that it has a basic beneficial effect on various organs/functions of our bodies. Anything done to improve basic general health will help the voice (the vocal chords and throat lining being physical tissues in our bodies). Hot lemon and honey are relaxing and helpful. Periods of quiet aid recuperation from overuse or illness. Maintaining some form of regular practice(vocal workouts) keeps the voice limber, strong, enduring. I hear that nuts(because of oils) are NOT good before performing. One young woman I knew always had 1 or 2 jiggers of Southern Comfort before a gig and might even have the last of the little glass on stage with her during. She said it cleared the crud out of her throat. She also got a bit more relaxed. (She would get quite tense/antsy/wound up before a performance.) She was a friend for 15+ years. Didn't see her drink much otherwise--occasionally wine with meals. Miss her. She's moved to other places.       Tw

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 04:36 PM

I've heard that some specialty niche/genera movie stars use K-Y Jelly. Less greasy than the gelatinous petrolium products. It's not a food, or for the voice though. (Just for extra throatal lubrication when dry mouth, or whatever, is the problem ;-)

Art

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: LadyJean
Date: 06 Jan 06 - 12:59 AM

When I was in high school, I came down with a sore throat the week before I was supposed to read a poem for the Thanksgiving program. I drank a tea that was made of equal parts peppermint and eucalyptus. It tastes HORRIBLE! But it kept the sore throat at bay until after the program. It tastes so bad the germs leave on their own. I eat a clove of raw garlic for sinus trouble. It isn't a happy experience, but it works. Licorice is also helpful.

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: yrlancslad
Date: 06 Jan 06 - 07:33 PM

If you have a scratchy throat and cough use whisky, hot water, sugar (or honey) and lemon or whisky hot water and Lemsip(I import mine from the UK).
If you just want something to keep your throat in good order while singing use a good British hard cider, still if possible, I always found Triple Vintage worked well but here in the States have to make do with Blackthorn. Don't use the American stuff though! A shot of rum in the cider helps too!

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Sep 06 - 11:09 AM

PINEAPPLE!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: Anne Lister
Date: 20 Sep 06 - 05:22 PM

Someone asked what the point of the rosehips were - they're packed full of Vitamin C.
I'm just emerging from 18 months or so with a croaky voice, which seems to have been caused by my asthma inhaler. Another asthma treatment (Singulair) seems to be clearing it up. But in the meanwhile was referred for voice therapy (and have had four out of six sessions) which have just made me incredibly self conscious about whether or not I'm relaxed, rather than helping with the croaky voice. No worse way to get someone to relax than to keep asking if they're relaxed, in my experience!
As to foods ... water, water, water, water, water. And water.

Anne

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 20 Sep 06 - 07:30 PM

Sucking candied ginger always works for me.
Breaks up the phlegm from the vocal cords.
Don't do it just before going on stage though, or you'll be hawking loogies for the whole first set.

Seamus

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: Don Firth
Date: 20 Sep 06 - 08:02 PM

Yeah, ginger is good. I find that a couple of ginger Altoids will get me barking like a seal and clearing my throat a lot, then when I've cleared the sludge out, I'm in pretty good shape. But as Seamus says, plan ahead!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Sep 06 - 08:42 AM

As someone has already said, apples are good.Gargles with propolis and maybe just a little bit(just a little) of glycerin oil can help a lot.Avoid chocolate in the days you´re singing, cause it seems not to be good for the voice.

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 21 Sep 06 - 02:07 PM

Don Firth, Ginger Altoids work for me too. Same effect.
Try the candied ginger sometime.

Seamus

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: Don Firth
Date: 21 Sep 06 - 05:45 PM

Yeah, Seamus, I have. That's what put me onto the Altoids. My wife picked up a package of candied ginger some time ago, and I noticed that in addition to letting my taste buds know it was there, it had the effect of jarring things loose very nicely. The only problem I had was spending the next half-hour wearing my tongue out prying bits of candied ginger off my teeth. I spotted the ginger Altoids in a grocery store shortly thereafter and gave them a try. Same effect, fortunately. I think the candied ginger might actually be slightly more effective for the purpose, but the Altoids do work nicely, and they're a little more convenient to carry around.

Except that I keep pecking at them and tend to go through a tin at an alarming rate.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 21 Sep 06 - 09:37 PM

I eat chocolate or sometimes drink hot chocolate.

Works for me,

Richie

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 21 Sep 06 - 09:50 PM

Popcorn. Don't ask me why - it just works. (Real popcorn, not the movie stuff!)

Dan Schatz

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 22 Sep 06 - 05:10 PM

I don't know about fishbones but how about Tuna fish for pitch problems.
More seriously, I used to gargle with Southern Comfort prior to choir concerts, I also tried sherry.
Water is good, while singing, stay away from fruit juice and dairy products.
I also use lot's of Fisherman's Friends on a bad day.
Certain heart/blood pressure medications can also have serious throat drying side effects, almost ruined canadian tenor Ben Hepner's career.
JohnB

Subject: RE: Voice -what foods r good for the throat?
From: Girl Friday
Date: 22 Sep 06 - 09:41 PM

We in Tone Deaf Leopard reccomend strong British cider and brandy, but don't expect to function properly the following morning.