As a professional singer, the health and care of your vocal cords is absolutely paramount. Your voice is your instrument, so you must protect it at all costs. One of the key things singers avoid is drinking ice cold water, and there are some very good reasons for this.
The Importance of Vocal Health for Singers
For singers, the vocal cords and throat are the most important parts of the body. Damaging the vocal cords can end a singing career, so vocal health should be the number one priority. Even a minor issue like acute laryngitis can force a singer to cancel shows and take time off to recover. Chronic issues like vocal cord nodules may require surgery and extensive vocal therapy.
Professional singers invest a huge amount of time and money into maintaining vocal health. Techniques like proper breath support, avoiding vocal overuse, staying hydrated, controlling acid reflux, and avoiding irritants are all part of a singer’s routine. Anything that can potentially irritate or inflame the vocal cords is avoided at all costs. This includes environmental factors like smoke and pollution as well as lifestyle factors like alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods and yes…even seemingly harmless things like cold water.
Why Cold Water is a Problem for Singers
At first glance, drinking water seems like it should always be good for vocal health. Proper hydration is extremely important, and dehydration can really harm the vocal cords. However, drinking ice cold water does come with some risks.
The issue with cold water is thermodynamic. The water itself doesn’t necessarily damage the vocal cords, but the rapid cooling effect on the larynx can cause problems. Here’s a quick physics lesson on how this works:
- Cold water is…well…cold. The typical temperature of ice water is about 0-4°C (32-39°F).
- Your body temperature is around 37°C (98.6°F).
- When you drink ice cold water, it rapidly absorbs heat from surfaces it comes into contact with in your mouth and throat as it warms up to your body temperature.
- This rapid cooling effect can irritate and inflame the delicate tissues of the larynx, even if only temporarily.
While brief inflammation of the vocal cords may not be noticeable to most people, it can be detrimental for singers who rely on their voices for their careers. Even subtle changes can impact vocal control, tone, stamina and cause general discomfort when singing or speaking.
A Delicate Instrument
The vocal cords are incredibly sensitive and delicate instruments. They are made up of multilayered, membranous tissue and tiny muscles that must be precisely controlled to produce sound. Any irritation or inflammation, even for a short period of time, should be avoided.
Think of it like this – if you were a professional violinist, you would never do anything that could impact the health and condition of your violin. For singers, our vocal cords are our instruments. Damaging them can ruin everything. Avoiding ice cold water is a simple way to eliminate one potential risk.
Other Drinks to Avoid for Singers
Cold water isn’t the only drink that can harm the voice. Here are some other beverages singers should consume in moderation or avoid altogether:
Alcohol
Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it dehydrates the body. It also relaxes the muscles of the throat. This combination can impair vocal control and irritate the vocal cords. While occasional, moderate alcohol intake may not be an issue, singers should avoid heavy, regular consumption.
Caffeinated Drinks
Like alcohol, caffeine is also a diuretic and it can have similar drying, dehydrating effects on the vocal cords. The acidity of coffee, tea, and soda can also provoke reflux, which burns and inflames the throat over time.
Carbonated Drinks
The bubbles in soda, seltzer and similar fizzy drinks create gas that can cause belching and reflux. These habits put extra strain on the throat. The acidity of carbonated beverages can also negatively impact the vocal cords.
Spicy or Acidic Juices
Spicy vegetable juices or citrus juices like orange and grapefruit juice can cause irritation when they make contact with laryngeal tissue. Some singers even avoid tomato juice since tomatoes are also acidic.
Tips for Drinking Water as a Singer
Water is vital for vocal health, so singers shouldn’t avoid it altogether. Here are some tips on how to hydrate healthfully:
- Drink lukewarm or room temperature water instead of cold water.
- Use water to thin out syrupy beverages like juice or milk that coat the throat.
- Don’t drink large amounts of water right before performing. This can promote throat clearing.
- Stay hydrated daily by sipping water consistently rather than guzzling a large quantity at once.
- Avoid carbonated mineral water, which has bubbles that can provoke reflux.
- Use a straw to direct water straight down rather than swishing over the throat.
- Add lemon slices to water for electrolytes but avoid acidic citrus juice.
- Always have water readily available to stay hydrated, especially when traveling by air.
The Impact of Cold Water on Non-Singers
While the effects of ice cold water are most detrimental for singers, they can impact anyone’s throat and voice. Many public speakers, teachers, salespeople and others who rely on their voices drink room temperature water for this reason. Anyone with a history of laryngitis, reflux, frequent throat clearing or vocal fatigue may want to avoid cold water as well.
However, the average person who uses their voice minimally may not need to be overly concerned. But drinking very cold water can provoke a temporary coughing or choking reflex in anyone. At minimum, allowing water to sit out and take on room temperature can prevent this reaction.
When to Seek Medical Care
While avoiding cold water and taking care of your voice may prevent minor issues, any singer who experiences chronic vocal problems should seek medical help. Symptoms like consistent hoarseness, loss of range, excessive throat mucus, pain when speaking or singing, vocal fatigue and problems controlling pitch warrant an exam by an ENT (ear, nose and throat) doctor.
There are many potential medical causes of vocal issues including:
- Viral/bacterial infections
- Allergies
- Gastroesophageal reflux
- Smoking damage
- Vocal abuse/overuse
- Dehydration
- Vocal cord cysts or nodules
- Laryngitis
The earlier vocal problems are diagnosed, the better the likely recovery with proper treatment. Any singer experiencing ongoing difficulties should see a laryngologist who specializes in voice disorders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do singers drink warm water with lemon instead of cold water?
Warm water mixed with fresh lemon juice provides singers with hydration and electrolytes without chilling, irritating or drying out the throat. The vitamin C in lemon boosts immunity to protect vocal health as well.
Can drinking cold water damage your vocal cords permanently?
In most cases, the inflammation and irritation caused by drinking cold water is temporary and not permanent. However, if it becomes a regular habit, the subtle damage can accumulate over time and lead to chronic inflammation or lesions on the vocal cords.
Do other performers like actors avoid cold drinks as well?
Actors, public speakers, teachers, coaches and any other performers or professionals who rely heavily on their voice avoid cold beverages for the same reasons as singers. Anyone using their voice all day long must treat it with care.
Is drinking cold water bad for non-singers too?
The negative impacts may not be as severe for non-singers, but drinking very cold water can provoke coughing or throat irritation in anyone. Even people with healthy voices minimize this risk by allowing water to come to room temperature before drinking.
Can drinking cold water make my throat feel tight?
Yes, cold beverages coming into contact with the warm, delicate membranes of the throat can cause muscular tightness or spasming as the tissues react to the temperature change. This temporary reaction subsides as the throat returns to normal body temperature.
The Bottom Line
For professional singers and other frequent voice users, avoiding cold water is an easy way to maintain vocal health and control. The cooling effect can provoke inflammation and irritation, so drinking lukewarm water instead is the wise choice.
While the impacts may not be as obvious for non-singers, it’s still smart to avoid very icy water. Allowing water to reach room temperature provides benefits for anyone’s throat and voice.
Remember, your vocal cords are delicate, valuable instruments. Take good care of them and they’ll take care of you!