“The human brain is made up of 95% water, blood is 82% and lungs 90%. A mere 2% drop in our body’s water supply can trigger signs of dehydration: fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on smaller print, such as a computer screen. (Are you having trouble reading this? Drink up!) Mild dehydration is also one of the most common causes of daytime fatigue. An estimated seventy-five percent of Americans have mild, chronic dehydration.”
The human voice is very dependent upon water. Dehydrated vocal cords (folds) are not as flexible and able to thin as hydrated ones. These folds are so small and their operation so exact (or not), a little dehydration can result in a large dent in your vocal ability in any given performance. And the very use of the vocal cords causes them to lose moisture to the air.
As an extreme example of the vocal cord-water connection, I had a very bad case of laryngitis and a very important gig. I literally could not talk but had to lead a background vocal group in two days of sessions. I discovered that if I drank huge glasses of water with a little pineapple juice added, I could sing, even in my head voice. I ended up drinking about 18 mega glasses of water a day, and really didn’t pee more than usual. The moisture was being used and evaporated from my vocal cords into the air.
So how much is enough?
Do other drinks count?
Freshly juiced vegetable juice counts. It also ensures mineral additions to your water, and balances overly-acid ph levels in our bodies. I try to juice every morning.
Sugary drinks, artificially sweetened or flavored chemical-laden drinks and alcoholic drinks most definitely do NOT count. These are poisons to be diluted by… you guessed it… drinking more water.
Especially great additions to water:
are great additions. Lemon and honey, and throat coat tea are valuable as well.
Anonymous says
Hi, Judy. This is Wally.
First, notice that I remembered to respond on the actual blog, and not on FaceBook? LoL
One reason this blog entry of yours is interesting to me is how it mentioned that we will falsely interpret insufficient water supply as hunger.
Oddly enough, I started a diet last week… lost 8 pounds in that week, by the way.
One tip that I had latched onto, from a dietary standpoint alone, was how someone can drink a bunch of water before a meal, and end up eating less.
Well, I found that part to be true.
Then, incidentally, I noticed by the 2nd night of increased water intake that my voice was much smoother. More flexible, if that makes sense?
My kids each ask me, seperately, to sing various things at night as they fall asleep.
You mentioned how your concotion of water and the pineapple juice even allowed for "head voice" singing. Bingo!
(I didn't use pineapple, but the water did allow for more access to my head tones)
The head voice is what I rely on most, when trying to relax my kiddos. My wife says it reminds her a lot of Vince Gill's singing.
Blah blah blah…
my point is, your post about water is very, very true. I can attest to it from experience.
Great post, Judy.
Wally
Judy says
Thanks, Wally love your feedback about weight being affected by water consumption. And yes… head voice requires the thinning and lengthening of the cords only possible with adequate hydration. I also forgot to mention that it thins mucous which can coat and weigh down and irritate the cords, getting in the way of good adduction (closure of the cords). And PJ… I love your comment because I wrote this post for the very reason that I hoped it would make somebody get up and go drink a glass after reading it!
Kim Rushing says
fresh fruits and veg contain water too:-)
Judy says
You are absolutely right, Kim. I added fresh veg juice especially.
Anonymous says
What do you think about Bikram yoga? It is the hot yoga. I used to love it, but then noticed difficulty singing so I quit. I decided it was dehydration, even though I was drinking a TON of water after class. I just couldn't redydrate enough to sing well. I do miss it, though. Do you think it is possible to practice Bikram Yoga and have healthy cords?
Judy says
About "hot yoga"… I have never done it but have students who do. I think you just need to notice how and for how long it causes dehydration. It may also be affecting your breath… you may be too fatigued physically to power your voice from the low big muscles and be letting your chest close in on your diaphragm. You need to ingest enough water for your vocal cords a day or two before singing. It makes sense to me that you wouldn't be able to make up for it right after heavy exercise, but you might try drinking more the days before and between your yoga routines. I would also think it best if you don't do hot yoga every day! Try other solutions such as not doing the yoga routine as long as you have been.
Bluesy says
Not to be funny or anything, but maybe that's my problem. I always handed in a math test blank. I don't get math. If someone had asked me why, I WOULD have told them, but instead they just stopped giving it to me. 🙁