Ginger Tea: YAY or NAY

I am often asked: “Does ginger tea really help improve my singing?” And my answer is, yes it can…indirectly.

I think the biggest misconception singers have about drinking various teas and herbal remedies is believing that what you drink directly touches your vocal cords and then penetrates them directly. But, we need to remember that your vocal cords sit in your larynx, which sits directly on top of your windpipe (trachea). If any liquid passes through the cords, it’ll go straight into your lungs…which is how a person drowns. The only substances that can have direct contact with your folds are smoke and steam, and obviously one is good and the other is not! Liquids that you consume can affect your voice only after the body has processed them and sent the “goodness” via the bloodstream to your voice. Unfortunately, the same applies with alcohol – so drinking water before, during and after drinks with mates is really important!

PROs:

Ginger tea has no caffeine or preservatives and is an invigorating way to hydrate your body, which keeps your vocal folds in top form.m Plus, if you inhale a little steam as you sip it, you are giving the cords a little extra love.

Hydration helps to “thin out” phlegm – so anything that you drink which helps contribute towards that is brilliant!

An added advantage is that it’s a great immune booster to help keep the colds at bay.

CONs and some things to watch out for:

The spiciness of the ginger may bring on a little healthy sweating which is awesome BUT not if you’re trying to increase hydration.

Often you may feel a slight burn once you swallow the ginger- that’s the spice, and provided it’s in moderation, it is harmless.

Try to avoid more than 3 grams – otherwise, your stomach might not be too happy with you. If you struggle with acid reflux, the ginger may aggravate it, so be cautious here.

So, how much should you drink?

Well, to get 1 gram of ginger into your body by via ginger tea, you would need to drink about four mugs. You don’t want to really go more than 3g’s here.

If you struggle with the taste like I do, you can use half a sachet, add 1 teaspoon of honey and throw in a rooibos or herbal teabag to help dilute the strength. If you can use a full sachet with boiling water – awesome!

The ginger tea I recommend is Eve Instant Honeyed Ginger Tea, available at most supermarkets.

Take away:

Drink this fabulous tea throughout the day in order to be fully hydrated in the evenings.