Mind, Body & Soul
NUTRITION
MUCUS ON THE VOCAL
FOLDS is the bane of any
singer’s life. There are ways
to tackle this issue using
natural solutions.
Stephanie tells us how.
F
or a singer, having a build
up of mucus in the throat
is really bad news. !
Mucus production can be
triggered for various reasons,
but if you are trying to hit those
top notes or belt out a big
number, you’ll struggle if your
vocal folds are all bunged up
with mucus.!
!
The constant clearing of the
throat to eliminate the mucus
build-up can cause irritation
and soreness, triggering even
more mucus production, so
what can be done to rid your
throat of mucus and prevent
its return?!
ZA PP ING MU C US
THE NATURAL WAY
Keys to a healthy immune
system: plenty of sleep; a diet
high in fresh, natural foods as
unprocessed as possible;
limited refined sugars in the
diet such as sweet foods,
baked goods, chocolate etc.;
getting some exercise and
managing stress levels by
making time to properly relax
on a regular basis. !
Water is also a key factor for
both healthy immune function
and keeping mucus levels
down. Taking a supplement
containing vitamins C, D & E
plus some Zinc will also boost
immunity and help dispel the
mucus.!
!
Another cause of mucus
production is a protection
mechanism from irritants like
cigarette smoke and other
fumes. Smoking is one of the
very worst things you can be
doing for vocal health and
overall well-being. The heat
and noxious chemicals in
cigarette smoke are so
damaging that the body
makes mucus to protect the
delicate cells that line the
oesophagus (throat). When
people give up smoking, they
often find they develop a
hacking cough, producing
seemingly endless amounts of
mucus. This is because the
body begins to eliminate the
mucus that has built up over
the years to protect the throat. !
!
Other irritants like car or paint
fumes, chemicals in the air
and pollens, dust and other
common allergens, all
stimulate mucus production to
catch the irritants before they
reach the lungs.
!
Why does it happen?!
Firstly let’s look at the possible
causes of mucus production. If
you have an infection – a cold,
the flu or a respiratory bug,
your natural immune response
will create mucus to help the
body eliminate nasty invaders
by expelling bacteria and
viruses through the mucus
when you cough and sneeze. !
So, keeping your immune
system strong is essential to
warding off bugs in the first
place.
iSing | issue 1
IMAGE
isingmag.com