Drink plenty of fluids. Ideally, you should drink water and avoid any drinks that can dehydrate you, such as coffee, alcohol, soda and caffeinated tea.
Avoid fatty foods, fatty drinks and dairy products. These products make it difficult for water to get to your larynx. They can slow your recovery and make your voice sound worse.
Drink citric fruit juices, such as lemon juice, orange juice and lime juice, in addition to your water. Citric fruit juices help clear your throat of phlegm and fat.
Rest your voice as much as possible. In extreme cases, consider carrying around pen and paper to talk with others.
Avoid coughing or clearing your throat. Coughing and throat clearing bangs your vocal cords together, and it can often be painful when recovering from a cold.