Here’s what happens when you stay silent until midday

This will definitely get people talking.

Scottish singer Lulu says she practices “talk fasting”, that is, remaining completely silent until midday.

The 75-year-old crooner told the Guardian she participated in the practice in an effort to preserve her vocal cords.

“It helps me take care of my instrument,” she said in an interview published Tuesday. “It allows me to sing.”

According to the publication, Lulu “is not even allowed to whisper” because she “exists in a state of prolonged silence.”

Although speech fasting may be unconventional, The Guardian says it “has a host of benefits that aren’t necessarily linked to your performance.”

A 2005 study, published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), determined that periods of silence led to a “significant drop in blood pressure” in participants practicing speech fasting.

Meanwhile, a 2021 study, also featured on the NIH, found that the practice helped reduce levels of cortisol (a stress hormone).

Additionally, psychologist Dr. Robert N. Kraft claimed that engaging in extended periods of silence helps a person listen better.

But there may be some downsides to speech fasting, except for the obvious fact that you cannot communicate your needs clearly and quickly.

Those who talk less are considered less likeable, according to a study published in 2022, despite Kraft’s claim that silence makes you a better listener.

And while it may be impractical to remain silent every morning, there may be some benefits to participating in this practice infrequently.

The Guardian claims that speech fasting is not just a new age fad for celebrities, saying it has been practiced under different names in various cultures for centuries.

In Hindu philosophy, Mauna is the practice of silence, according to the publication, which teaches that “silencing the voice helps us recognize the underlying calm that is our true nature,” proving that silence is, indeed, golden.