KYLIE MINOGUE - MINOGUE TURNS TO PLUMS TO SAVE HER VOICE

Pop singer KYLIE MINOGUE is eating pickled plums in a bid to prevent throat problems jeopardising her SHOWGIRL world tour, which kicks off next week (19MAR05).

The CAN'T GET YOU OUT OF MY HEAD star first tried the 5,000 year-old Japanese recipe during her 2002 FEVER tour, during which a sore throat nearly put a halt to the road trip.

And Minogue isn't the only star turning to the ancient remedy - Latin sensation ENRIQUE IGLESIAS is also keen on the plums, known in Japan as 'umeboshi' or 'venerable pickled plums'.

A source says, "Kylie's gearing up for the first night of the tour and is anxious to be on top form.

"It's flu season and every time she gets a tickle she's worried it could be a cold or worse.

"The plums worked so well last time she's eating them now as a precaution."