Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsInfectionFood PoisoningFood AllergiesGI Issues or DisordersEating High-Fat MealsEating Too MuchAcid RefluxMedicationsWaiting Too Long Between MealsLaxative UseDisordered EatingHormonesWays To Ease NauseaWhen To Seek Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Infection
Food Poisoning
Food Allergies
GI Issues or Disorders
Eating High-Fat Meals
Eating Too Much
Acid Reflux
Medications
Waiting Too Long Between Meals
Laxative Use
Disordered Eating
Hormones
Ways To Ease Nausea
When To Seek Medical Care
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NauseaNauseais a symptom that can occur with or without vomiting immediately or shortly after eating. Causes of nausea span a broad spectrum of possibilities. Often nausea occurs due to an issue with digestion, but infections, allergies, medications, and food poisoning are some other common possible culprits.
Nausea
Nauseais a symptom that can occur with or without vomiting immediately or shortly after eating. Causes of nausea span a broad spectrum of possibilities. Often nausea occurs due to an issue with digestion, but infections, allergies, medications, and food poisoning are some other common possible culprits.
Gastroenteritis(often called the stomach flu) is an infection that causes inflammation of the stomach and intestines. As a result, a person may experience nausea, vomiting, cramping, watery diarrhea, and sometimes fever.
In most cases, these illnesses will resolve on their own within a few days.
Gastroenteritis CausesCommon causes of gastroenteritis include:VirusesBacteriaParasitesChemicals
Gastroenteritis Causes
Common causes of gastroenteritis include:VirusesBacteriaParasitesChemicals
Common causes of gastroenteritis include:
Understanding OTC Diarrhea Medicines
What Is Food Poisoning?
Nausea or vomiting can occur when a person experiences a mild to severe food allergy. A food allergy is an overreactive immune response to a specific food or substance in food.This can occur right after eating or hours later.
Food allergy symptomscan affect other body systems besides digestion, resulting in reactions including rashes, hives, swelling, and itchiness.
AnaphylaxisSevere food allergy symptoms usually come on rapidly and can progress toanaphylaxis. A severe reaction may affect multiple parts of the body and must be treated withepinephrine (adrenaline)such as an EpiPen.If you suspect anaphylaxis call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Anaphylaxis
Severe food allergy symptoms usually come on rapidly and can progress toanaphylaxis. A severe reaction may affect multiple parts of the body and must be treated withepinephrine (adrenaline)such as an EpiPen.If you suspect anaphylaxis call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Severe food allergy symptoms usually come on rapidly and can progress toanaphylaxis. A severe reaction may affect multiple parts of the body and must be treated withepinephrine (adrenaline)such as an EpiPen.
If you suspect anaphylaxis call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Certain conditions or disorders of the digestive system can cause nausea after eating. Some conditions include:
These conditions are associated with other symptoms, like abdominal pain and vomiting.
Feeling nauseated after eating a high-fat meal, like a cheeseburger and french fries, is not uncommon. Dietary fat can induce nausea through the release of gut hormones and peptides.
Ingestion of fat and protein stimulates the release ofcholecystokinin(CKK) from the cells in the intestine. CKK slows down how quickly the stomach empties, which can increase the feelings of fullness and potentially cause nausea.
What Foods Are High in Saturated Fat?
Eating too much in one sitting can put pressure on your stomach, resulting inindigestion. Indigestion may cause bloating, gas, nausea, or even vomiting.
Slowing down, watching portion size, and practicingmindful eatingare some methods to avoid inadvertent overeating.
What Are the Best Ways to Stop Overeating?
Nausea is a common symptom ofacid reflux, along with a burning sensation in the chest and/or throat.Many people experience acid reflux orheartburnwhen theyeat spicy or highly acidic foods, lie down too soon after a large meal, or snack right before bed.
Heartburn vs. Acid Reflux vs. GERD: Everything You Need to Know
Many medications cause nausea as a side effect.
For example, one of the side effects ofOzempic (semaglutide)isgastroparesis(delayed gastric emptying), which causes food to move from the stomach into the small intestine too slowly. This can produce symptoms like nausea.
Drugs used to treat cancer and pain are well-known to increase the risk of nausea. Other medications with nausea as a side effect include:
Going long periods without eating, as withintermittent fasting, can increase the risk of unpleasant feelings, including nausea.
Also, those who have been fasting for a long time are more likely to overeat at the next meal, which can increase the risk of nausea.
Is Intermittent Fasting Right for You?
Manystimulantandosmoticover-the-counter (OTC) constipation remedieslist nausea as a possible side effect.
Stimulant laxatives induce contractions of the intestines that can be uncomfortable or complicate other conditions. Osmotic laxatives draw water from the intestine to soften stools, which can cause electrolyte imbalance and dehydration.
Some may findpsylliumto be a better option if nausea is an issue. Psyllium (asoluble fiberderived from seed husks) increases the weight and bulk of stools, which stimulates bowel movements.
Althoughpsylliummay also cause nausea in some cases, it is considered safe and gentle enough to use every day.
It is essential to take only the recommended doses of laxatives. Larger doses can cause side effects such as nausea, cramping, and loose stools.
Constipation
Binge eating disorder (BED):Eating large amounts of food in a short time can cause nausea and other GI symptoms.
Anorexia (also anorexia nervosa):Anorexia can cause gastroparesis (delayed gastric emptying).It causes feelings of nausea and abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, and feeling full after only eating small amounts of food.
Eating Disorder Facts and Statistics: What You Need to Know
In addition, those who haveendometriosiscan experience many symptoms, including nausea and bloating.
During the first trimester of pregnancy, when the body is adjusting to changes in hormones, experiencing nausea (and vomiting) is common. Hormones that are thought to play a role includeestrogen, progesterone, thyroid hormones, andhuman chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), the hormone that pregnancy tests detect.
In rare cases, pregnancy can causehyperemesis gravidarum, which is extreme, persistent nausea and vomiting. This is much less common than morning sickness, more severe, and can occur at any time during pregnancy.
Not Eating Due to NauseaNot eating for a day or two or until your appetite resumes after a bout of acute illness is usually not an issue. However, when possible, take small sips of water andrehydratewith products like Gatorade or Pedialyte.
Not Eating Due to Nausea
Not eating for a day or two or until your appetite resumes after a bout of acute illness is usually not an issue. However, when possible, take small sips of water andrehydratewith products like Gatorade or Pedialyte.
How To Stop Nausea After Eating
First, you need to find out what is causing your nausea. Evaluate your diet, medications, medical history, and bowel habits.
If you are experiencing chronic nausea, consider keeping a diary or journal of what and when you are eating. You may discover that a specific food or type of food is causing you trouble.
Foods To AvoidIf you are experiencing nausea after eating, you may want to cut back or eliminate spicy food, orhigh-fat foodsthat take longer to digest, including:Fried foodsFatty meats (e.g., red meat, pork, sausages, and other processed meats)Full-fat cheese and milkDesserts
Foods To Avoid
If you are experiencing nausea after eating, you may want to cut back or eliminate spicy food, orhigh-fat foodsthat take longer to digest, including:Fried foodsFatty meats (e.g., red meat, pork, sausages, and other processed meats)Full-fat cheese and milkDesserts
If you are experiencing nausea after eating, you may want to cut back or eliminate spicy food, orhigh-fat foodsthat take longer to digest, including:
Foods to eat when you have nausea, that may be better tolerated include:
Other measures that may help include:
When To See a Healthcare Provider
Contact a healthcare provider if:
Summary
Changing your dietary habits may help, but if your nausea is not related to diet, you will need to dig deeper. If you notice there is a pattern, or you are nauseous every time you eat, get a medical evaluation to rule out something serious.
18 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Viral Gastroenteritis (“Stomach Flu”).MedlinePlus.Gastroenteritis.Center for Disease Control and Prevention.Staphylococal (staph) food poisoning.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Food Allergy.Bilò MB, Martini M, Tontini C, Corsi A, Antonicelli L.Anaphylaxis.Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol. 2021;53(1):4-17. doi:10.23822/EurAnnACI.1764-1489.158Alhabeeb H, et al.Gut hormones in health and obesity: the upcoming role of short chain fatty acids.Nutrients.2021;13(2):481. doi:10.3390/nu13020481MedlinePlus.Indigestion.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & Causes of GER & GERD.Harvard Health Publishing - Harvard Medical School.What to do when your medication causes nausea.Grajower MM, Horne BD.Clinical management of intermittent fasting in patients with diabetes mellitus.Nutrients.2019;11(4):873. doi:10.3390/nu11040873.McRae MP.Dietary Fiber Intake and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: An Umbrella Review of Meta-analyses.J Chiropr Med. 2018;17(1):44-53. doi:10.1016/j.jcm.2017.11.002Norris ML, Harrison ME, Isserlin L, Robinson A, Feder S, Sampson M.Gastrointestinal complications associated with anorexia nervosa: a systematic review.Int J Eat Disord.2016;49(3):216-37. doi:10.1002/eat.22462Young CF, Moussa M, Shubrook JH.Diabetic gastroparesis: a review.Diabetes Spectr. 2020;33:290-297. doi:10.2337/ds19-0062American Migraine Foundation.Menstrual migraine treatment and prevention.World Health Organization.Endometriosis.Liu C, Zhao G, Qiao D, et al.Emerging progress in nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and hyperemesis gravidarum: challenges and opportunities.Frontiers in Medicine. 2020;8:809270. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.809270Fejzo MS, Trovik J, Grooten IJ, et al.Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and hyperemesis gravidarum.Nat Rev Dis Primers5, 62 (2019). doi: 10.1038/s41572-019-0110-3.UCSF Health.Diet modifications for nausea and vomiting.
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Viral Gastroenteritis (“Stomach Flu”).MedlinePlus.Gastroenteritis.Center for Disease Control and Prevention.Staphylococal (staph) food poisoning.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Food Allergy.Bilò MB, Martini M, Tontini C, Corsi A, Antonicelli L.Anaphylaxis.Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol. 2021;53(1):4-17. doi:10.23822/EurAnnACI.1764-1489.158Alhabeeb H, et al.Gut hormones in health and obesity: the upcoming role of short chain fatty acids.Nutrients.2021;13(2):481. doi:10.3390/nu13020481MedlinePlus.Indigestion.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & Causes of GER & GERD.Harvard Health Publishing - Harvard Medical School.What to do when your medication causes nausea.Grajower MM, Horne BD.Clinical management of intermittent fasting in patients with diabetes mellitus.Nutrients.2019;11(4):873. doi:10.3390/nu11040873.McRae MP.Dietary Fiber Intake and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: An Umbrella Review of Meta-analyses.J Chiropr Med. 2018;17(1):44-53. doi:10.1016/j.jcm.2017.11.002Norris ML, Harrison ME, Isserlin L, Robinson A, Feder S, Sampson M.Gastrointestinal complications associated with anorexia nervosa: a systematic review.Int J Eat Disord.2016;49(3):216-37. doi:10.1002/eat.22462Young CF, Moussa M, Shubrook JH.Diabetic gastroparesis: a review.Diabetes Spectr. 2020;33:290-297. doi:10.2337/ds19-0062American Migraine Foundation.Menstrual migraine treatment and prevention.World Health Organization.Endometriosis.Liu C, Zhao G, Qiao D, et al.Emerging progress in nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and hyperemesis gravidarum: challenges and opportunities.Frontiers in Medicine. 2020;8:809270. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.809270Fejzo MS, Trovik J, Grooten IJ, et al.Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and hyperemesis gravidarum.Nat Rev Dis Primers5, 62 (2019). doi: 10.1038/s41572-019-0110-3.UCSF Health.Diet modifications for nausea and vomiting.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Viral Gastroenteritis (“Stomach Flu”).MedlinePlus.Gastroenteritis.Center for Disease Control and Prevention.Staphylococal (staph) food poisoning.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Food Allergy.Bilò MB, Martini M, Tontini C, Corsi A, Antonicelli L.Anaphylaxis.Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol. 2021;53(1):4-17. doi:10.23822/EurAnnACI.1764-1489.158Alhabeeb H, et al.Gut hormones in health and obesity: the upcoming role of short chain fatty acids.Nutrients.2021;13(2):481. doi:10.3390/nu13020481MedlinePlus.Indigestion.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & Causes of GER & GERD.Harvard Health Publishing - Harvard Medical School.What to do when your medication causes nausea.Grajower MM, Horne BD.Clinical management of intermittent fasting in patients with diabetes mellitus.Nutrients.2019;11(4):873. doi:10.3390/nu11040873.McRae MP.Dietary Fiber Intake and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: An Umbrella Review of Meta-analyses.J Chiropr Med. 2018;17(1):44-53. doi:10.1016/j.jcm.2017.11.002Norris ML, Harrison ME, Isserlin L, Robinson A, Feder S, Sampson M.Gastrointestinal complications associated with anorexia nervosa: a systematic review.Int J Eat Disord.2016;49(3):216-37. doi:10.1002/eat.22462Young CF, Moussa M, Shubrook JH.Diabetic gastroparesis: a review.Diabetes Spectr. 2020;33:290-297. doi:10.2337/ds19-0062American Migraine Foundation.Menstrual migraine treatment and prevention.World Health Organization.Endometriosis.Liu C, Zhao G, Qiao D, et al.Emerging progress in nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and hyperemesis gravidarum: challenges and opportunities.Frontiers in Medicine. 2020;8:809270. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.809270Fejzo MS, Trovik J, Grooten IJ, et al.Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and hyperemesis gravidarum.Nat Rev Dis Primers5, 62 (2019). doi: 10.1038/s41572-019-0110-3.UCSF Health.Diet modifications for nausea and vomiting.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Viral Gastroenteritis (“Stomach Flu”).
MedlinePlus.Gastroenteritis.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention.Staphylococal (staph) food poisoning.
American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Food Allergy.
Bilò MB, Martini M, Tontini C, Corsi A, Antonicelli L.Anaphylaxis.Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol. 2021;53(1):4-17. doi:10.23822/EurAnnACI.1764-1489.158
Alhabeeb H, et al.Gut hormones in health and obesity: the upcoming role of short chain fatty acids.Nutrients.2021;13(2):481. doi:10.3390/nu13020481
MedlinePlus.Indigestion.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & Causes of GER & GERD.
Harvard Health Publishing - Harvard Medical School.What to do when your medication causes nausea.
Grajower MM, Horne BD.Clinical management of intermittent fasting in patients with diabetes mellitus.Nutrients.2019;11(4):873. doi:10.3390/nu11040873.
McRae MP.Dietary Fiber Intake and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: An Umbrella Review of Meta-analyses.J Chiropr Med. 2018;17(1):44-53. doi:10.1016/j.jcm.2017.11.002
Norris ML, Harrison ME, Isserlin L, Robinson A, Feder S, Sampson M.Gastrointestinal complications associated with anorexia nervosa: a systematic review.Int J Eat Disord.2016;49(3):216-37. doi:10.1002/eat.22462
Young CF, Moussa M, Shubrook JH.Diabetic gastroparesis: a review.Diabetes Spectr. 2020;33:290-297. doi:10.2337/ds19-0062
American Migraine Foundation.Menstrual migraine treatment and prevention.
World Health Organization.Endometriosis.
Liu C, Zhao G, Qiao D, et al.Emerging progress in nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and hyperemesis gravidarum: challenges and opportunities.Frontiers in Medicine. 2020;8:809270. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.809270
Fejzo MS, Trovik J, Grooten IJ, et al.Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and hyperemesis gravidarum.Nat Rev Dis Primers5, 62 (2019). doi: 10.1038/s41572-019-0110-3.
UCSF Health.Diet modifications for nausea and vomiting.
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