Eating too much food in one sitting can cause feelings of nausea. However, there are many other possible causes, such as an infection, an ulcer, pregnancy, bulimia, and medication use.
Nausea refers to a feeling of sickness or discomfort in the stomach that may result in an urge to vomit. There are many possible reasons that a person may feel nauseous after eating. These can range from eating too much, to certain conditions.
The conditions that cause nausea after eating range from mild to severe. This article will outline what these disorders are, how to tell what is causing the nausea, and how to avoid or treat it
The digestive system refers to a collection of organs that work together to break down food and drink. They
The digestion process begins in the mouth, where food is broken down so that it can be swallowed. Food then travels down the food pipe (esophagus) towards the stomach and intestines. The digestive juices in the stomach and intestines break down the food for the final time and extract the nutrients. The waste passes into the large intestine for excretion through the anus.
Any problems during this digestive process can cause nausea after eating.
Symptoms will often develop in the stomach or upper abdominal area, where the large-scale breakdown of food begins. People may also experience other symptoms, such as diarrhea, headaches, or heartburn.
Sometimes the body reacts to these problems by forcibly emptying the stomach, usually through vomiting. The problem can sometimes be identified by the color of the vomit. For example, a bright yellow or dark green color may indicate a problem in the small intestine.
Causes of how nausea develops after eating can include:
Hormonal
Hormonal changes often occur during pregnancy, which induce feelings of nausea at any time of day, frequently in the morning. Some pregnant women will experience nausea before eating a meal. Others will feel nauseated immediately after eating. Sometimes this continues throughout the day.
Feelings of nausea will typically start during the second month of pregnancy. Nausea during pregnancy is not harmful to either the baby or mother and will usually resolve by the fourth month of pregnancy.
Elevated hormone levels in pregnancy can cause changes to the digestive system and the body, which means food spends longer in the stomach and small intestine. It is possible that this may also contribute to nausea after eating in pregnancy.
Infection
Food can become contaminated through not being cooked thoroughly or stored incorrectly. Consuming contaminated food can cause food poisoning. Bacteria (or in some cases, viruses) are usually the
These infections cause inflammation to the stomach and intestines. They can lead to:
- fever
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- abdominal pain and cramps
Food intolerances or allergies
Some people have an intolerance to certain foods, which means that the body has difficulty digesting them.
Food intolerances do not involve the immune system but can cause nausea hours after the food is eaten. Common sources of food intolerances include:
- foods that contain lactose, such as dairy products
- foods that contain histamine, such as certain cheeses and fermented products
- foods that contain salicylate, such as some fruits, vegetables, nuts, herbs and spices
Food allergies occur when the body mistakenly identifies proteins found in certain foods to be a threat, triggering an immune system response.
Nausea caused by a food allergy can occur seconds or minutes after eating. It is often accompanied by a host of other symptoms, such as swelling to the face or lip and difficulties breathing or swallowing. These types of reactions are emergencies and require immediate medical attention.
Gastrointestinal problems
Nausea after eating and other gastrointestinal problems may occur when an organ within the digestive system stops functioning properly.
For example, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when the ring of muscle between the esophagus and stomach malfunctions, causing stomach acid to enter the esophagus. GERD causes a burning sensation throughout the esophagus known as heartburn and may be a cause of nausea after eating.
The gallbladder is responsible for releasing bile to aid in digesting fats. Gallbladder diseases impair the proper digestion of fats and can cause nausea after eating meals high in fat.
The pancreas releases proteins and hormones necessary for digestion. If this organ becomes inflamed or injured, known as pancreatitis, nausea often occurs along with other intestinal symptoms and pain.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic condition that can cause bloating and increased gas. In some people, this can also lead to nausea after eating.
Other conditions that can cause meal-related nausea and vomiting can include:
It is also possible for cancers that affect the GI tract to cause nausea. These may include:
Vascular
Bowel ischemia is a rare circulatory condition which can link with other circulatory diseases. Nausea after eating could be a sign of arteries in the intestines narrowing. This narrowing of blood vessels restricts blood flow, which can damage the intestines.
Nausea after eating can be accompanied by intense stomach pains and may indicate a condition known as chronic mesenteric ischemia. This condition can suddenly worsen and become life-threatening.
Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome is a rare condition that occurs when two arteries compress a section of the small intestine, which can cause nausea, abdominal pain, and other related symptoms.
Headache syndromes
Migraines can also cause nausea after eating, which can be accompanied by intense stomach pain, vomiting, and dizziness.
Cardiac
In some cases, nausea after eating can be a
Psychiatric or psychological
Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are the most common eating disorders characterized by unusual eating habits. Both conditions can result in nausea.
Anorexia nervosa can cause nausea due to excess stomach acid or starvation. Bulimia nervosa can cause nausea after eating from a compulsion to vomit any food consumed.
Anxiety, depression, or intense stress can also result in a loss of appetite and nausea after eating.
Motion sickness
Some people are highly sensitive to particular movements or motion, which can make them feel nauseated. Eating food before or after experiencing motion can intensify nausea in individuals with motion sickness.
Medications
Nausea is a common side effect of several medications, including antibiotics, pain relief drugs, or chemotherapy drugs. Nausea should subside once the treatment is completed or stopped.
Other symptoms, which cause nausea after eating that indicate an underlying condition:
| Condition | Additional symptoms |
| Food poisoning | vomiting diarrhea stomach pain fatigue loss of appetite fever aches |
| Stomach flu | vomiting diarrhea head and muscle aches fever loss of appetite weight loss |
| Food intolerance | vomiting diarrhea stomach pain cramps bloating or gas heartburn |
| Food allergy | vomiting diarrhea stomach pain skin rashes swelling – typically on the face or throat dizziness shortness of breath hay fever-like symptoms, such as sneezing |
| GERD | heartburn sore throat bad breath bloating or gas difficulty swallowing chronic cough |
| Gallbladder disease | vomiting diarrhea fever pain, typically in upper-right abdomen jaundice pale stools |
| Irritable bowel syndrome | diarrhea constipation stomach pain |
| Mesenteric ischemia | vomiting diarrhea fever bloating or gas stomach pain |
| Acute pancreatitis | pain in upper left or middle of the abdomen, often through to the back vomiting fever abdominal pain after eating |
Typically, nausea after eating is not related to a serious condition. If it continues for more than 5 days or if some of the symptoms mentioned above occur together, people should contact a doctor to rule out an underlying condition.
Children who experience nausea after eating may need more attention. Contact a doctor if:
- a child under 6 months old is vomiting
- a child over 6 months old is
- vomiting and has a fever over 101.4°F
- a child has been vomiting for more than 8 hours
- a child vomiting blood
- a child has not produced urine over 8 hours
- a child is abnormally sleepy
- a child has had abdominal pain for 2 hours
- a child has a headache
For adults, it is advisable to consult a doctor if they experience:
- vomiting blood
- weight loss
- jaundice
- enlargement of the abdomen
- absent bowel movements
Diagnosis
The causes of nausea are wide ranging. But recording exact times of nausea and food consumed can help a doctor make a diagnosis.
Depending on the suspected cause, getting a full diagnosis could involve:
- blood or urine tests
- swallowing tests
- CT scan
- MRI
- ultrasound
Treatment and outlook will depend on the diagnosis and can vary greatly. For example, people with GERD or heartburn may need treatment with acid blocking medication or antibiotics for the stomach bacteria, H. pylori.
People with a history of allergic or intolerant reactions should avoid certain foods. In the case of a stomach virus, people should stay well hydrated and eat bland foods once nausea decreases. More severe conditions, such as gallbladder disease, may require surgery.
Read on to learn more about how to stop nausea naturally.
Some tips that can help to prevent nausea after eating include:
- sticking to easy to digest foods, such as crackers, white rice, or dry toast.
- limiting eating when nauseated
- drinking ginger tea may help
- avoiding milk or high-fiber foods
- trying chewing gum or sucking mints.
- drinking liquids regularly but in small quantities until nausea improves
- eating smaller, more frequent meals
There are many reasons a person may feel nauseous after eating. This can include eating too much, eating foods a person is allergic to or intolerant of, or eating contaminated food. It can also occur due to conditions that impact digestion.
Nausea after eating does not usually relate to a serious condition. However, if the nausea persists or accompanies other symptoms, it may be advisable to consult a doctor.
