What To Eat When Nauseous – Foods To Eat And Avoid

Creator: Amita Mishra
Published: 2019-07-19T14:23:13+05:30

Diet tips and hacks to help ease discomfort and provide relief when feeling pukish

Reviewed by Madhu Sharma, RD
July 29, 2022 By Amita Mishra

What To Eat When Nauseous – Foods To Eat And Avoid

Have you ever wondered what foods to eat while you feel nauseous? And, how to beat that uneasy and unpleasant feeling? The truth is, nausea is merely a symptom. This means, if you are feeling nauseous, it is a sign of an underlying health problem.

From time to time, adults experience nausea. It can be due to allergies, pregnancy, food intolerance, certain medications, gut diseases, surgery, cancer treatments, and hormone disorders.

Eating food while feeling nauseous is a daunting task. But, staying hydrated and balancing your body’s electrolytes is key to reducing nausea.

There are also certain foods that help reduce nausea. This post lists out foods you can eat and one you must avoid while feeling nauseous. Scroll down!

In This Article

What Are The Foods To Eat While You Feel Nauseous?

1. Apples

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Apples are high in fiber and help rid your body of toxins faster. They also aid digestion (1). This way, they can accelerate intestinal transit and help relieve nausea.

You can either have an apple or make applesauce and have it with toast.

2. Ginger

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Gingerol and shogaol, two major components in ginger, have been shown to relieve nausea in chemotherapy patients (2).

Ginger also helps relieve morning sickness commonly associated with pregnancy(3).

You can chew on a ginger root or boil it with water and consume it.

Note: Ensure you avoid excess ginger during summers as it may lead to a burning sensation.

3. Coconut Water

Sip on coconut water if you feel nauseous

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Coconut water plays an important role in helping with nausea (4). It can help treat morning sickness in pregnant women and dehydration-associated nausea in infants and children.

A tablespoon of lime juice with a glass of coconut water can help relieve nausea. While the coconut water has electrolytes, the lime juice can enhance the taste.

4. Broths

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Don’t we love having soups when we are sick? Well, there’s a reason behind it. The hot broth helps clear nausea caused by headaches and congestion (5). When you are transitioning from liquid food to solid food during sickness, broth can be a good option.

5. Bananas

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Nausea can make eating difficult. Hence, it is important to consume nutrient-dense foods. Bananas serve as a power-packed meal during these times. They are energy-dense, and they also stimulate the production of mucus in the stomach lining (6). This helps relieve gastric disturbances, including nausea.

6. Herbal Teas

Sip on herbal teas when you feel nauseous

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Herbal teas, like that of peppermint and chamomile, have shown to relieve nausea in women who had undergone a C-section (7).

Though there is no scientific evidence to back this up, many people with nausea have found herbal teas to be useful in relieving the symptoms.

These are the foods that can help relieve your nausea. But steering clear of the wrong foods is as important as consuming the right ones. In the following section, we have listed the foods you should avoid as they may aggravate your nausea.

What Foods Should You Avoid?

1. Acidic Fruits

Avoid acidic fruits when you are nauseous

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Consuming acidic fruits upsets the stomach more. Hence, opting for non-acidic fruits (like bananas is a better option.

2. Oily Foods

Ulcers and gastrointestinal diseases can be very discomforting to your digestive system. These foods promote gas and lead to poor digestion.

3. Milk (Dairy Products)

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Dairy products, including milk, may aggravate nausea and vomiting (8).

4. Refined Sugar

Foods rich in refined sugar are not easily digestible. They can lead to heartburn and, eventually, nausea (9).

5. Soda

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Soda or other carbonated drinks can cause heartburn and indigestion (10). These are also high in sugar and can upset your stomach.

6. Spicy Food

Spicy food can irritate your stomach and aggravate symptoms of gastritis (11). This may lead to nausea.

7. Alcohol

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Alcohol is a diuretic that causes your system to lose water, which can lead to dehydration (12). This can eventually cause nausea.

These foods/beverages can possibly aggravate nausea. Hence, we suggest you steer clear of them. In addition, there are other ways you can keep nausea at bay.

Tips To Control Nausea

Here are a few tips that you can follow to prevent or treat nausea:

Ensure you eat something healthy every 1 to 2 hours.
Eat and drink slowly as it will help you relax while enjoying your meal. Also, avoid consuming solids and liquids at the same time. Remember, your stomach is already upset, so keep your pace slow.
Avoid lying flat on your stomach right after eating as it can create pressure on your abdomen.
Food preparation and certain odors may also trigger nausea. So, be careful with your preparations.
Keep rinsing your mouth after you eat anything. The unpleasant smell that lingers in your mouth may also cause nausea.
Avoid being around the kitchen or any cooking area where the different aromas of food while cooking may aggravate the symptom.

Nausea signifies an underlying health problem. It can be due to allergies, food intolerance, pregnancy, gut diseases, certain medications, surgery, hormone disorders, and cancer treatments. Nausea can also be triggered by food preparation and certain odors. So, to avoid nausea, it is crucial to stay hydrated and keep your electrolytes in check. Ginger, coconut water, herbal teas, and bananas are certain foods to eat while you feel nauseous. One has to eat in little portions at regular intervals. Eating light and staying hydrated is a must to fight nausea. It will help alleviate nausea and keep it from returning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I make myself vomit if nauseous?

You can vomit naturally if you get the urge, but you should not force it.

How long does nausea usually last?

In most cases, acute nausea may last between a few days and a month. Beyond that, it could be a case of chronic nausea.

Is orange juice good for nausea?

Acidic and citric fruits like oranges might aggravate nausea and aren’t recommended.

Is peanut butter good for nausea?

A lack of protein may worsen nausea. Having protein-rich food like peanut butter can help get some relief from nausea.

Key Takeaways

Pregnancy, certain medications, or hormone disorders may trigger nausea in some.
You should consume apples and bananas or drink tender coconut water to help relieve nausea.
Consuming citric fruits, milk, or spicy food can make your stomach feel fuller and aggravate the condition.
Consuming water throughout the day and eating something healthy every 2 hours are some of the best ways to prevent nausea in the long run.