If people are feeling nauseated, just the thought of food may make them feel worse. It may help to eat bland foods, cold foods, protein foods, ginger, and other things to settle the stomach and give the body energy.
Illness, or the unpleasant and sometimes unavoidable feeling of having to throw up, can happen for many reasons, including
Getting plenty of rest and drinking fluids can help manage nausea, but so can eating certain foods.
Eating while feeling sick may seem counterintuitive. However, food can not only help relieve nausea, but it can also replace important nutrients lost after voiding.
People have traditionally used ginger to treat nausea. There are chemicals in ginger called gingerols and shogaols that may help empty the stomach and ease nausea.
Several studies were looked at to see how ginger affected nausea and vomiting caused by pregnancy. Four randomized controlled trials showed that pregnant women who took ginger felt less sick and threw up less often than those who took a placebo.
The reviewers also discovered that ginger worked better than a sugar pill to treat nausea caused by morning sickness, seasickness, and chemotherapy.
Another study supports that ginger may help relieve chemotherapy-induced nausea. The study found that giving breast cancer patients 500 milligrams of powdered ginger root twice a day, five days before and after chemotherapy, made them less likely to throw up.
People can use ginger in any recipe by adding ginger powder to soups or fresh ginger slices to hot water or herbal teas. Ginger ale is also a good option, as is eating crystallized ginger.
Chicken or vegetable broths are often used to treat sickness, like headaches, colds, fevers, and feeling sick.
They can help people who are sick feel better by giving them nutrients that are easy to digest.
If someone isn’t drinking enough or losing water through sweating or throwing up, broths can help them get the salt and electrolytes they need.
People may find these foods easier to eat because they are bland and easy to digest.
Bananas are also a good source of energy and nutrients. They are high in potassium, which can help replace any electrolytes lost through vomiting.
However, the BRAT diet does not provide enough nutrients for people over the long term. It might help with nausea for a short time, but once people start to feel better, they should start eating a wider range of foods.
It is also vital to stay hydrated while on the BRAT diet. People should make sure they take small sips of water frequently. Drinking large gulps of water may upset an already unsettled stomach.
Other dry foods, like toast, can also help people who are sick because they are plain and easy to digest. They also have little to no odor, which may help reduce feelings of nausea.
When people are sick, cold foods may be easier to eat because they don’t smell as bad as hot foods. The odor of hot food may increase feelings of nausea for some people.
Protein helps the body create enzymes that digest food. The body also uses protein to oxygenate blood to carry nutrients to every part of the body.
People can combine these foods with bland foods, such as toast, rice, or noodles, to increase calories.
There are alternatives to help treat nausea. Aromatherapy may help people manage nausea and relieve vomiting.
A study discovered that aromatherapy, specifically aromatherapy with peppermint essential oil, helped lower the number of times, length, and severity of nausea in people who had heart surgery.
Other essential oils that may relieve nausea through aromatherapy include ginger oil, lavender oil, and lemon oil.
People with breast cancer who were going through chemotherapy had fewer episodes of nausea, vomiting, and retching and their nausea was not as bad when they did breathing exercises.
Another study found that diaphragmatic breathing, also known as deep belly breathing, made people less sick during virtual reality than a control group.
Once in a while feeling sick is normal, especially when you have food poisoning, indigestion, or motion sickness.
However, excessive vomiting can be a cause for concern or indicative of a more serious problem.
A person experiencing any of these symptoms should call or visit a doctor.
If there is blood in the vomit, it could be because of ulcers, broken blood vessels, or stomach bleeding. You may need to call 911.
It’s also important to think about things like having a fever or not being able to keep clear liquids down.
If you throw up and have a fever, you may have an infection or virus. If you can’t keep clear liquids down, you may be dehydrated.
Feeling nauseous and vomiting are common but unpleasant symptoms we all experience from time to time. When nausea strikes food is usually the last thing you want to think about. But believe it or not eating certain foods can actually help relieve nausea. So is tuna a good food choice when you’re feeling queasy?
In this article we’ll take a look at the evidence on tuna and nausea and provide some tips on the best ways to eat tuna when you’re not feeling well.
How Can Food Help With Nausea?
Nausea and vomiting happen when your stomach and intestines become irritated. This triggers your body to rid itself of the contents of your stomach through vomiting.
While you may not feel like eating, getting nutrients is important to help:
- Settle your stomach
- Replace fluids and electrolytes lost from vomiting
- Provide energy when you have little appetite
The key is choosing foods that are easy on your stomach. Bland, non-spicy foods with little odor are best. Cold foods also seem to help more than hot.
Below we’ll see how tuna stacks up.
Is Tuna Easy to Digest?
In general, fish like tuna are easy on the stomach and a good source of protein. Here’s why tuna can help with nausea:
- Contains no fat or fiber to cause stomach upset
- Provides protein to help stabilize blood sugar
- Has a mild flavor and scent compared to other proteins
- Canned tuna is soft, easy to chew and swallow
- Canned tuna can be eaten cold right from the can
Tuna is low in fiber with zero fat, so it doesn’t stimulate the digestive system. And it digests fairly quickly, providing an easily tolerated protein source.
Plus, tuna has a light flavor and scent compared to other proteins like eggs or meat, making it less likely to worsen nausea. Canned tuna in particular is already broken down with a soft texture that’s easy to chew and swallow.
So in terms of being gentle on an upset stomach, tuna can be a good choice.
Other Benefits of Tuna for Nausea
On top of being easy to digest, tuna offers a few other bonuses:
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Hydration – Canned tuna contains water that can help with hydration.
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Electrolytes – Tuna provides potassium and sodium to replenish electrolytes lost from vomiting and diarrhea.
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Vitamin B6 – A 3oz serving of tuna contains over 20% of your daily vitamin B6, which may help reduce nausea.
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Omega-3s – Tuna is one of the richest food sources of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA.
So tuna provides hydration, electrolytes, and nutrients that your body needs when you are sick and can’t keep anything down.
Tips for Eating Tuna When Nauseous
If you’re feeling queasy, here are some tips to make tuna easier to tolerate:
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Choose canned tuna and eat it cold right out of the can.
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Drain the tuna well to remove excess oil or water.
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Combine tuna with a bland carb like saltine crackers, toast or rice.
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Season simply with a squeeze of lemon and salt. Avoid other spices.
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Start with small amounts of 1-2 tablespoons tuna at a time.
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Rinse your mouth after eating to prevent lingering taste that could worsen nausea.
A tuna sandwich on plain bread or tuna mixed with rice are good starter options when nauseated.
Other Foods That May Help With Nausea
While tuna is a good choice, you may also want to try:
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Ginger – Has anti-nausea effects from compounds gingerol and shogaol. Try ginger tea, ginger ale or candied ginger.
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BRAT Diet – Bananas, rice, applesauce and toast provide bland starches.
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Broths – Provide fluids, electrolytes and minerals.
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Cold dairy – Yogurt, pudding and ice cream are cold and mild.
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Citrus – Smelling lemons may help relieve nausea.
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Peppermint – Peppermint oil used in aromatherapy may reduce nausea.
Along with tuna, incorporate a variety of nausea-friendly foods and fluids to provide nutrition.
When to See a Doctor
Mild, short-lived nausea can be managed at home with diet changes and rest. But see your doctor if nausea or vomiting persists over 24 hours or you experience:
- Fever
- Blood in vomit
- Diarrhea over 2 days
- Severe pain
- Inability to keep fluids down
- Lethargy or confusion
These can be signs of an infection, gastrointestinal problem or dehydration that requires medical treatment.
Recurring or chronic nausea should also be evaluated to identify any underlying condition causing it.
The Bottom Line
Tuna is a good choice when you’re feeling nauseous thanks to its mild flavor, soft texture, easy digestion and hydrating properties. Combined with crackers, rice or bread, it provides nutrients and protein that are easy on your stomach.
Along with tuna, focus on other bland, cold foods and beverages to treat nausea at home. But see your doctor if nausea lasts more than a day or you have any concerning symptoms. Eating tuna and other simple foods can help you get nutrients when nausea strikes.
What foods to avoid when nauseous?
Just as there are foods to help relieve nausea, there are also foods to avoid when nauseous.
Avoid eating fatty, greasy, and fried food, spicy foods, and foods with strong odors. A person should also avoid foods high in sugar, such as sweets and desserts.
What foods treat nausea during pregnancy?
Sticking to a bland diet during pregnancy may be the best way to help with nausea. This includes foods that are:
- a soft consistency
- low fiber
- cooked
- not spicy
Drinking cold, clear, and carbonated fluids in small amounts between meals may also help alleviate pregnancy-related nausea.
What foods are good for nausea ? | Health FAQs
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