Nausea When Hungry: Causes, Treatment, And Prevention

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HealthlineSubscribeDoes Hunger Cause Nausea?

Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D.O. — Written by Scott Frothingham — Updated on February 14, 2023

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Treatment
Prevention
Other causes
Vomiting
Takeaway

Being too hungry can cause feelings of nausea. Eating certain types of food may help. But nausea can also occur with other health conditions that may need medical treatment.

Yes. Not eating can make you feel nauseous.

This may be caused by a buildup of stomach acid or stomach contractions caused by hunger pangs.

Learn more about why an empty stomach can trigger nausea and what you can do to quell hunger-related nausea.

Why not eating may cause nausea

To help break down food, your stomach produces hydrochloric acid. If you don’t eat for a long period of time, that acid can build up in your stomach and potentially lead to acid reflux and nausea.

An empty stomach may also trigger hunger pangs. This discomfort in the upper middle part of your abdomen is caused by strong stomach contractions.

Hunger pangs are rarely caused by a medical condition. They’re usually attributed to your stomach being empty.

They can also be affected by:

a need for a diet higher in essential nutrients
hormones
lack of sleep
anxiety or stress
your environment

What to do about hunger-driven nausea

Your first step to respond to your hunger should be eating.

According to the British Nutrition Foundation, if you haven’t eaten for a long period of time, gentle ways to address your body’s nutritional needs include:

beverages, such as low-sugar smoothies
brothy soups with protein (lentils, beans) or carbohydrates (rice, pasta)
protein-rich foods, such as fish and lean meat
dried foods, such as dates, apricots, and raisins

If you have intense nausea or pain when you’re extremely hungry, discuss your symptoms with your healthcare provider.

It could be an indication that you need to be screened for metabolic syndrome and its symptoms, such as:

high blood sugar (hyperglycemia)
increased blood pressure
abnormal lipid levels

How to prevent feeling nauseous when you’re hungry

If you tend to feel nauseous when your stomach has been empty for a long period of time, consider eating at shorter intervals.

It’s not completely proven if a diet with six small meals a day is healthier than one with three larger meals. But eating smaller amounts of food with less time in between those meals may help prevent nausea.

However, Tufts University warns that if you eat a higher number of meals throughout the day, you should be eating less at each sitting compared to what you would eat if you ate less meals per day.

Tufts also noted that eating less than three times per day may make it harder to manage your appetite.

Try experimenting with the frequency of meals and the amount consumed at those meals.

It’s likely you’ll be able to find a plan that suits your lifestyle, keeping you satisfied, energized, and at a healthy weight while avoiding nausea from hunger.

Your healthcare provider or a dietician can help you create a diet and complementary meal plan based on your needs.

It might not be lack of food

Your nausea could be a symptom of something other than a lack of food.

Dehydration

Nausea could be a sign that you’re dehydrated.

Chances are, you’ll also be thirsty. But even mild dehydration can upset your stomach. Try drinking some water and see if that helps.

If you’re also feeling extremely fatigued, dizzy, or confused, you might be severely dehydrated.

If you think you’re experiencing symptoms of severe dehydration, seek immediate medical attention.

Prescribed medications

Taking some medications on an empty stomach can give you a feeling of nausea.

When you pick up a prescription, ask your pharmacist if you should take the medication with food.

According to a 2016 review of studies, medications that commonly have nausea as a side effect include:

antibiotics, such as erythromycin (Erythrocin)
blood pressure reducing drugs (antihypertensives), such as beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and diuretics
chemotherapy drugs, such as cisplatin (Platinol), dacarbazine (DTIC-Dome), and mechlorethamine (Mustargen)

According to the Mayo Clinic, antidepressants, such as fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft), can also cause nausea.

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications

Not only can certain prescription medicines make you feel nauseous when taken with an empty stomach, but OTC medications and supplements can also make you queasy.

These can include:

acetaminophen (Tylenol)
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve), and aspirin
vitamin E
vitamin C
iron

Other causes

The Cleveland Clinic notes that common causes of nausea may also be due to:

exposure to chemical toxins
various viruses
motion sickness
early pregnancy
food poisoning
certain odors
stress
indigestion

Nausea and vomiting

Often when you’re feeling nauseous, you also may have the urge to vomit.

If you’re feeling nauseous and you’re vomiting, it’s likely that you’re experiencing more than just hunger.

The Mayo Clinic suggests you seek medical attention if nausea and vomiting last for more than:

2 days for adults
24 hours for children over 1 year but under 2 years
12 hours for infants (up to 1 year)

Seek emergency medical attention or call 911 if nausea and vomiting are accompanied by:

severe abdominal pain/cramping
fever or stiff neck
chest pain
confusion
blurred vision
rectal bleeding
fecal material or fecal odor in your vomit

Takeaway

For some people, going for extended periods of time without eating can result in in them feeling nauseous. One way to avoid this discomfort is to eat more frequently.

If your nausea doesn’t improve after changing your eating habits, see your healthcare provider.

A medical diagnosis can:

help identify the cause of your discomfort
help your healthcare provider create an appropriate treatment plan

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

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Brunstrom JM, et al. (2012). Episodic memory and appetite regulation in Humans. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0050707
Busting weight loss myths. (2019). https://www.nutritionletter.tufts.edu/healthy-eating/timing-of-meals
Cummings DE, et al. (2001). A preprandial rise in plasma ghrelin levels suggests a role in meal initiation in humans. DOI:https://doi.org/10.2337/diabetes.50.8.1714
A healthy Ramadan. (n.d.). https://www.nutrition.org.uk/healthyliving/seasons/ramadan.html
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Nausea and vomiting. When to see a doctor. https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/nausea/basics/when-to-see-doctor/sym-20050736
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2019). Antidepressants: Get tips to cope with side effects.https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/antidepressants/art-20049305
Nausea & vomiting: Possible causes. (2019). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/8106-nausea--vomiting/possible-causes
What to do when your medication causes nausea. (2019). https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/what-to-do-when-your-medication-causes-nausea

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Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D.O. — Written by Scott Frothingham — Updated on February 14, 2023

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