Do you regularly (or perhaps daily) wake up in the morning feeling nauseous? That’s annoying! There could be several reasons for this. Find out now what might be going on and how you can solve it.
1. You have eaten certain foods just before going to sleep
The foods you eat before going to sleep can play a big role in how you feel the next morning. Eating a heavy meal later in the evening can cause gastrointestinal distress, which can make you feel nauseous in the morning. Especially if you have food allergies or a sensitive reaction to food, this can be a problem. This can mean that your stomach cannot process your meal while you are sleeping.
The solution: Eat your last meal about three hours before you go to sleep to give your bowels a rest while you sleep. In the evening, also try to avoid foods that are hard to digest, such as fried foods, fatty foods, dairy products and spicy foods. It can also help to avoid alcohol a few hours before bed, as it can not only cause you to wake up nauseous, but disrupt your sleep altogether.
2. You didn’t eat enough before you went to sleep
On the other hand, you may also wake up nauseous because you didn’t eat enough before sleeping. Your blood sugar level drops when you don’t eat for a long time, and low blood sugar can cause you to feel nauseous or faint. If you wake up feeling extremely hungry or sweating or shaking, that’s a sign of low blood sugar.
The solution: You still want to avoid eating right before you go to sleep, so consciously choose what you eat and eat slowly to make sure you feel full. Make sure you have a good balance of macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins and fats) and eat plenty of vegetables. These are full of fiber, which helps to keep your blood sugar under control.
3. You suffer from heartburn
When your stomach acid comes back up through your esophagus (the tube that connects your mouth and stomach), it can cause pain and irritation in your esophagus. But it can also cause a burning sensation in your throat and a feeling of nausea. When you sleep, you lie flat, so you may experience more heartburn in the morning rather than right after eating. This is because the stomach acid then has less resistance to come up through your esophagus than when you are sitting upright or standing.
The solution: Try not to eat fatty foods like cheese or red meat during your evening meal. Snacking less can also help. Heavy foods cannot be digested as quickly by your stomach, so it stays in your stomach longer and the chance of bloating and nausea increases. Also, citrus fruits and alcohol can cause heartburn in the morning, so try to avoid those in the evening as well.
Keep a food diary. This will give you a better overview of what (and what time) you take everything in.
4. You feel hunted or stressed
Feeling rushed or stressed can also cause nausea, especially if it keeps you up at night. When you feel rushed, your body releases hormones and chemicals that can affect your digestion. This chemical imbalance can cause various stomach problems, including nausea. Therefore, stress not only affects your mental health, but also your physical health.
The solution: It’s easier said than done, but it’s important to make sure you go through life less stressed. That may include perhaps getting help from a professional. It can also help to maintain healthy sleep habits: don’t go to bed too late – especially not for work – to ensure that you wake up even more stressed and nauseous.
5. You need to pay attention to your reproductive health
Have you just started a new form of contraception? If so, you may also experience nausea: nausea, dizziness and bloating are common symptoms of birth control pills. It is also possible, of course, that you are pregnant. After all, morning sickness is a common symptom of pregnancy.
The solution: If you think your new pill is giving you unwanted side effects, it’s best to visit your doctor to discuss it. Are you feeling nauseous in the morning and are you overdue? Then it’s probably wise to take a pregnancy test to see if you might be pregnant.