What causes nausea after eating?

Nausea is a common symptom that can occur for a variety of reasons. The upset feeling in your stomach and urge to vomit can sometimes come on after right after you have a meal or snack.

1. Overeating: Eating too much food can cause you to feel uncomfortable and nauseated. When you overeat, the stomach expands to make room for excess food. The larger stomach can put pressure on nearby organs, which can cause discomfort. It may also lead to heartburn, gas and bloating. This is especially the case if the foods you ate were high in fat because high-fat foods take longer to digest. To avoid eating too much in the future, eat more slowly and pay attention to your portion sizes. Eating too quickly can lead to overeating because it takes your brain time to realize that your stomach is full.
   
   
2. Food allergies and food intolerances: If you repeatedly feel nauseated after you eat a certain food, you may have a food allergy or intolerance. With a food allergy, your immune system incorrectly identifies a certain food as a harmful substance and sets off a reaction that can be life-threatening in some cases. Symptoms can range from mild to severe. They may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or stomach cramps.
   
   In addition to digestive issues, food allergies also tend to cause other symptoms, such as a rash, hives, swelling or trouble breathing. A food intolerance, on the other hand, does not involve the immune system. Rather, it occurs when the body is unable to properly digest a certain food. Symptoms are often limited to digestive problems. Food intolerances can cause similar symptoms to food allergies. However, reactions are not normally as severe. Contact your healthcare provider if you think you have a food allergy or intolerance so they can figure out what’s causing your symptoms.
   
   
3. Other causes: Nausea after eating can also occur for other reasons. Some examples include:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): This condition occurs when food leaks from your stomach back into the esophagus, usually due to the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) not closing all the way. The burning feeling in the esophagus and throat can be accompanied by nausea. Certain foods can make symptoms of GERD worse.
• Gastroparesis: With this digestive disorder, the stomach does not contract normally. Food moves through the stomach more slowly or not at all. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting and feeling full after eating only a small amount of food. Uncontrolled diabetes is a common cause of gastroparesis.
• Food poisoning: Foodborne illnesses can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and other digestive symptoms within hours or days of eating a contaminated food.
• Morning sickness: If you have nausea during pregnancy, eating certain foods may make your symptoms worse.
• Gallbladder disease: The gallbladder is located under the liver, and it stores bile for digesting food. Inflammation, infection, stones or blockage of the gallbladder are all considered gallbladder disease.
• Pancreatitis: Your pancreas can become inflamed suddenly or over time, depending on the cause. The most common symptom is abdominal pain that may radiate to your back.
• Stomach or duodenal ulcers: Certain infections, taking medications (such as NSAIDS) for long periods of time, and having certain health conditions may increase your risk for developing these painful, gnawing ulcers.

In many cases, nausea after eating is temporary. However, if you regularly feel nauseated after eating, you should contact your healthcare provider. They can review your symptoms, perform an exam and possibly order tests to determine what’s causing your nausea.

Updated by Julie McDaniel, MSN, RN, CRNI, April 2025.