Stomach discomfort is common after you eat foods that are greasy, hard to digest or high in fiber, as they cause excessive gas. If you notice that your stomach pain occurs every time you eat or that the pain is getting worse, you need to call your doctor. Stomach pain that slowly increases a few hours or a day later may be the result of food poisoning. If you notice that you only develop stomach pain after eating certain foods, it may be related to a food sensitivity or allergy. Stomach pain after eating every meal may be related to irritable bowel syndrome.
Food Poisoning
Food poisoning is an isolated incident that is caused by consuming food or drink that contains infectious organisms. Most symptoms, such as stomach pain appear within four to 36 hours after you eat the contaminated food. Symptoms from food poisoning can come on slowly and progressive get worse. Common symptoms along with stomach pain include diarrhea, vomiting and cramping. Food poisoning can occur after eating any food that has been contaminated but is more common in fish, meats and dairy.
Food Sensitivities
Food sensitivities or allergies are a common cause of stomach pain that develops after you eat a specific food. Food intolerances are more common than food allergies but may be difficult to distinguish because of similar digestive symptoms. The most common food intolerance is lactose intolerance, affecting about 10 percent of the American people, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Food intolerance is a digestive complication typically related to the inability to digest certain proteins, sugars or food additives.
Food Allergy
A food allergy is less common in adults, but more common in children. MayoClinic.com states that about 8 percent of children have a food allergy, while only 4 percent of adults are allergic to a food. Food allergies will cause stomach pain within a few minutes of eating a food that causes an allergic reaction. Food allergy symptoms affect more than the digestive system; they include, for example, sinus complications, hives, eczema, shortness of breath and chest tightness. Milk, wheat, fish, tree nuts, eggs, soy and milk are the most common foods that can trigger an allergic reaction.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a common condition in the United States that causes stomach pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation and nausea after eating. Some foods are more likely to trigger IBS symptoms, such as alcohol, dairy and chocolate. The cause of this condition is not understood, but is thought to be caused by a malfunction in communication between the brain and the nervous system in the colon. Stress is thought to be a major contributing factor.
