Nausea is an unsettling feeling in your stomach that is sometimes accompanied with the urge to vomit. Nausea is a symptom of a variety of conditions including pregnancy, food poisoning, viral infections, medications, migraines, food allergies and peptic ulcer. MedlinePlus notes most cases of nausea are not serious and can be treated with rest and food changes. If your nausea persists for a prolonged period, and you are not pregnant, consult with your physician so he can look for other possible underlying conditions.
Bland Foods
Follow a bland diet if you are experiencing nausea. A bland diet consists of soft, non-spicy and low-fiber foods. Some examples of bland foods include low-fat milk and dairy products; vegetables; fruit and vegetable juices; cooked or canned fruits such as applesauce; breads and crackers made with white flour; hot cereals; lean meats such as chicken an whitefish; pudding; eggs; and soup. If you suffer nausea, or morning sickness, while pregnant, having crackers next to your bed to eat before you get up helps to absorb the acid in your stomach to reduce nausea.
Ginger
Ginger is an herb that, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, has been used traditionally to treat nausea. Ginger can be used as a spice in foods, is found in ginger candies as well as ginger tea. A 2009 study published in the "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine" looked at the effectiveness of ginger on early pregnancy morning sickness. Looking at 67 pregnant women who experienced nausea, the researchers divided the participants into two groups. The first group received 250 mg capsules of ginger for four days and the other group received a placebo. The participants who received ginger had a decrease in nausea and vomiting when compared to the control group. The researchers concluded that ginger is a useful herbal therapy for the treatment of nausea in pregnancy.
Water
If you have nausea accompanied with vomiting, dehydration becomes a concern. It is important you stay hydrated by drinking at least eight to 10 glasses of water a day. Sports drinks designed to replace lost electrolytes are another good source of fluids. Eating foods with high water content, such as soups, can also help prevent dehydration.
Small and Frequent Eating
If you are experiencing nausea, stay away from the traditional three daily meals and eat smaller and more frequent meals. Keeping a small amount of food in your stomach at all times can help balance the acid in your stomach and reduce nausea. If you let your stomach become completely empty, according to Caring for Cancer, it can make your nausea worse.
References
- John Hopkins Medical; Treating Nausea: 12 Common-Sense Tips; September 2010
- MedlinePlus: When You Have Nausea and Vomiting
- Caring 4 Cancer: Nausea and Vomiting
- MedlinePlus: Nausea and Vomiting
- "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine"; Effects of Ginger Capsules on Pregnancy, Nausea and Vomiting; G. Ozgoli, et al.; March 2009
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine; Ginger; May 2006
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