I have no appetite and feel sick when I eat, why?

You usually lose your appetite and feel sick when you eat because of infections or digestive problems. However, your need to eat will usually return when you have recovered.

Some people experience a loss of appetite due to a lengthy sickness such as cancer.

What could be causing your lack of appetite and nausea when eating?

Have you been feeling a little off lately? If you're experiencing a loss of appetite and nausea when eating, it could be due to several different causes.

Flu

The stomach flu, also known as gastroenteritis, is a viral infection that can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The flu can also lead to losing appetite and feeling sick when you eat.

If you think you might have the flu, it's essential to see a doctor as soon as possible, as the flu can lead to severe complications, such as pneumonia.

Infection

Another possible cause of a loss of appetite and feeling sick when you eat is an infection. Infections can occur in any part of your body, including your digestive system.

Common symptoms of an infection include fever, chills, and body aches. If you think you have an infection, you must see a doctor and get the proper treatment.

Food poisoning

Food poisoning is another possible cause of losing appetite and feeling sick when you eat. It occurs when you consume contaminated food or water.

Common symptoms of food poisoning include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. If you think you might have food poisoning, you must see a doctor get the proper treatment.

Digestive problems

Many digestive problems can cause a loss of appetite and feeling sick when you eat. Some of the most common digestive problems include:

• Gastritis: This is inflammation of the stomach lining. Gastritis can be caused by several things, including infections, stress, and certain medications.
• A peptic ulcer is a break in the stomach lining or small intestine. Peptic ulcers are usually caused by infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori or by long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): This disorder affects the large intestine. IBS can cause various symptoms, including abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea.

If you think you might have a digestive problem, it's essential to see your doctor get the proper treatment.

Pregnancy

If you're a woman experiencing a loss of appetite and feeling sick when you eat, you could be pregnant. Pregnancy can cause several symptoms, including nausea, fatigue, and food cravings.

If you think you might be pregnant, it's essential to see your doctor get the proper care.

Celiac disease

Celiac disease is a condition that affects the digestive system. An intolerance causes celiac disease to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye.

People with celiac disease experience various symptoms, including abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea. If you think you might have celiac disease, it's essential to see your doctor get the proper treatment.

Anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by a fear of gaining weight and refusing to eat. People with anorexia nervosa often have a distorted view of their body and see themselves as overweight, even underweight.

This condition can lead to many serious health problems, including malnutrition, bone loss, and heart problems. If you think you might have anorexia nervosa, you must see your doctor get the proper treatment.

Cancer

Sometimes, a loss of appetite and feeling sick when you eat can be a sign of cancer. Cancer can affect any part of the body, including the digestive system.

Common symptoms of cancer include fatigue, weight loss, and pain. If you think you might have cancer, it's essential to see your doctor get the proper treatment.

Treatment

The treatment for losing appetite and feeling sick when you eat will depend on the underlying cause.

You'll need to be treated with antibiotics if you have an infection. In addition, you may need to take medication or change your diet if you have a digestive problem.

If you have cancer, you'll need to undergo treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Prevention

You can do a few things to help prevent a loss of appetite and feeling sick when you eat.

• Wash your hands: Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, especially before you eat.
• Cook food properly: Be sure to cook food thoroughly, especially meat and poultry.
• Avoid contaminated food and water: Avoid consuming contaminated food or water. If you're traveling to a country where the water is not safe to drink, be sure to drink only bottled water.
• See your doctor: If you have a chronic condition, such as diabetes or an autoimmune disease, be sure to see your doctor regularly.

A loss of appetite and feeling sick when you eat can have a variety of causes. If you're unsure what's causing your symptoms, it's essential to see a doctor get the proper treatment.

Changes to do in your diet to alleviate these symptoms.

It's not unusual to experience a loss of appetite and nausea while eating. These symptoms can be caused by various factors, including stress, pregnancy, and certain medications.

However, there are some simple changes that you can make to your diet to help alleviate these symptoms. For example:

• Try eating smaller meals more frequently throughout the day instead of three large meals.
• You might also want to experiment with different foods to see what agrees with you best. Some people find that foods high in fat or proteins are more accessible to digest than carbohydrates.
• If you're still having trouble keeping food down, try avoiding spicy or fried foods, citrus fruits, and juices.

By making some simple adjustments to your diet, you can help minimize the symptoms of nausea and loss of appetite.

Foods to eat when you have a lack of appetite and nausea

A few different foods can help you if you're struggling with a loss of appetite and nausea.

For example, broth-based soups, ginger, bananas, and oatmeal are all excellent options. You might also want to try drinking plenty of fluids, such as water or herbal tea.

If you're still having trouble keeping food down, try avoiding spicy or fried foods, citrus fruits, and juices.

You can find what works best by trying different foods and drinks.

Conclusion

So if you're feeling nauseous and like you can't keep anything down, your body may be trying to tell you something.

Read our articles to learn more about what could be causing your symptoms and how to get relief.

DISCLAIMER: buildyourbody.org does not provide medical advice, examination, or diagnosis.

Medically reviewed and approved by Nataniel Josue M D.