Does the Thought of Breakfast Make You Nauseous?

If you're anything like me, you're famished the second you open your eyes in the morning. For some people, though, the thought of eating breakfast is sickening, causing literal feelings of nausea. What's that all about?

Here's the deal: feeling nauseous during breakfast typically isn't a cause for concern, and it's relatively common, says functional medicine physician Shivani Amin, MD. More often than not, it's a result of the digestive system's slow start in the morning since the stomach and intestines may not be fully awake, leading to a delayed response to food, she says. In turn, you may have general feelings of queasiness, stomach pain, dizziness, lack of appetite, or even vomiting.

Fortunately, the nausea usually dissipates within a few hours and you'll be ready to eat soon after, says Laura Purdy, MD, a family medicine physician. However, if you're consistently nauseous before, during, or after breakfast, it's best to talk with your doctor to rule out any underlying conditions.

The exact cause of nausea around breakfast time can vary, so keep reading to narrow down what exactly you're dealing with — plus how to work around it.

Shivani Amin, MD, is a functional medicine physician based in Los Angeles.

Patricia Kolesa, RDN, is a registered dietitian and the founder of Dietitian Dish, a company that offers nutrition services.

Laura Purdy, MD, is a family medicine physician and the founder of telehealth company Swell Medical.

Breakfast-related nausea may be a red flag, but it's not always a cause for concern. The accompanying symptoms can tell you a lot about the culprit and when to see a doctor. Here are a few potential reasons for morning nausea, according to our experts.

Your Blood Sugar Is Low

The most common reason for feeling nauseous in the a.m. is low blood sugar levels after you haven't eaten all night, Dr. Amin says. It sounds counterintuitive, but your aversion to food may actually be a signal that you're hungry and your blood sugar has dropped too low, causing you to feel dizzy, weak, or nauseous, she says.

For some people, hunger hormones like ghrelin trigger nausea as a hunger cue, adds dietitian Patricia Kolesa, RDN. So, if you tend to delay or skip breakfast, or haven't eaten anything for hours, eat a light bite like toast, yogurt, or a banana when you first wake up to support your blood sugar and nix any queasiness.

You're Dehydrated

When you don't consume fluids throughout the night, which is to be expected, you may experience dehydration-related nausea upon waking up, Dr. Amin says. If you don't rehydrate, nauseous feelings can linger, making food sound less than stellar, she explains.

The solution? Drink up. Aim to gulp a glass of water in the morning and then try to eat easily digestible foods like toast, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, or applesauce, Kolesa says.

You Ate a Large Dinner

Digestion slows during nighttime, so if you ate a large meal the night before, you may still feel full when you wake up, Kolesa says. The stomach and intestines also might not be fully awake in the morning, causing nausea and a further delayed response to food if you try to eat, Dr. Amin says.

The body typically kicks back into high gear after an hour or two, but in the meantime, Dr. Amin says water and mild stretching can help speed up the process.

You Opt For Sugary or Fried Foods

Sometimes your nausea is a result of the nutritional choices you make in the morning, and if you opt for sweet or fried foods, they can feel especially heavy on the stomach to start the day, Dr. Purdy says. Luckily, a more balanced meal like toast, Greek yogurt, eggs, or a protein shake usually squashes the issue, Kolesa says.

You're Pregnant

One of the earliest pregnancy signs in the first trimester is morning sickness, and breakfast can often worsen nauseous feelings, Dr. Purdy says. If you're expecting or you suspect you're pregnant, it's best to talk with your doctor, but small, bland meals, water, and ginger or peppermint tea can help, Dr. Amin says.

You're Stressed

In case your stress wasn't stressful enough, feelings of worry and anxiety can cause nausea during breakfast, Dr. Amin says. Why? If you're stressed in the morning, your cortisol levels skyrocket (aka your stress hormone) and can affect the overall digestive system, resulting in nausea, she explains. To help wind down, Dr. Amin suggests a regular sleep schedule, light stretching, and a cup of ginger or peppermint tea.

You Have Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as GERD, may be the culprit of your breakfast-related nausea, Dr. Amin says. Lying flat all night allows the acid to back up into the esophagus, triggering what's commonly known as acid reflux, which may worsen in the morning and cause nausea when you're trying to eat, she explains.

GERD is often managed with dietary modifications and lifestyle changes such as avoiding big meals late at night, limiting acid-forming foods like onions, garlic, tomatoes, and vinegar, and consuming smaller, more frequent meals, but if symptoms persist, Dr. Amin says to talk with your doctor. From there, they may prescribe medication or do further testing to rule out more serious conditions.

You Have a Food Intolerance

Feel nauseous every time you eat a certain food? It may be a food intolerance, Dr. Purdy says. To help identify a potential trigger, keep track of what you eat and when you feel nauseous. If you notice a pattern, Dr. Purdy says to wean the food out of your diet and talk with a doctor.

You're Hungover

If you had a few too many glasses of wine the night before, feeling nauseous before or during breakfast may be a sign you're hungover, Dr. Purdy says. If that's the case, drink plenty or water, snack on carbohydrates like bread or crackers, and get some sleep.

You're Just Not a Breakfast Person

If you're not used to a certain eating pattern, your body might not be ready to digest food after immediately waking up, Kolesa says. "Our circadian rhythm that controls our digestive processes and bodily function might not be fully awake when we first wake up, resulting in slower gastric motility and digestive enzymes. That reduces our desire to eat."

You'll likely be hungry within an hour or two, but if you have other worrisome symptoms while trying to eat like abdominal pain, extreme fatigue, or vomiting, talk with your doc.

Feeling nauseous while eating breakfast isn't typically a reason to panic, but it can be unpleasant and disruptive. If it begins to interfere with your day-to-day life, Dr. Purdy says it's time to visit your doctor. Additionally, if your nausea is severe, persistent, or accompanied by weight loss, intense pain, vomiting, or rectal bleeding, Dr. Amin recommends checking in with your healthcare provider ASAP.

Andi Breitowich is a Chicago-based freelance writer and graduate from Emory University and Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. Her work has appeared in PS, Women's Health, Cosmopolitan, and elsewhere.