Why Does Hunger Cause Nausea?

It is often impossible to grab a healthy breakfast in the morning while you are hurrying out the door, late to a meeting.

- Amritha K

And once you reach the office, the busy schedules can often lead to you forgetting to grab a bite to calm your stomach. By the time you get time to eat something, it will be lunch hour and that is more than 15 hours after your last meal! You would expect yourself to be hungry, instead, here you are feeling nauseous and wanting to throw up. That is not because the food repels you, but the hydrochloric acid in your stomach. And this is not just for skipping breakfast but any meal of the day.

Why does hunger make you feel nauseous?

Hunger-induced nausea has multiple causes. First, your stomach produces hydrochloric acid to digest food, breaking it down into energy and discarding the waste. When you skip meals, this acid builds up in your stomach and can move into the oesophagus, causing acid reflux, heartburn, and nausea. Studies suggest that this acid imbalance plays a significant role in hunger-related discomfort. Additionally, prolonged acid accumulation can irritate the stomach lining, further worsening feelings of nausea.