Understanding the Root Cause of Morning Nausea so You Can Get Rid of it for Good
Based on my own clients who often report feeling nauseous and not hungry in the mornings, I made a poll on Instagram stories and nearly half of the respondents (over 100 of my followers!) reported feeling nauseous in the morning every day or on the occasion.
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Many of us wake up every morning nauseous, sluggish, and without much appetite, especially for protein. Morning nausea might keep you from enjoying a balanced breakfast with enough protein, carbs, and fats. A protein-rich breakfast is essential for balanced hormones, to have energy throughout the day, and a healthy relationship with food. Morning nausea may also be the precursor of other, more serious gut issues such as leaky gut, reflux, H.pylori infection, and more.
If you’ve experienced morning nausea chronically or have in the past, I am sure you’ve looked it up already and have been suggested ginger, lemongrass, peppermint, etc. Though these herbs are very effective in alleviating symptoms, they do not keep morning nausea from happening in the future. This blog post is NOT about the quick fixes, it is however all about understanding the root cause of your morning nausea so you can get rid of it for good using a science-based approach.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mariu Cabral is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP) who specializes in the gut, particularly Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), acid reflux, and chronic gastrointestinal diseases. She is the creator of the online course 'The No Bloat Code' where she teaches how to naturally and holistically support IBS symptoms and acid reflux.
WHAT CAUSES MORNING NAUSEA (besides pregnancy)
Having nausea in the mornings is associated with improper digestion, insufficient gastric juices such as HCl (stomach acid), and a burdened liver and gallbladder. Let’s discuss the two most prevalent causes of morning sickness:
#1 LOW STOMACH ACID AND GASTRIC JUICES:
When we feel nauseous in the morning or still full from the previous night, it’s often because we are still digesting food from the night before. When it’s time to digest, the stomach needs HCL (stomach acid) and pepsin (a digestive enzyme) to do an initial breakdown of foods. Then the pancreas secretes other digestive enzymes to digest the proteins, carbs, and fats. Without adequate amounts of stomach acid, then the food isn’t properly broken down, making it harder to digest in the next stages, and kinda just sitting there.
If on top of nausea in the mornings, you also experience reflux or GERD, then the irritation of the gastric mucosa caused by the reflux can also cause or contribute to nausea, making it a vicious cycle that is hard to break (but not impossible, so keep on reading!)
#2 LIVER AND GALLBLADDER DYSFUNCTION
The liver is an amazing organ, in charge of the detox process that keeps us alive and away from potential poison: endocrine-disruptive chemicals from food and our environment, drugs, food additives, etc. Too many chemicals in the environment and in the diet can create a burden on the liver, making it reach its capacity. On the other hand, the gallbladder, a small organ right below your liver, creates bile. Bile is a substance secreted that helps us eliminate fats. When we don’t secrete enough bile, toxins can build up in our liver and this leads to nausea.
Other common symptoms of a burdened liver are painful periods, acne, and even chronic fatigue.
How to Get Rid of Morning Nausea Using a Holistic Approach:
Diet:
increase your intake of bitter herbs such as dandelion greens, mustard greens, arugula, ginger, bitter melon... Teas are a great aid but you also need to eat these foods in their whole form for them to be the most effective. You may also supplement with a digestive bitter tincture before meals to reap the benefits.
Increase acidic foods in your diet such as limes, lemons, and vinegar. Pair these with the previously-mentioned bitter herbs (as in salads) for the ultimate liver & stomach support.
If you went through gallbladder removal, supplement with bile salts.
For digestive bitters, my favorite teas, and bile salts supplement for liver support, check my online dispensary and get 10% off clinical-grade quality supplements.*
Lifestyle:
Make sure you chew your food thoroughly, until applesauce consistency before swallowing it, this will help the breakdown of foods in your stomach and make things pass through the digestive tract nice and smooth.
Avoid using tight-fitting clothing.
Drink some lemon water before meals.
Enroll in The No Bloat Code, the all-online blueprint for stomach and tummy trouble support.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:
If you experience morning nausea you may also experience constipation and/or diarrhea, food sensitivities, reflux, and more. These classic IBS symptoms are often accompanied by your nausea because the body doesn't act in isolation. All gut issues are tightly related to one another. Experiencing some mild gut discomfort today can develop into more severe symptoms in the future if left unchecked. You may also be at a greater risk for H pylori infection, dysbiosis, and leaky gut syndrome. My recommendation is to act now by following the tips mentioned above and by enrolling in The No Bloat Code.
I love writing relevant information that helps YOU become the healthiest version of yourself. To suggest specific blog topics, please leave them in the comments section or send me a DM on Instagram.
REFERENCES:
Weatherby, D. (2004). Signs and symptoms analysis from a functional perspective: A question by question guide / Dicken Weatherby, N.D. Bear Mountain Publishing.
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*This post may contain affiliate links. Mariu Cabral may earn a small commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. Mariu Cabral only shares recommendations she uses herself and believes in.