Sugar is an essential part of our daily diet. It is extremely hard to avoid it as it presents in a lot of foods. On average, we can consume around 30 teaspoons of sugar per day. However, some people complain that sugar can make them feel nauseous. Why does this happen?
If you feel sick after eating something sweet, you might just be overeating. When excessive amounts of sugar are metabolized, toxic acids like ketones are produced as a byproduct of metabolism. If they are produced in very large amounts, they can lead to nausea.
Sugar malabsorption or dietary fructose intolerance affects nearly one third of the whole adult population in the world. This digestive disorder is characterized by symptoms like nausea, bloating, diarrhea, belching, gas, and abdominal pain after eating sugar or sugar-rich products.
Sugar allergy is not uncommon. In this disorder, the body identifies the proteins found in sugar as harmful substances and produces IgE antibodies to fight against them. When people with this condition eat sugar, they can develop nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or rash.
Severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis can happen if the allergy is severe. It can be life-threatening and immediate treatment is required. The symptoms are wheezing, difficulty in breathing and swelling of lips or tongue.
If you complain "Sugar makes me feel sick" frequently, you may be suffering from type 2 diabetes. In this condition, the blood sugar levels become very high and vital organs like heart, lungs and eyes may be damaged. Other than nausea and vomiting after eating sugar, symptoms also include extreme thirst, increased frequency of urination, weight loss, weakness, confusion, cramps in legs, and in severe conditions, loss of consciousness and coma.
There are many artificial sweeteners available in the market. These are great for diabetics and for people who are trying to cut back on sugar intake. However, sometimes, excessive consumption of artificial sweeteners can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Be careful and eat them in moderation.
In rapid gastric emptying, the food is transferred from stomach to small intestine at a rapid pace. Simple carbohydrates and sugars are digested very quickly, and they travel from stomach to small intestine very quickly. Due to this rapid dumping of food, there can be a feeling of nausea, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea, weakness and dizziness.
Sometimes, the nausea which occurs after eating sweets or consuming large amounts of sugar is not due to sugar itself.
When to See a Doctor
Sugar makes me feel sick, why? Now you know the answer, so how to deal with this condition?
If you feel sick or nauseous every time you eat sugar, the best thing is to see your doctor. They can do the required investigations like blood glucose levels test and an allergy test if they are suspecting sugar allergy. Proper diagnosis is necessary for adequate treatment. When the cause of nausea is identified, you can modify your diet with the help of a dietician or nutritionist. They can suggest the right diet plan for you to fit your lifestyle and medical condition.
You can discuss with your doctor regarding the following home remedies for nausea:
If you are frequently visiting the doctor, complaining that "Sugar makes me feel sick", you may want to exclude sugar from your daily diet. Here are a few tips you can follow:
If you want to cut back your sugar intake, stop eating all the candies, cakes, sweets, brownies, ice creams and all the carbonated drinks. They are full of sugar and should not be consumed if you are on a sugar-free diet. You should also avoid all forms of sugar added to food.
Many processed foods contain sugar. Be savvy and read the labels first. Sugar is part of many salad dressings, pasta sauces, canned and preserved food items, ketchup and marinades. Read the labels carefully and select the sugar-free version or opt for the one with lowest sugar content.
White flour is very rapidly digested and if you are on a sugar-free diet, you should avoid all the products made from white flour as well. Pasta, pizza, white bread and other backed products made with refined or white flour can rapidly increase the blood glucose level. The healthy way is to swap white flour with whole grain flour.
Fruit and milk contain natural sugars. They can be taken in moderation even if you are on a no sugar diet. The sugars in them do not lead to rapid increase in blood glucose levels and they also contain many nutrients such as vitamins and fiber. Do not take dairy products with added sugars and eat dried fruit and fruit juice in limited quantities.