How To Prevent Nausea & Feel Better ASAP

Feeling nauseated seriously sucks. It can seriously kill a good mood and make us feel uneasy and unlike ourselves. Thus, it's important to prevent nausea with certain lifestyle hacks that can help the discomfort go away and get you back to feeling relaxed and normal without any hiccups or tummy troubles, as explained by Chris M. Matsko, MD, on WikiHow.

As a certified health coach, I work with clients on being in tune with their bodies. Sometimes nausea hits, and you're like, "What now?" and that's when it's time to start the healing process ASAP. Nausea can affect our moods and stomachs, as it can make us feel uncomfortable and perhaps turned off to things that could make us happy, such as foods and appetite, exercise or even just concentrating on being present in a given moment, whether work or social related. Plus, when nausea turns to vomit, it's really sucks. Between the smell, the reflex to vomit again and again, and the contagious aspect, where it can spread to those around us, feeling nauseated truly blows. Here are 11 ways to prevent nausea now and to start feeling back to your normal, comfortable self.

1. Eat Many Meals

Instead of downing large meals in one sitting, opt for small meals more frequently in the day, advises Dr. Lisa Ashe, Medical Director of Be Well Medical Group, over email with me. "Eat multiple small meals per day and avoid heavy large meals," Ashe says. Go for snacks and light bites to not overwhelm the body with large amounts of protein and acid to have to digest.

2. Don't Lay Down After Eating

While food might make us sleepy (cue Thanksgiving memories, anyone?), it's not smart to settle into sleepytime after eating a large meal, suggests Ashe. "Wait at least 2 hours before laying down after a meal to help prevent reflux," Ashe says, as this can help the food pass to avoid nausea and indigestion.

3. Drink Water

There's nothing like drinking cold water during the day to awaken the mind and boost concentration and energy, and water can keep us hydrated so that we feel more comfortable throughout the day and can avoid lethargy and sickness, advices Ashe. "Stay hydrated and drink multiple glasses of water per day" for optimal prevention, Ashe recommends.

4. Avoid Spicy Foods

According to Ashe, spices and hot tempered foods can irritate people's acid reflux senses, as well as their stomach linings and tendencies for indigestion, heartburn and nausea. If you know that spices are troubling for you, stick with mild flavorings and herbs instead, as those won't cause discomfort. That means goodbye tabasco and hot sauce!

5. Eat Ginger

"Ginger has been traditionally used to support digestive health and many people use it today to help address digestive discomfort. Fresh ginger can be used as a tea, and is also available in convenient capsule for which is great for travel," says Brian Tanzer, Nutritionist for The Vitamin Shoppe, over email with me. Eat raw or toss with veggies, in a smoothie or juice or in supplement form.

6. Smell Peppermint Oil

According to Dr. Axe on his blog, peppermint oil has been used as a remedy to alleviate nausea, as it can promote relaxation to better the mood and prevent feelings of discomfort and vomiting. Sniff a few drops, add to a warm, relaxing bath, or rub on your body to take in the aromas and allow yourself to unwind and feel better.

7. Chamomile Tea

According to Dr. Axe, chamomile tea can also aid preventing nausea and indigestion post-meal. Plus, it can make you sleepy and more rested before bed, which is always a great bonus, as is noted on blog. Have a cup when feeling nauseated and allow your mind to settle down and your feelings of nausea to pass.

8. Take Vitamins With Food

Some vitamins and medications cannot be taken on an empty stomach and need some food to help it go down properly. Thus, read labels carefully or ask a physician for advice if you are unsure or notice any nausea after taking a pill. Take with larger meals, or make sure that you have some sort of snack or milk-based substance to eat or drink it with in order to fill the belly.

9. Be Mindful Of Caffeine Intake

According to experts at Johns Hopkins Medicine in discussion with Livestrong, withdrawal from caffeine can result in nausea, fatigue, dizziness, muscle pain, trouble sleeping, and irritability. While none of these sound good, nausea is definitely a major disturbance and can sometimes last a while. Be careful with how much caffeine you consume each day and of withdrawal symptoms.

10. Acupuncture

A small 2015 study published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine, as reported on Everyday Health, shows that acupuncture, predominately in the wrist, can help alleviate symptoms of nausea and get you feeling back to normal. When you feel nauseated, do some acupuncture techniques to heal and reduce any discomfort you might be feeling.

11. Take Deep Breaths

According to Dr. Jeffrey Gross and his nurse Lynn Anderson from the University of Connecticut, School of Medicine, and reported on Beyond Disease, taking deep breaths can help reduce nausea and alleviate any feelings of uneasiness. If you sense nausea coming on, take a breather and get some rest without stressing about the situation, and wait to see if there's an improvement.

If you are experiencing nausea, following these guidelines to start feeling back to normal and relaxed. No one wants a vomit attack, as it definitely doesn't feel good, so if you notice the urge coming up, take precautionary measures to put the feelings to bed and to protect yourself from a date with the toilet.

Images: Pixabay (12); Bustle