What causes nausea and vomiting during dieting and weight loss

Dieting to lose weight, nausea and vomiting are usually caused by prolonged fasting, abnormal gastric acid secretion, electrolyte imbalance, hypoglycemic reactions, and excessive psychological pressure. They can be alleviated by adjusting the diet structure, supplementing water and electrolytes, and eating regularly.

1. Long fasting time:

Long term non eating can lead to continuous emptying of the stomach, and the gastric mucosa can be stimulated by stomach acid, causing nausea. Overfasting individuals often skip meals, disrupt the rhythm of gastric acid secretion, and directly stimulate the stomach wall with stomach acid on an empty stomach. In severe cases, it may trigger gastritis. It is recommended to ensure at least three meals per day, with a maximum interval of 5 hours between meals.

2. Abnormal gastric acid secretion:

Suddenly reducing food intake can disrupt the regularity of gastric acid secretion. When the secretion of stomach acid exceeds the neutralizing capacity of food, excess stomach acid will reflux into the esophagus, causing heartburn and vomiting. This situation is more common in high protein, low-carbon water diets, where protein digestion requires a large amount of stomach acid to participate. Moderately increase the intake of slow-release carbohydrates such as oats and whole wheat bread. 3. Electrolyte imbalance: Strict dietary restrictions can lead to mineral deficiencies such as sodium, potassium, and magnesium. Hyponatremia can cause nausea and vomiting, while low potassium may slow down gastrointestinal motility. Rapid loss of water during weight loss can exacerbate electrolyte imbalance. Potassium rich bananas, spinach, and magnesium rich nuts should be consumed daily, and light salt water should be consumed if necessary. 4. Hypoglycemic reaction: When carbohydrate intake is insufficient, a sudden drop in blood sugar levels triggers sympathetic nervous system excitation, resulting in symptoms such as cold sweat, hand tremors, and nausea. When the brain lacks glucose supply, it will activate a protective vomiting reflex. It is recommended to choose low glycemic index foods such as brown rice and quinoa, and avoid extreme diets that completely cut off carbon.

5. Excessive psychological stress:

Excessive focus on weight numbers may trigger anxiety, and elevated levels of stress hormone cortisol can inhibit digestive function. When some people develop resistance to dieting, their bodies express resistance through gastrointestinal discomfort. Self regulating nervous system function can be regulated through meditation and deep breathing, with 1-2 days of flexible diet days set each week.

If persistent vomiting occurs, one should be alert to ketoacidosis or bile reflux gastritis, and it is recommended to seek medical examination. Daily intake should be maintained at a basic level of 1200-1500 calories per day, with protein not less than 1 gram per kilogram of body weight. The weight loss rate should be controlled at 0.5-1 kilogram per week. Use steaming and boiling methods for cooking, and avoid drinking coffee or strong tea on an empty stomach. Taking a low-intensity exercise such as a walk 30 minutes after a meal can promote digestion and increase metabolic rate. Weight management is a long-term process, and extreme dieting may cause a decrease in basal metabolic rate, forming a more difficult to break weight loss plateau.