Feeling queasy and unsure what to eat is a common and unpleasant experience. While your body craves sustenance, the thought of certain foods can make your stomach churn even more. For many, cheese is a comfort food, but its high fat and sometimes strong odor can be a double-edged sword when you're feeling ill. The general medical consensus leans toward avoiding rich, high-fat dairy, including most cheeses, when experiencing nausea. The difficulty in digesting these foods can irritate an already sensitive digestive system and exacerbate symptoms. However, the answer is not a simple 'yes' or 'no' and depends heavily on the type of cheese, the severity of your nausea, and your personal tolerance.
Why Fatty Cheeses Can Worsen Nausea
When your body is battling an illness that causes nausea, your digestive system slows down. Fatty foods, which take longer to digest, put extra strain on this already sluggish process, potentially leading to increased discomfort. The milk fat in cheese is particularly hard to process and can prolong feelings of queasiness. For individuals with lactose intolerance, which can be heightened during an illness, consuming any dairy product, including cheese, can lead to bloating, gas, and stomach cramps. Furthermore, some aged or strong-smelling cheeses, like blue cheese or Roquefort, have odors that can trigger or intensify nausea. The combination of high fat content and powerful smells makes most cheeses a poor choice when you're feeling sick.
Alternatives to Consider When Craving Dairy
If you find yourself craving dairy during a bout of nausea, there are better options than high-fat cheese that may be easier on your stomach. Plain, low-fat yogurt with live cultures is often recommended. These probiotics can help restore healthy gut bacteria and aid digestion. Some people can also tolerate chilled, bland dairy products with low fat content, as cold foods often have less odor and can be more palatable. If your nausea is mild, you could try a very small amount of a bland, low-fat cheese to test your tolerance, but it is best to proceed with caution.
Foods That May Help Alleviate Nausea
When your stomach is upset, sticking to a bland diet is often the safest bet. The BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) is a classic for a reason: these foods are low in fiber, easy to digest, and can help settle your stomach. Other helpful foods include dry crackers, clear broths, and ginger tea, a proven remedy for soothing nausea. Eating small, frequent meals throughout the day instead of large ones can also prevent an empty stomach, which can sometimes worsen nausea.
Low-Fat vs. High-Fat Cheese for Nausea
| Feature | Low-Fat Cheese (e.g., part-skim ricotta, cottage cheese) | High-Fat Cheese (e.g., cheddar, brie, cream cheese) |
|---|---|---|
| Fat Content | Significantly lower | High to very high |
| Digestion | Easier to digest | Difficult to digest, slows gastric emptying |
| Lactose | Generally lower, especially cottage cheese | Varies, but can contribute to intolerance symptoms |
| Odor | Mild to neutral | Can have strong, triggering odors (e.g., aged cheeses) |
| Impact on Nausea | Less likely to worsen symptoms in small amounts | Very likely to aggravate an upset stomach |
| Best for Nausea? | Caution, but a possible option in small, plain servings | Strongly advised to avoid |
How to Reintroduce Cheese After Nausea Subsides
Once you begin to feel better, you can start reintroducing foods back into your diet, but take it slowly. Instead of diving into a plate of cheesy nachos, start with a very small amount of a bland, low-fat option. Pay attention to how your body reacts before increasing the portion size or trying a different type of cheese. Avoid reintroducing strong, aged, or high-fat cheeses until your digestive system is fully recovered.
Conclusion
In summary, the answer to the question "Can I eat cheese if I'm nauseous?" is typically no, especially when it comes to high-fat and strong-smelling varieties. The high fat content and potential for triggering odors can make an upset stomach feel significantly worse. Opting for bland, low-fat alternatives like plain yogurt or sticking to the recommended BRAT diet is a much safer approach. If you must have cheese, proceed with extreme caution and only try a small amount of a low-fat, bland option once your symptoms have already begun to improve. Always listen to your body, as personal tolerance varies widely.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of cheese should I definitely avoid when nauseous?
You should avoid high-fat and strong-smelling cheeses like cheddar, brie, cream cheese, and any aged or fermented cheeses, such as blue cheese.
Is cottage cheese a good option for nausea?
Cottage cheese can be a better option than high-fat cheeses because it is lower in fat. However, some people might still find dairy difficult to digest, so it should be consumed in small amounts to test tolerance.
Can lactose intolerance worsen nausea?
Yes, if you have lactose intolerance, consuming dairy products like cheese can trigger symptoms such as bloating, cramping, and nausea, which will worsen your discomfort.
Are there any cold foods that can help with nausea?
Yes, some people find that eating cold foods like chilled non-fat yogurt, gelatin, or popsicles is easier to tolerate when nauseous because they have less odor.
Why does the smell of some cheese trigger nausea?
Some cheeses have very strong, pungent odors due to their fermentation process. For someone with a sensitive stomach, these smells can act as a trigger for nausea.
How soon can I reintroduce cheese after recovering from nausea?
It is best to wait until your symptoms have fully subsided. When you do reintroduce it, start with a very small portion of a bland, low-fat variety and see how your body responds.
What is a bland diet for an upset stomach?
A bland diet, often called the BRAT diet, consists of easy-to-digest foods like bananas, plain white rice, applesauce, and toast, which are less likely to irritate your digestive system.
