Almonds & Nausea

Nausea, or the uneasy stomach sensation that feels like you may need to vomit, is not itself a disease, but a symptom of some other condition such as stomach flu or blocked intestines. While causes vary, there are some common remedies you may have handy, like ginger ale or tea. A lesser known remedy to ease symptoms of nausea is a handful of almonds. Ironically, almonds may cause nausea for some people, as well.

Almonds are a high protein food that may ease nausea and almond milk may soothe a stomach. (Image: Gam1983/iStock/Getty Images)

Causes of Nausea

The list of ailments associated with feelings of nausea is lengthy. Most commonly caused by viral gastroenteritis, or stomach flu, the alternative causes include migraines, motion-sickness, alcohol overdose or hangover, migraines and chemotherapy. Lesser probabilities include anorexia, brain tumors, certain kinds of cancer, ear infections, gallstones, meningitis, heart attack and behavior disorders like general anxiety disorder. Seek immediate medical attention if nausea is accompanied by chest pain, serious abdominal pain, clammy and cold skin, fecal matter in your vomit, or high fever with a stiff neck.

Almond to Soothe Nausea

Another common cause of nausea is morning sickness related to pregnancy. Childbirth and postpartum educator Robin Elise Weiss suggests eating a high protein snack, like almonds, before going to bed at night to soothe morning sickness. Another suggested remedy to ease nausea is to eat more iron-rich foods, which points again to consuming almonds. As low blood sugar increases your likelihood of experiencing nausea, eat small meals, like a handful of almonds, more frequently and avoid greasy or heavily spiced foods.

Nutritional Information

Adding almonds to your diet to help fight sensations of nausea provides nutritional benefits, also. Dry roasted almonds contain 90 calories per 1/2 oz. serving. From one serving's 7 g of fat, only 1/2 g is saturated, with the remaining fat being monounsaturated -- the kind of fat that lowers your bad cholesterol. Almonds also include 3 g of protein, 3 g of carbohydrates, 2 g of fiber and 1 g of sugar. Almonds are rich in riboflavin, Vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc. According to the New World Encyclopedia, medicinal claims for almonds include improved complexion, better movement of food through the colon and help prevent cancer. However, these claims need further research to validate assertions.

Almond Allergy

While peanuts are among the highest allergy-causing foods known, other nuts like almonds are also common allergy-inducing foods due to their similar protein qualities to peanuts. If you are allergic to almonds, your immune system recognizes almonds as harmful and produces anti-bodies to protect itself from them, called histamine. When histamine is released, it can affect multiple systems. Your respiratory system may be affected by wheezing or coughing, itchy throat, sneezing or watery eyes. Allergies can affect your gastrointestinal tract, causing diarrhea or other stomach discomforts. If your cardiovascular system is affected, you may feel dizzy or faint. And your skin may be affected, causing itchy hives or swelling. Nausea is also a symptom of almond allergies. Consult your doctor for more information dealing with nut allergies.