What to eat to reduce motion sickness?

If you get motion sickness while traveling during the holidays, you can suck on fresh ginger, tangerine peel, lemon, eat bread, or chew gum to reduce the discomfort.

Motion sickness is a condition of dizziness, discomfort, nausea, vomiting while traveling by train, car, plane, boat...

Dr. Truong Trong Tuan, Department of Emergency Medicine, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said that motion sickness occurs because the movements that the eyes see are different from what the inner ear feels. The inner ear is part of the vestibular system, which processes information to control the body's balance, including eye movements. The brain is disturbed by inconsistent signals from the inner ear and eyes. At this time, the brain cannot process all the conflicting signals, causing motion sickness.

Motion sickness can happen to anyone, but is more common in people with vestibular disorders, migraines, women, pregnant women, women taking birth control pills, during menstruation, and children. Dr. Tuan suggests some foods that can reduce the risk of motion sickness.

Fresh ginger

Ginger helps relieve nausea and dizziness caused by motion sickness. The compounds in ginger help the digestive system function better by promoting stomach emptying, limiting the feeling of nausea.

Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties, improves digestion, and helps the body release hormones that regulate blood pressure. People with signs of motion sickness can suck on a little fresh ginger.

Drinking ginger tea about an hour before departure also helps reduce symptoms of nausea and dizziness when traveling by car or train. The recommended amount of ginger tea to avoid motion sickness is about 950 ml, so soak sliced fresh ginger in hot water and drink slowly.

Ginger helps relieve nausea and dizziness caused by motion sickness. Photo: Freepik — Ginger helps relieve nausea and dizziness caused by motion sickness. Photo: *Freepik*

Cookies

Crackers reduce saliva and gastric juices, helping to reduce nausea and discomfort. People who suffer from motion sickness can eat crackers before departure and keep extra crackers to nibble on during the journey. You should choose crackers with flavors that you like, avoid spicy, garlic, onion, etc. to avoid making motion sickness worse.

Bread

Eating toast can suppress nausea and reduce vomiting. Toast is easier to digest than regular bread. The starch in toast helps absorb excess acid, reducing stomach discomfort. When eating bread, the pancreas also secretes trypsin. This enzyme metabolizes amino acids in bread, has the effect of stabilizing the nervous system, and reducing motion sickness.

Fresh lemon and orange peel

The smell of tangerine and lemon peels can disperse conflicting information sent to the brain, limiting conflicts in sensory perception. Sucking on a bit of tangerine or lemon peel can reduce the feeling of hangover, limiting the risk of vomiting and nausea when traveling by car or train.

Potato

Potatoes are rich in starch and calories. Eat boiled, steamed, baked or mashed potatoes with a little butter or milk to add calories, stabilize the stomach, and help reduce motion sickness.

Sweet potato

Raw sweet potatoes help prevent motion sickness, prevent spasms, neutralize stomach acid, and reduce nausea. You should eat fresh, cleaned sweet potatoes, chew and swallow the pulp.

Gum

Chewing gum is effective in reducing symptoms of vomiting, dizziness, nausea... because it limits the flow of conflicting information to the brain. The chewing motion when using gum helps to distract the brain's attention, reducing these unpleasant conditions.

Dr. Tuan noted that before departure, people with motion sickness should only eat a small meal, avoid being too full or having an empty stomach. Eating too much can lead to bloating and belching. Hunger makes the stomach growl, easily leading to symptoms of nausea. Avoid greasy, spicy foods. Drink small sips of water throughout the trip. People with severe motion sickness can be advised by a doctor on more effective and safe ways to prevent it.

Kim Thanh

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