Nausea is stomach discomfort often accompanied by the urge to vomit. It is a common symptom stemming from causes like motion sickness, illness, or early pregnancy. When this feeling strikes, many people seek fast, accessible, non-pharmaceutical remedies. Candy, particularly specific types, offers symptomatic relief based on both active ingredients and the physical action of consumption.
The Efficacy of Ginger and Mint
Ginger, often found in chews or crystallized slices, is a widely recognized natural stomach soother. Its benefit comes from bioactive compounds, primarily gingerols and shogaols, found in the root. These compounds interact with the body’s digestive and nervous systems in several ways.
Gingerols and shogaols act as antagonists to neuroreceptors, such as the 5-HT3 and acetylcholine receptors, which trigger the sensation of nausea. The compounds also help to regulate gastrointestinal motility, assisting the stomach in moving its contents more efficiently. This action may accelerate gastric emptying, counteracting the slow-down of digestion often associated with feeling sick.
Peppermint candies provide relief through menthol, the main aromatic component of mint. Menthol has a notable antispasmodic effect, helping to relax the smooth muscle tissue of the digestive tract. This relaxation occurs through the blocking of calcium channels in the muscle cells. A calmer stomach muscle environment helps alleviate the cramping and spasms that contribute to feelings of queasiness.
The Role of Sour and Sweet Flavors
Intensely sour candies, such as lemon drops or sour gummies, offer relief through sensory distraction. The sharpness of the sour flavor, typically from citric acid, provides a strong sensory distraction that temporarily overrides the brain’s focus on nausea. This intense taste shifts the attention of the nervous system, offering a brief reprieve from discomfort.
The sour flavor also stimulates the salivary glands, increasing saliva production. Saliva contains bicarbonate, an alkaline substance that helps neutralize stomach acid. When stomach acid splashes up the esophagus, it can worsen the feeling of nausea, and the increased, more alkaline saliva helps soothe the irritation.
Simple sweetness plays a physiological role by stabilizing blood sugar levels. Nausea is often accompanied by a temporary dip in blood glucose, especially when a person avoids eating due to stomach upset. Consuming a small, easily digestible source of sugar can quickly raise these levels, alleviating the queasy feeling associated with low blood sugar. This fast energy source is often more tolerable than trying to consume a full meal.
Why Sucking on Hard Candy Helps
The physical act of sucking on any hard candy contributes to its effectiveness as a nausea remedy. This sustained oral activity leads to a continuous increase in saliva production. This steady stream of saliva helps to buffer and dilute any stomach acid that may be irritating the esophagus, a common cause of discomfort.
The sustained focus required to dissolve a hard candy also provides a psychological benefit. Focusing on the strong flavor and the physical task of sucking offers a mild distraction for the mind. This cognitive diversion helps to minimize the perception of the underlying discomfort, offering sensory relief.
When to Consult a Doctor
While candy and other simple remedies can provide relief for minor, temporary discomfort, they are not a substitute for medical evaluation when symptoms are severe or persistent. It is important to recognize that nausea is a symptom, and a change in diet or a piece of candy does not address a serious underlying condition.
Medical attention is necessary if the nausea and vomiting persist for more than 24 to 48 hours, or if you are unable to keep any fluids down. Red flag symptoms that require immediate medical consultation include signs of severe dehydration, such as excessive thirst, dark urine, or dizziness upon standing. Furthermore, any nausea accompanied by severe abdominal pain, a high fever, a stiff neck, or the presence of blood—which may appear bright red or like coffee grounds—in the vomit warrants prompt professional care.