There are many misconceptions about what causes a runny nose and how to stop it. Some people believe that it is due to a cold they have, while others think it is due to allergies. But the truth is, your nose runs because of the food you eat! Here are some surprising facts about why your nose runs when you eat and what can be done to stop it.
Why Does My Nose Run When I Eat?
Nose running after eating is a common problem that many of us face especially in winters. Eating cold food or meals can cause the sinuses to swell and make the nose run. This could be due to the fact that cold food contracts the sinuses and makes them feel stuffy. It is also true that the mucus membranes of our noses are sensitive to temperature changes.
What Causes A Runny Nose?
This is a list of 7 possible causes of a runny nose.
- Allergies and nasal congestion are the most common cause of a runny nose. Allergy symptoms include sneezing, itchy eyes, red eyes, rashes and swollen sinuses. When allergies are present in the body, the immune system is overactive and tries to protect you from allergens by producing more mucus. The mucus produced by your body leads to nasal congestion which causes your nose to become stuffy and eventually runny.
- Certain medications can also lead to a runny nose. Some medications that can cause this problem include antihistamines like Benadryl or Allegra, decongestants like Sudafed or Vicks inhaler, and even some antibiotics like amoxicillin or penicillin. These medications work by drying up the mucus membranes in your body which can dry out your nose as well causing it to become runny.
- Common cold and flu viruses can also cause a runny nose. You can get a cold or the flu when you are exposed to infectious germs from someone who is already ill. When you catch a cold or the flu, your body tries to fight off the infection by producing more mucus which then causes your nose to run.
- Exercise can cause your nose to run because it increases blood flow in your body. The increased blood flow will bring more oxygen and nutrients to your cells which can cause congestion in your sinuses.
- Dry air, especially during the winter season, can lead to nasal congestion and a runny nose. Your nasal membranes need moisture in order to stay healthy so if they do not have enough moisture they will become dry and cracked causing them to become irritated and produce more mucus leading to nasal congestion and eventually a runny nose.
- Running or exercising outside on hot days may also lead to nasal congestion. Just like dry air, hot weather can also cause your nasal membranes to become dry and cracked.
- Pregnancy can also cause a runny nose. When you are pregnant, your body produces more estrogen and progesterone hormones which increase blood flow in your body causing congestion in your sinuses.
How To Stop The Runny Nose?
After eating, the nose may be running. What do you do? Here are 10 ways to stop a runny nose after eating:
- Runny nose after eating and drinking cold drinks is due to the fact that cold drinks contract the sinus passages and make them feel stuffy. Therefore, hot soup or warm tea is more appropriate for preventing a runny nose after eating. If you must have a drink, avoid cold and warm it first with hot water or by keeping it in your pocket for a while so that it can get warm.
- The mucus membranes of our noses are sensitive to temperature changes. When we eat, blood vessels in our mouth get constricted so as to warm up the food before it reaches our stomachs but this constriction also restricts blood flow to nasal membranes causing them to dry up making them extremely prone to irritation by any outside irritants such as pollen.
- Runny nose after eating is also caused by allergies. If you suffer from allergies, try to keep away from the things that trigger them like dust, pollen, and any other irritants.
- The chemicals present in many processed foods like preservatives and flavor enhancers can also trigger runny noses after eating. These chemicals can cause the membranes of your sinus to react adversely causing them to produce excess mucus which eventually leads to a runny nose after eating.
- Smoking is another cause for a runny nose after eating as it causes constriction of blood vessels and reduces the blood circulation in nasal passages making them dry and more prone to irritation by pollen or any other irritants that might be present in your environment at the time you are eating or drinking anything cold or hot. This is why smokers often get a runny nose after eating or drinking something cold or hot even though they may have no allergies at all but only smoke heavily because they are addicted to nicotine.
- Runny nose after eating may also be caused by the way you eat your food. If you are eating quickly, the food particles that get lodged in your throat are more likely to cause a runny nose after eating because your body is unable to digest the food properly and so it starts reacting adversely and producing more mucus which will eventually end up as a runny nose after eating.
- Runny nose after eating is also caused by dehydration of the nasal passages due to excessive consumption of hot or cold fluids or food, especially during winter when we drink warm beverages like tea or coffee, or hot soup which all make us lose a lot of water from our bodies causing dehydration and resulting in a runny nose after eating. So what should you do? Drink plenty of water or better still drink warm water with honey in it regularly throughout the day before you eat anything hot or cold so that your nasal passages will remain hydrated and lubricated enough not to react adversely to the food you eat.
How To Avoid Runny Nose After Eating?
1. Chew your food properly.
2. Eat slowly so that the food gets digested properly and does not cause any runny nose after eating.
3. Drink plenty of water or better still drink warm water with honey in it regularly throughout the day before you eat anything hot or cold so that your nasal passages will remain hydrated and lubricated enough not to react adversely to the food you eat.
4. Do not smoke heavily because smoking causes severe damage to your respiratory system and can lead to a runny nose after eating.
5. If you do have a runny nose, then try to avoid hot weather because if you are under stress, then you might be sweating profusely which makes you dehydrated which again results in a runny nose after eating as well as other health problems like high blood pressure and heart disease, etc.
Conclusion
A runny nose is a normal symptom of many different types of allergies, but can also be caused by a cold, an infection, and even hay fever.
The best way to stop a runny nose from food is to drink water because it will flush out your nose and help it dry out. If you have a cold or infection, it will get better without the help of food.