Any of us who frequent the gym on a regular basis will likely know the uncomfortable feelings of nausea that can follow a long and intense workout.
And you're in no way alone when it comes to this: not only is exercise-induced nausea a real thing, it can really put a downer on that post-endorphin fuelled high you should experience after a workout well done.
So, why are feelings of nausea (and in some cases, actual vomiting) so frequent after a gym session?
This can usually be down to down to the fact that blood flow is typically reduced during intense exercise - because of the intensity of the workout, blood is distributed to the muscles to promote nutrient and oxygen transport. Unfortunately, this leaves little blood left to circulate to the stomach and intestines, and as a result, often triggers nausea.
But research has also found that the timing of each meal - and exactly when you eat prior to starting your daily exercise regime - could also be to blame, according to Red magazine.
One study, published in Appetite, looked at the effects eating had on exercise-induced nausea and found that both high and low-intensity workouts caused gastric discomfort to varying degrees when participants had worked out immediately after eating.
While it isn't a new study as such, it's findings remain relevant, given that so many of us tailor our fitness routines around our otherwise very busy lives.
“Unfortunately this type of discomfort is common,” explained personal trainer Richard Tidmarsh to the Independent. “That's not because people are training particularly hard, it's due to poor preparation.”
The key, he says, is allowing enough time between eating and working out. Most may think that eating a good half an hour before going to your morning session is enough, but he argues that more time is needed for the food to digest.
“If you eat your breakfast 30 minutes before an intense training session, you are likely to see it twice," he added. "To avoid this discomfort you need to realise that training doesn't start the minute you step in the gym door, but three to four hours before you start."
Also, some research even suggests that exercising on an empty stomach is the preferable way to work out (especially when it comes to losing weight), as it may "promote more favourable" changes in body fat, according to NetDoctor.
So, if you don't already, maybe leave your snacking after your workout is done...
