Can Eating Pork Make You Dizzy? The Link Between Pork and Dizziness Explained

Feeling dizzy and off-balance after eating is an uncomfortable and disruptive experience. For some people, these symptoms seem to occur frequently after consuming pork. But is there really a link between eating pork and dizziness? Let’s take a closer look.

What Causes Dizziness After Eating In General?

Dizziness or vertigo after eating can occur for various reasons, some of which have nothing to do with diet Here are a few common causes

• Postprandial hypotension – Also known as low blood pressure after eating This happens when blood is diverted to the intestines for digestion, reducing blood flow to the brain It’s more common in older adults.

• Hypoglycemia – Also known as low blood sugar. This can happen in people with diabetes who don’t get the right balance of carbs and medication. It can also occur in some non-diabetics after eating foods high in sugar and refined carbs.

• Food allergies – An allergic reaction to a food can trigger dizziness and vertigo within minutes to hours after eating the offending food.

• Tyramine sensitivity – Tyramine is an amino acid in certain foods like aged cheese, cured meats, and fermented foods that can trigger migraine headaches and dizziness in sensitive individuals.

• Food intolerances – For example, some people experience dizziness after consuming dairy due to lactose intolerance.

• Medications – Certain medications like diabetes drugs, blood pressure medications, and antibiotics can cause dizziness, especially when taken without food.

Why Does Pork Seem To Cause Problems For Some People?

Pork has developed a bit of a bad reputation when it comes to triggering post-meal symptoms like dizziness, nausea, and fatigue in some individuals. There are a few factors that help explain why pork is more likely to cause issues for certain people.

High in Purines

Purines are natural substances found in many foods, especially organ meats and seafood. Our bodies break purines down into uric acid. An excess of uric acid can crystallize and cause gout and kidney stones. Pork contains more purines than other commonly eaten meats like chicken and beef.

For those prone to gout or kidney issues, eating high-purine foods like pork can raise uric acid levels and lead to symptoms like joint pain, nausea, and dizziness.

High in Histamine

Histamine is a compound released by the body during allergic reactions. But histamine levels can also rise due to eating high-histamine foods. Fermented foods, aged cheeses, cured meats, wine, sauerkraut, and pickled vegetables are naturally high in histamines.

Because pork is often cured, smoked, or processed in some way, it can be higher in histamines than other fresh meats. For people with histamine intolerance, consuming high-histamine pork products can trigger symptoms like hives, headaches, vertigo, and rapid heart rate.

May Contain Sulfites

Sulfites are food preservatives used in some packaged pork products like bacon and deli meats to maintain color and prolong shelf life. Sulfites can trigger asthma symptoms and severe allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Symptoms include wheezing, diarrhea, stomach cramps, skin rashes, dizziness and low blood pressure.

Can Contain Hidden Allergens

Processed and pre-packaged pork products may contain hidden allergic ingredients like soy, dairy, nuts, and eggs used as fillers, binders or flavorings. This puts people with food allergies at risk. An allergic reaction to hidden ingredients in pork can cause potentially life-threatening symptoms like swelling, trouble breathing, vomiting, and fainting.

High in Sodium

Processed pork products like ham, hot dogs, bacon, and deli meat contain very high amounts of sodium to enhance flavor and prolong shelf life. Consuming foods excessively high in sodium may cause fluid build-up in people prone to migraines and Meniere’s disease, leading to vertigo and dizziness.

High Risk of Parasites

Raw or undercooked pork may contain parasites like roundworms, tapeworms, and toxoplasma. While rare, symptoms of a pork parasite infection can include diarrhea, muscle pain, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Dizziness can occur from dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities.

Why Might The Fat Content Be A Factor?

The high fat content of certain pork products may also contribute to post-meal queasiness and dizziness in some people prone to indigestion. Fat takes longer to digest, and may trigger symptoms of gastrointestinal distress like:

• Heartburn
• Acid reflux
• Bloating
• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea

These symptoms can leave you feeling uncomfortably full, dizzy and fatigued after eating fatty cuts of pork like bacon, ribs, pork belly and sausages.

Tips To Prevent Dizziness And Nausea After Eating Pork

If you experience dizziness, nausea or other unpleasant symptoms after eating pork, there are some things you can try that may help:

• Avoid raw or undercooked pork to reduce the risk of parasites. Cook pork chops, roasts and ground pork to an internal temperature of at least 145°F.

• Limit cured, smoked and processed pork like ham, hot dogs, salami and deli meats to avoid excess sodium and histamines.

• Eat lean, boneless pork cuts like tenderloin and cuts labeled “loin” to decrease fat content. Remove excess fat and skin before cooking.

• Limit portion sizes of pork to 3-4 oz per serving to prevent fat and purine overload.

• Stay hydrated with water before and after meals to help digest pork and reduce symptoms.

• Take nausea medication like dimenhydrinate or ginger supplements when consuming foods that may trigger discomfort.

• Avoid pairing pork with rich or spicy foods that are hard to digest, or known food allergens.

• Check labels and avoid pork products with added sulfites, soy, dairy or other possible allergen triggers.

• Keep a food journal to identify exactly which types of pork, or preparation methods, cause problems for you.

• See an allergist if you suspect a pork allergy or sensitivity. Allergy testing can help diagnose the issue.

When To See A Doctor

Occasional and mild queasiness or dizziness after eating fatty foods is usually not cause for concern. But see a doctor if you experience:

• Repeated episodes of vertigo, nausea and vomiting after meals
• Severe headache, trouble breathing or rapid heart rate after eating pork
• Fainting, swelling or sudden drop in blood pressure
• Persistent stomach pain, diarrhea or fever

These may be signs of a serious condition like food allergy, histamine intolerance, vertigo, migraine or gastrointestinal disorder. Your doctor can help diagnose the cause and suggest tailored dietary changes and treatments to prevent discomfort after meals.

The Bottom Line

For most people, an occasional serving of pork won’t cause any issues. But if you find yourself feeling frequently dizzy, sick and fatigued after eating pork, it may be wise to limit intake. Pay attention to your personal tolerance, stick to moderate portions of lean pork, and avoid smoked, cured and processed pork. With some adjustments, you can still enjoy pork on occasion without undesirable side effects. But don’t hesitate to see a doctor if you have ongoing troubles after eating to diagnose and address the root cause.