Why does my nose run when I eat any food

If you have noticed your nose tends to run when you eat or you have post nasal drip (mucus build up in the back of the nose), you may be wondering what is causing it. If you figure out the cause, you can take action to improve your symptoms. There are many things that can cause a runny nose after eating.

Fortunately, there are ways to get to the bottom of the issue, and determine what is causing your nose to run when you eat. There are also many effective treatments that can help reduce your symptoms. 

What is rhinitis?

Rhinitis refers to inflammation of the lining of the nose, also called the nasal mucosa. Rhinitis often results in a runny nose and is caused by a number of different conditions.

Why does my nose run when I eat any food

Allergies (allergic rhinitis)

Allergic rhinitis refers to having a runny nose and/or congestion due to allergies. Typically, this refers to seasonal allergies from pollen, and more year round allergies due to pet dander, mold, or dust mites. When a runny nose occurs specifically after eating, it could be related to a food allergy.

Seasonal and household allergies

Seasonal allergies, also known as hayfever, are what we typically think of when we use the term “allergies”. With seasonal allergies, a person is allergic to pollen or mold in the environment, and their reactions may follow a predictable pattern that changes with the seasons. For some people, this may mean they’re more likely to have a runny nose after eating in the spring, summer, or fall, depending on their specific allergies.

Household allergies involve similar symptoms, but tend to be year-round. Household allergies cause people to react to pet dander, mold, and dust mites.

Food allergies

When a person has a food allergy, they may experience a runny nose as part of their reaction. However, food allergies usually involve more symptoms than just a runny nose such as:

  • Wheezing
  • Coughing
  • Shortness of breath
  • Hives
  • Rashes 
  • Swelling
  • Dizziness 

So, if a runny nose is your only symptom, it’s more likely that it’s being caused by something else.

Non-allergic rhinitis

Non-allergic rhinitis is the general term for nasal symptoms that occur for reasons other than allergy and is usually a diagnosis made after an allergic cause is ruled out with allergy testing.

Non-allergic rhinitis can occur due to irritation, often caused by extreme temperatures, low humidity, or smoke inhalation. Viruses like the cold and flu, as well as medications that affect certain hormones, are other potential causes of non allergic rhinitis. 

Vasomotor rhinitis

Vasomotor rhinitis is another cause of rhinitis that is not related to allergy. When common causes have been ruled out, especially allergic rhinitis, and the cause is still unclear, vasomotor rhinitis is the usual suspect. 

The term “vasomotor” refers to vasodilation and vasoconstriction, which are processes that widen and shrink blood vessels. 

Common triggers of vasomotor rhinitis include:

  • Temperature changes
  • Perfumes and scents
  • Smoke, cooking odors
  • Dust, but not dust mite allergy
  • Air pollution
  • Stress

Gustatory rhinitis

Gustatory rhinitis is the name given to rhinitis associated with eating. This is a very common experience, and almost anyone who has had a spicy meal has found themselves sniffling afterwards. For some people, this can be a desirable effect, helping them clear their sinuses.

Common causes of gustatory rhinitis 

There are several potential causes of rhinitis or a runny nose after eating, including allergies, irritation, spicy foods, and environmental triggers.

Common rhinitis symptoms after eating:

  • Runny nose
  • Sneezing
  • Nasal congestion
  • Itchy nose
  • More phlegm than usual
  • Phlegm in your throat (Post nasal drip)

Gustatory rhinitis has been confirmed by many studies. A 1989 study found spicy foods caused increased nasal congestion compared to control foods.

If you suspect spicy foods are the cause of your runny nose after you eat, consider toning down the spice. Adding dairy products or other fat-containing foods to your meal can help reduce the impact of spicy foods. That’s why Indian restaurants often offer a yogurt dish called raita with their dishes.

3 ways to stop your nose running when you eat

1.   Prevention - Rule out common causes

If you’ve noticed your nose tends to run when you eat, the first thing to do is to rule out common causes of a runny nose. 

If you suffer from seasonal allergies, make sure those are under control. If you eat a Iot of spicy food, tone it down a bit and see if that helps. If it’s winter, try running a humidifier to see if your nose calms down. 

If there’s no obvious common cause of your runny nose, move on to the next steps. 

2. Single out and avoid your triggers

The next step is to find out what triggers your runny nose after eating. Is it a full-blown food allergy? A sensitivity? 

When trying to find the cause of your symptoms, it might help to start a food diary. A food diary can help by logging the foods you ate and your level of symptoms to draw associations. You may notice a pattern just from this exercise alone. If there isn’t a clear pattern (such as getting the sniffles after that hot burrito you get every Friday), you will need to do more digging. 

If you suspect your runny nose has something to do with a food allergy, it could help to take an allergy test. A blood test can help you identify potential trigger foods. Following that, you can experiment with eliminating the foods the test identifies you are sensitive to, and then reintroducing them to verify whether they are the cause of your symptoms.

If you’re not able to get an allergy test, you could try eliminating the most common food sensitivities, and reintroducing them one at a time. Here are most common culprits for food sensitivities:

  • Lactose (most common)
  • Gluten (wheat, rye, and barley)
  • Casein (protein in milk products)
  • Eggs 
  • Soy products
  • Fish and shellfish
  • Peanuts or tree nuts
  • Sulfites (commonly found in red wine & beer)
  • Food additives such as monosodium glutamate (MSG)

3. Treat symptoms

Suffering with a runny nose all the time is no fun. There are different ways to manage a runny nose after eating depending on the cause of the problem. Regardless of the cause, you can always treat symptoms of a runny nose. The best treatment for only a runny nose due to vasomotor rhinitis is with a prescription nasal spray called Ipatropium bromide. An oral decongestant may also help in some cases but they can have some undesirable side effects so ensure you seek advice from your physician first.

If the cause is food specific:

If your runny nose is related to specific trigger foods, avoiding the food is key. If it’s due to an allergy of any sort, allergy medication may help. 

If the cause is gustatory:

If you suspect you have gustatory rhinitis, avoiding or limiting spicy foods may help. You can also try incorporating dairy or another fat-containing food which can help dissolve the spice and lessen its impact.

If the cause is environmental:

If you think your runny nose could be related to environmental triggers, treat them accordingly. For dry air, you can try running a humidifier. Reduce the scented products you use in the home, and turn on the ventilation hood while cooking.

Keep in mind that treating the symptoms may make it harder to nail down the cause. It may be worth suffering through the symptoms for a bit while you figure out your triggers. 

In summary

Having a runny nose after eating is unpleasant, but there are many things you can do to identify the source of the problem by eliminating foods from your diet, ruling out likely environmental situations and identifying co-occurring symptoms. 

Once you’re aware of your trigger foods, you can try to avoid them while also treating any symptoms as they arise. If you find you can’t get a handle on your runny nose after eating, test your allergies with an allergen-specific IgE test such as imaware’s home allergy test. This test is designed to provide detailed results enabling you to engage a healthcare professional sooner. Armed with the data, a physician may then be able to refer you to an ear, nose, and throat specialist or an allergist for further help.

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Why does my nose run when I eat any food

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Every time I set the table, there are two napkins at my seat: One for wiping my face and the other for wiping my nose, which is likely to run during mealtime. While I accept this as a reality for me, I can't help but wonder from time to time: Why does my nose run when I eat?

It turns out I am not alone in this experience, though the prevalence of my condition is currently unknown (a 2022 study noted this happening in roughly 4 percent of over 558 participants, though 19 percent went unclassified, so this figure is likely to vary).

If, like me, you also experience a runny nose when you eat, there’s a medical term for the condition. It’s called gustatory rhinitis (gustatory is defined as “relating to or associated with eating or the sense of taste”) and while you may notice it most when eating spicy foods, it actually can occur no matter what you eat. 

Why Does My Nose Run When I Eat?

Now that we know it has a name, why does gustatory rhinitis occur? According to Dr. Tania Elliott, MD, FAAAAI, FACAAI, a physician executive and medical expert for Xyzal and Nasacort, it all comes down to mucus. 

“[Gustatory rhinitis] is caused because the heat or spice triggers mucosal cells that are lining the nasal passages to activate and stimulate mucus production,” explains Dr. Elliott. “Mucus is produced as a mechanism to try to protect the body from harmful substances.”

Researchers note that common foods that may trigger your nose to run when you eat include “hot chili peppers, red cayenne, Tabasco sauce, onion, chili, vinegar, red pepper, and mustard,” though it of course is not limited to this list. The same review notes that a diagnosis of gustatory rhinitis involves eliminating other diagnoses, and if you have idiopathic gustatory rhinitis—which occurs without a causal event—both nostrils will run. The three other types of gustatory rhinitis—"post-traumatic, post-surgical and gustatory rhinorrhea associated with cranial nerve neuropathy”—can occur in one or both nostrils.

Related: Should You Use a Neti Pot for Allergies?

It should be noted that gustatory rhinitis is different from when your nose runs because you are eating soup or something that is hot in temperature. According to Dr. Erich Voigt, MD, clinical associate professor in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at NYU Langone Health, this occurs because of the condensation of the steam vapors and is not related to inflammation. 

While gustatory rhinitis can happen to people of any age—researchers suggest a prevalence in ages 20-60—Dr. Voigt notes that it “also seems to happen more commonly in the elderly.” A study from 2010 does specifically note gustatory rhinitis as a common nonallergic rhinitis that occurs in older adults, though again, there is no specific data that can give a conclusive number of its prevalence.

Related: What You Should Know About Your Sinuses and Allergies

Is Gustatory Rhinitis an Allergy?

While it would be understandable to think that gustatory rhinitis occurs because of an allergy, it actually isn’t, and this is important to note because it means that treatment is different. “It's a type of nonallergic rhinitis, where your nose develops inflammation but not because of an allergy,” explains Dr. Voigt.

Unlike other allergies, researchers note that gustatory rhinitis is not associated with other symptoms including sneezing, congestion or sinus pain; mucus is simply produced which causes the nose to run. 

How Can I Stop My Nose From Running When I Eat?

Research suggests the simplest way to stop your nose from running when you eat is to eliminate trigger foods. While not an allergy, a nasal spray may also help. 

Related: The Best Way to Use Nasal Spray

“You would not take the usual allergy medications for this problem, however there is an effective nasal spray called nasal ipratropium,” instructs Dr. Voigt. “This prescription medicine is available in 0.3% or 0.6% solutions [and] relieves a runny nose. You spray it into your nose to stop the glands from producing a large amount of fluid.”

The good news is that gustatory rhinitis is not serious and is unlikely to be a sign of something more serious going on (that is, unless it comes with additional symptoms). “If you have chronic nasal drainage, especially if it is coming mostly out of one nostril, whether you eat or not, it could be a sign of something more serious that needs to be further evaluated by a doctor,” shares Dr. Elliott.

Next up, read up on 10 allergy symptoms you should take seriously. 

Sources

  • Adhina Putri, S, Irawati, N. Pathophysiology and Management of Gustatory Rhinitis. ORLI. 2020;v50i2.404.
  • Avdeeva, KS, Fokkens, WJ, Segboer, CL, Reitsma, S. The prevalence of non-allergic rhinitis phenotypes in the general population: A cross-sectional study. Allergy. 2022; 00: 1– 12.
  • Erich Voigt, MD, clinical associate professor in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at NYU Langone Health
  • Liva GA, Karatzanis AD, Prokopakis EP. Review of Rhinitis: Classification, Types, Pathophysiology. J Clin Med. 2021;10(14):3183. Published 2021 Jul 19.
  • Pinto, J.M., Jeswani, S. Rhinitis in the geriatric population. All Asth Clin Immun 6, 10 (2010).
  • Tania Elliott, M.D., FAAAAI, FACAAI, a physician executive and medical expert for Xyzal and Nasacort