Why don’t I feel like eating?

You’ve got a chest infection and your doctor has started you on a course of antibiotics, but it’s making you feel queasy and you’ve completely lost your appetite.

You’ve been feeling sick every morning when you wake, your breasts are tingling and you missed a period three weeks ago.

A close relative has died and you’re griefstricken. You’re feeling very depressed and you’ve gone completely off your food.

The antibiotics

A suppression of appetite is a well-known side effect of these drugs because they can irritate the stomach.

Pregnancy The high level of pregnancy hormones can make you feel sick as they may have a direct irritant effect on the stomach lining. Pregnancy sickness is called morning sickness but it may extend to the whole day.

Depression A loss of appetite is common with grief, stress, anxiety and depression as these psychological factors can have a significant impact on a person’s appetite.

To help prevent this, eat something light like a slice of toast before you take your medicine and drink lots of liquid to flush down the tablets.

Low blood sugar levels make the sickness worse so eat little and often and don’t get out of bed without having a cup of tea and a biscuit. Avoid fatty foods, rich foods, cooking smells, alcohol and people smoking.

Take one day at a time. Speak to a good friend so you can let your grief out and consider bereavement counselling if your depression lasts. Spoil yourself with food you like if you’re up to it.