After you eat, it is quite normal for your body temperature to drop. Many people just do not notice when this happens, so they think that something is wrong. You may assume that you feel cold after eating because of a slow metabolism or because you smoked after eating. While smoking can lower your body temperature, there are also other reasons why your body temperature may fall after you have eaten something.

Why Do I Get Cold After I Eat?

There are many reasons why your body temperature may fall after you eat. If you just ate a bowl of ice cream, you may feel much colder than normal. It all depends on the kind of food that you are eating and the temperature of the food.

Normally, your body temperature will increase because blood is moving into your digestive system to process the food. Your metabolism has to rev up so that you have the energy available to break foods like protein down. If you have eaten cold foods, your body temperature may drop a bit. If you are eating hot foods, your body temperature is more likely to rise. There are also other reasons why you may feel cold after you eat.

1. Hypothyroidism

One of the answers to, “Why do I get cold after I eat?” is hypothyroidism. This condition happens when your thyroid gland is not producing a normal amount of thyroid hormone. Normally, your thyroid is responsible for maintaining your metabolism and ensuring a stable body temperature. If you have hypothyroidism, then your body is going to be more sensitive to temperature changes. You may be extremely intolerant to high high heat or extremely cold weather.

Other than feeling cold after you eat, there are other symptoms of hypothyroidism. You may develop depression, weight gain or low energy. You may also suffer from brittle hair, hair loss and brittle nails. Your doctor can determine if you have hypothyroid by giving you a blood test. If you do have hypothyroidism, he or she will most likely recommend a medication that can help manage the condition.

2. Low Carbohydrate Diet

Another reason why you may feel cold after you eat is a low carb diet. Your energy (and heat) generally come from the carbohydrates that you eat. Low or high blood pressure can also cause you to feel cold after eating. If you have low iron levels, you may feel cold as well. Low iron levels could even cause a cold sweat on your forehead, hands and legs. If you are under a lot of stress, it can also cause you to feel extremely cold

3. Other Health Conditions

There are many medical conditions that can cause you to feel cold after eating. Some of the most common conditions that cause this effect are diabetes, malnutrition, anorexia and anemia. Immune deficiencies like lupus or AIDS can cause the same problem.

If you have anorexia, you could feel cold consistently. People who have anorexia try to limit the calories they eat in an effort to lose weight. This is not just a normal diet though. Often, someone who is anorexic will have a body weight that is 15 percent or more below the level recommended for their height. It can cause your menstrual cycle to stop. Over time, anorexia can cause heart problems, sensitivity to cold and other issues.

Diabetes is a common reason for feeling cold. In unregulated diabetes, the kidneys can become damaged. The nerves also become damaged, and blood circulation stops working the way it is supposed to. Some patients develop diabetic nephropathy. You may experience other symptoms like confusion, itchiness, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, swollen feet, vomiting, nausea, swelling of the face or swelling of the hands.

When Should You Go to the Doctor?

Some of the conditions that can make you cold after you eat are serious, while others are not a problem. Chills can be serious if they are accompanied by chest pain, heartburn, a cold sweat or upper body pain. These could be a sign of a heart attack, so it is important that you seek out medical care right away. As always, it is a good idea to make an appointment with your doctor if you have any new or ongoing symptoms without an obvious cause.