What causes cold chills after eating?

It's not uncommon to feel a little chilly after eating or drinking cold foods, but severe chills including shivering whenever you eat could indicate an underlying medical condition that needs a doctor’s attention.

Body temperature naturally varies slightly after eating or drinking, depending on the type and temperature of food. The body conducts heat through its circulatory system, so as blood moves to the digestive system and away from the extremities, so does your body heat. Once digestion begins, body temperature can cool further in response to cold foods, or warm up in response to hot foods. Foods that take more energy to break down, such as protein, will also create body heat as a byproduct of the digestion process.

Slight variations lasting 30 minutes after eating are normal. But a feeling of cold accompanied by shivering, the body’s muscle spasms used to create heat, could be an indication of a more serious medical condition.

Chills are the body’s natural response to a drop in temperature, which is usually accompanied by fever. Fever can be caused by a variety of infections like the common cold, influenza, or more serious conditions like pneumonia, urinary tract infections or meningitis.

Chills after eating can also indicate hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. The thyroid gland controls many of the body’s essential functions, including temperature regulation and metabolism. People with hypothyroidism are extremely sensitive to variations in temperature and particularly intolerant to cold. Other symptoms of include weight gain, low energy, depression, hair loss, brittle hair and nails. It is diagnosed with a simple blood test and easy to treat with medication, but if left untreated can lead to body system failures or even death.

People compromised by diabetes, malnutrition, anorexia, anaemia or immune deficiencies like lupus and AIDS may also experience dramatic chills after eating.

If chills are accompanied by heartburn, a cold sweat and chest or upper body pain, it could be the sign of a heart attack and you should seek medical attention immediately.

If eating causes you to experience chills, you should consult your doctor about possible causes, as it could be a symptom of a more serious medical condition.