Why does eating make you tired

A person may feel particularly tired, depending on what, when, and how much they ate. Below, we discuss some reasons why a person might feel tired after a meal, and how to prevent it.

Foods rich in protein and carbohydrates can make people feel sleepier than other foods. Some researchers believe that a person feels tired after eating because their body is producing more serotonin. An amino acid called tryptophan, which occurs in many protein-rich foods, helps the body produce serotonin. Carbohydrates help the body absorb tryptophan. For these reasons, eating a meal rich in both protein and carbohydrates may make a person feel sleepy.

People often eat a combination of protein and carbohydrates before bed, such as cereal with milk. People who eat larger lunches may experience more of an afternoon slump than those who eat less at midday. Eating causes blood sugar to rise, and a dip in energy may follow. Feeling tired after a meal can be frustrating, especially after lunch, when a person may need to be alert. A drop in energy during the day can be particularly dangerous for people who work in risky conditions, such as those who operate machinery or vehicles.

A study of the effects of eating on the performance of night shift workers found that those who ate at night performed worse and were more sleepy at 4 a. If a person is continually tired after eating, and it is affecting their quality of life, they should speak to a doctor. Many people experience a dip in energy after eating. Large meals and meals rich in protein and carbohydrates are most likely to make people feel sleepy.

As you return to your work after eating lunch, you may wonder: Why am I so sleepy in the afternoons? You may wonder if it has something to do with what you ate for lunch or if something else is the culprit.

Well, it may relate to a natural dip in the alerting signal of the circadian rhythm. This article explains some theories about post-lunch sleepiness and offers some ideas for staying alert in the afternoon. It is natural to feel a little sleepy after eating lunch. However, since sleepiness occurs right after people eat, some mistakenly think that it relates to digestion. In particular, there is a misconception about how blood flow from the brain to the stomach during digestion might cause sleepiness.

Although this sounds plausible, it doesn't make that much sense. If this were the case, you'd expect to feel just as sleepy after eating a large breakfast or after dinner. However, the truth is that this sleepiness is unrelated to the process of digestion. There are certain elements within food that can cause sleepiness.

However, usually the amounts are small and have little effect on a person's ability to stay alert. Some things in food that are known sleep inducers include:. Post-lunch sleepiness often has more to do with the natural timing of an increased tendency towards sleep than the food you consume. Two phenomena contribute to this. They include:. There is a dip in this pattern in the early afternoon. This lull typically occurs seven to nine hours after waking up.

When the alerting signal dips, the underlying sleepiness shows itself, and you feel sleepy. Interestingly, night owls who may naturally fall asleep and wake later often experience a delay in the timing of this afternoon lull as well. As a result, they may not feel sleepy until several hours later. If you experience sleep deprivation , this after-lunch sleepiness can be more pronounced.

In addition, sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea may make this worse. Here are some things you can try to counteract the sleepiness that occurs in the early afternoon:. Therefore, a suitable meal before bed would be food containing carbohydrates and protein, such as milk and cereal. Overeating can also cause sleepiness. Post-meal, the body streams more blood to the digestive system to better digest foods in massive amounts.

This causes a temporary blood and nutrients shortage in the brain. Drink lots of water and limit your sugar intake. Bad sleeping patterns can also cause sleepiness post-meal. To avoid this, improve your sleeping habits to prevent stress. It is recommended that you avoid nap ping if you are having trouble sleeping at night.

If you frequently feel drowsy post-meal, it may be a sign of diseases such as celiac disease , anemia , food intolerance, allergies, sleep apnea and relatively inactive thyroids. Consult your doctor if you suffer from these conditions or if you frequently fall asleep after having a meal. Post-meal drowsiness can also be a sign that you are deficient in certain nutrients. Nutritional deficiencies can make it difficult for food to be digested due to a poor digestive system.

As a result, you will not have enough energy to support your daily activities and you will thus feel drowsy all day long. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.

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