What brings on sleepiness after a meal?

sleepiness

Many of us have probably pondered the question, “Why do I feel so drowsy after eating?” A person may have their daily energy needs met through eating.

After dinner, I’m sure everyone was drowsy. This is a natural occurrence that poses no health risks, although it might make it difficult to focus on tasks at hand, such as work or school.

Nutritionist Claire Shortt, who also has a degree in microbiology, told Live Science, “When we eat, we initiate a set of events that are present in the stomach and throughout the body.”

Shortt posits that a rise in blood sugar levels is a contributing reason to the lethargic feeling many of us experience after a meal. “When we consume, particularly meals that are heavy in sugar, it may cause our blood sugar to increase and decrease fast,” he says. As a result, we may have a sudden feeling of exhaustion after a meal.

Hormones also play a part in this, so this is not the only item to think about while attempting to prevent a post-lunch slump. A surge in serotonin synthesis and release after eating has been linked to negative health outcomes.

The ‘feel good hormone,’ serotonin, has been shown to have a negative impact on the post-lunch letdown. Shortt explains that this drowsiness is caused by an increase in hormone levels.

Many scientists, including Shortt, have hypothesized that this might result from a rise in serotonin levels. He continues, “When serotonin levels rise after eating, it might make us feel drowsy. Serotonin plays a vital part in our mood and sleep cycle.”

Serotonin’s well-known function of making us sleepy, sluggish, drowsy, and even unmotivated has lately been connected to exhaustion, according to a research published in the journal Sports Medicide.

It is thus possible, but not certain, that the rise in serotonin levels after a meal contributes to the drowsiness and exhaustion that often follow. On the other hand, we can’t assume that the polar opposite event would elicit the same emotions in us. This is due to the body’s complex mechanism.

Certain meals are more likely to cause weariness and drowsiness than others, according to Dr. Shortt’s interview with Live Science.

“Eating meals high in tryptophan and other amino acids may boost your mood and help you feel more attractive. Because serotonin requires tryptophan to be created, this is the case. Cheese, eggs, turkey, and tofu are just a few examples of high-protein meals that contain tryptophan “remarked Shortt.

“Cherry consumption, for example, has been linked to increased melatonin levels and better sleep. You can get better sleep by drinking milk that has been fortified with melatonin “That, he was quick to emphasize.

The connection between melatonin levels and sleep was enhanced by a 2015 research on the physiological effects of melatonin, which was subsequently published in the journal Neurochirurgie.

The publication notes that “there is some evidence that melatonin may maintain and increase the coupling of circadian rhythms,” specifically mentioning the body’s core temperature and sleep-wake cycles.

However, it remains challenging to approximatively identify which nutrients may be consumed in order to prevent feeling sleepy after eating. This is due to the fact that everyone’s response to food is unique, particularly considering the prevalence of food allergies and intolerances.

“The term “Brain Fog” is used to describe the feeling of drowsiness or lightheadedness that might follow a meal; this is common among persons who suffer from food allergies and intolerances or from small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Glucose or a test may detect SIBO. lactulose breath, you should talk to a doctor about this.”

Research undertaken by professionals has not yet provided a conclusive solution to the question of why some individuals experience sleepiness after meals. Dr. Shortt recommends a number of strategies for boosting productivity, particularly at times when people are more likely to be sleeping.

Shortt explains that if you eat foods rich in fiber, your blood sugar won’t spike and crash as much, and you’ll have more energy throughout the day.

To prevent feeling sluggish and sleepy after eating, he said, “Try to eat frequently and avoid eating too big meals.”

However, it’s important to keep in mind that other variables, such as lifestyle, sleeping hours, and your bodily condition — whether you have allergies or intolerances to specific foods — all play a role in this post-lunch slump. foods or not foods.

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