Ever felt exhausted, lethargic or sleepy after eating even if you are sitting in a stationary position? This response is pretty normal & can be explained due to multitude of factors. During holidays or weekends, you end up eating more than usual, loading plate after plate during your meal. After eating such a big meal, you may find yourself ready to hit the couch or bed. We are going to discuss in detail why this happens!
Digestion
The way your body digests the food explains a response like tiredness. Food is used by our body to generate energy & keep us active. As glucose enters your bloodstream, hormones are also released. Insulin, the transporter hormone is released which transports this glucose to different parts of the body. Besides hormones like Serotonin, directly linked to drowsiness, are also released during digestion.
Diet
You are what you eat! The food you eat is more often than not associated with your body’s response to nutrients & hormones they contain. Excessive secretion of insulin, your body’s response to balance the blood sugar levels, causes tryptophan to move into the brain where it is metabolised into Serotonin & Melatonin.These Neurotransmitters have a calming effect & help in regulating sleep. Tryptophan is an amino acid found in cheese, eggs & other forms of foods that promote sleep. Foods such as cherries contain melatonin which promotes better sleep.Consuming such foods is connected with wanting to sleep more due to increase in melatonin. Therefore, the combination of Tryptophan, Serotonin & Melatonin induces drowsiness.
Sleep schedule
You could also feel tired if you did not have adequate restful sleep. After having food, people normally rest to let their food digest. Therefore if your sleep cycle is erratic, it makes sense that while at rest your body responds by wanting more sleep. Getting adequate sleep depends upon your diet & level of activity. A combination of both will ensure a healthy sleep cycle which essentially means that you will be active during the day.
Physical Activity
More physically active you are, the more likely you will be alert during the day. A lot of us lead a sedentary lifestyle whereby we feel exhausted because of lack of energy production in our body. Regular workout & exercise is necessary for all to get a better & restful sleep. Everyone needs to remember to lower their online activity, reduce the time spent on screens, and to increase the amount of times they spend outdoors, or use a few extra seconds to take the stairs.
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