Kompas.com – Have you ever felt sleepy after eating? If yes, you are not alone. Many people experience this condition, known as food coma or in medical terms it is called Post-Prandial Somnolen.
Although this condition is generally normal, there are several factors that are the cause. In addition, there are also ways to overcome them.
Drowsiness after eating is the body’s natural response to the digestive process. After eating, the body shifts the bloodstream to the digestive system to help digest food.
As a result, blood supply to the brain is slightly reduced, which can cause the presence of drowsiness.
Also read: 7 Ways to Prevent Drowsiness After Eating, Right For Office Workers
In addition, there is a theory that this habit is a legacy from our ancestors. In prehistoric times, after eating is the right time to rest to save energy.
Cause sleepy after eating
Some types of food are more likely to cause drowsiness than others. Here are some of the factors that make you sleepy:
Foods high carbohydrates and sugar
Foods such as white bread, white rice, pasta, and cakes and biscuits can cause a rapid surge in blood sugar.
This surge triggered the release of insulin which helps regulate blood sugar levels. However, a sudden decrease in blood sugar levels afterwards can cause fatigue.
Tryptophan -rich food
Some foods that are high in protein such as chicken, turkey, eggs, cheese, fish, nuts, and seeds contain amino acids of tryptophan.
Also read: 12 Foodstuffs High Carbohydrates, Alternative White Rice
This substance helps the production of serotonin in the brain which can cause drowsiness, especially if consumed with carbohydrates.
Large portion of eating
Eating large amounts can make the body work harder to digest it, which causes a lethargy.
Research shows that insects such as fruit flies are more likely to sleep after large meals, showing that this phenomenon can also occur in humans.
Foods high in fat
According to nutritionist Misbah Ameen from the British Dietetic Association, fatty foods can cause greater drowsiness.
Fat takes longer to digest, so the body consumes more energy to process it.
Eating time and sleep cycle
Poor sleep patterns can worsen drowsiness after eating. Lack of sleep interfere with the hormone that regulates appetite.