Everyone knows the feeling.
A wave of drowsiness washes over you after finishing a big meal, and your capacity for productivity drains rapidly. If you’re at home, you’re stuck in front of the TV and fighting off sleep; at work, slowly spinning around in your chair moves to the top of your daily agenda.
With the holiday season fast approaching, postprandial somnolence – in common parlance, the dreaded food coma – can afflict even the best of us as we sit back and relax after a multi-course feast or well-attended potluck.
Per Dr. Angus Stewart, senior lecturer in nutrition and dietetics at Edith Cowan University in Australia, the cause of sleepiness after a meal is affected by both the amount and type of food one eats.
In his article “Health Check: ‘food comas,’ or why eating sometimes makes you sleepy,” published in The Conversation, Stewart explains that the digestion of our food is one cause for postprandial somnolence.
The hormones gastrin and enterogastrone are produced, helping to break down food and regulate other bodily functions as the food makes its way through the digestive system.
Blood is then directed towards the stomach to carry nutrients to other parts of the body. This, in turn, draws blood away from other parts of the body. As more food is consumed, more blood is directed towards the stomach and away from the rest of the body, causing some people to feel sleepy.
There are other factors beyond sheer volume of food that can lead to food comas, most notably the type of food consumed.
Stewart explains that meals high in carbohydrates result in an increase of insulin, which allows for the amino acid tryptophan to enter the brain. Tryptophan – which you likely know to be associated with your Thanksgiving turkey – is then converted in the brain into serotonin, which has been shown to cause drowsiness.
Foods that are also high in melatonin, such as dairy products, can have a similar effect on the body.
So how can you avoid that post-meal call for a nap? Stewart suggests watching your portion size, adding vegetables to include variety in your meal and remaining active after eating.
Zachary Konno is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
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