You may have felt tired after a large or heavy meal -- think Thanksgiving day. A little sleepiness should not be of concern unless it is extreme fatigue or tiredness. However, the exhausted feeling after a meal might be due to your hormones or lack of sleep.
Why am I tired after eating?
Several reasons exist as to why you're feeling tired after meals, including:
The food you eat: Research shows that eating a calorie-rich diet with carbohydrates and proteins leads to tiredness.
The amount of food you eat: The larger the quantity, the more time it takes to digest your food. Therefore, your body spends more time and energy digesting it, leading to tiredness.
Chronic stress: Decreased sleep due to stress can lead to post-meal drowsiness. When you are not getting enough sleep, this throws off your body's rhythm, affecting sleeping patterns and causing you to feel tired throughout the day.
High caffeine intake: While caffeine is well known for its ability to keep you up while you work, with additional cups of coffee, you might end up not sleeping well at night, resulting in drowsiness after you eat.
There are other health conditions associated with increased fatigue after eating, including:
Diabetes: Decreased levels of insulin might end in decreased energy levels right after you have had a meal.
Nutrient Deficiencies: Some nutrients are essential for your body to function correctly, and deficiencies might affect your bowel movements and energy levels.
How to Prevent Feeling Tired
Feeling tired after eating can be an annoying attribute, especially when trying to work or care for kids.
Eat smaller meals more often: Try to eat small portions of food several times a day. This tactic helps your body digest these small amounts of food more easily and quickly and helps maintain your blood sugar levels.
Eat a healthy diet and exercise: Try to have more vegetables on your plate and avoid having vast amounts of starchy carbohydrates. Try to have a balanced diet with portions of fiber, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Exercise helps regulate your blood glucose (sugar) levels and increase your energy levels.
Lower your caffeine intake: Try to reduce caffeine intake to have less trouble sleeping at night. Having decaf or even half decaf may help.
If you feel plagued by chronic fatigue, speak to your doctor.
