Tiredness After Eating Lunch

It is normal to feel tired and sleepy after heavy meals. But, many people confront this situation very often, even after having normal food. There are some lucky ones, who can afford a nap after lunch, but, most of the working class people cannot enjoy this luxury. However, it has been observed that many of the latter category suffer from tiredness after eating lunch, a condition that affects their performance at office. There are many factors that cause tiredness and fatigue after eating. The following information can throw some light on the causes of this condition and how to get rid of after lunch tiredness and fatigue.

Why do You Feel Tired After Lunch?

It is a common fact that the food we eat provides us the necessary nutrients and vitamins, which in turn energize the body for our daily activities. But, some people find it difficult to work or even stay awake after food. Why does it happen? This condition is termed as 'postprandial somnolence', which is also known as food coma. Postprandial somnolence is caused by two factors. One is the state of low energy due to the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, as it responds to the food in the gastrointestinal tract. The second factor is the drowsy feeling caused by the hormonal and neurochemical changes that occur in the body, as the glucose level in the blood increases, affecting the amino acid transport in the central nervous system. While some people experience this condition occasionally, that too after heavy meals, for others, it is a daily phenomenon.

Most people find it difficult to concentrate on their work, as they feel tiredness after eating lunch. What causes this difference? The answer lies in the cause of your problem. While some people feel tiredness after eating sugar, some others feel tiredness after eating bread or tiredness after eating sweets. However, the cause for this condition may vary from one person to another. We shall take a look at the common causes for tiredness and fatigue after eating.

Common Causes for Tiredness and Fatigue After Lunch

The most common factors that are responsible for this condition are the type of foods you eat, the quantity of food consumption and the timing. Apart from these causes, food allergies can be one reason for this condition. Rarely, some diseases are also found to be causing tiredness after eating lunch.

Type of Foods: The type of food you eat plays an important role in imparting the feeling of tiredness and fatigue after eating. The food we eat is broken down into smaller components and the nutrients are then absorbed into the bloodstream, which carries it to the cells. The foods that take time to digest, but provide sufficient nutrients are considered as healthy. Foods like, oatmeal, whole grains, etc., take time to digest, thereby satisfying your hunger. The body gets enough nutrients from these foods and the person will be full of energy, throughout the day. Contrary to this, processed foods, sweets, fatty foods, foods with refined white carbohydrates, etc., are immediately digested and absorbed. As these foods do not contain enough nutrients, all you get is a temporary energetic feeling, followed by tiredness and fatigue.

Quantity and Timing of Food Intake: We all know that heavy meals can cause tiredness after eating lunch. This is more relevant for those who eat heavy meals, which include lots of processed foods, fatty stuff and heavy foods, like, meat. If you have fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, etc., in huge quantities, it may not be that harmful, as compared to the first category. However, too much food consumption requires the body to increase the blood flow to the intestines, making the person feel drained out. But, it is always advisable to avoid heavy meals, but you can go for five to six small meals a day. Eating healthy also means that you eat at proper intervals. It is not advisable to skip the breakfast, which can result in a feeling of tiredness throughout the day. You can have three proper (not heavy) meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and two small meals, preferably fresh fruits, nuts, boiled vegetables, etc.

Now, you know the causes for feeling tired after eating lunch. It is also possible that, even after eating healthy foods in proper intervals, you are feeling tiredness and fatigue. This condition can be due to some food allergy, like, celiac disease, which causes intolerance to gluten, and which are found in foods like barley, bulgur, wheat, etc. It can also be lactose intolerance, which is an allergy towards milk and dairy products.

Food allergies can also cause tiredness and fatigue after eating that particular food, along with additional symptoms, like, abdominal pain and nausea. Leaky gut syndrome is another condition, which causes tiredness after eating lunch, accompanied by symptoms, like, bloating, pain and gas.

How to Get Rid of After Lunch Tiredness and Fatigue?

Now, you know that heavy meals can cause tiredness after eating lunch, junk food also leads to this condition and foods with lots of sugar and carbohydrates can also cause fatigue after eating. The following are some tips and guidelines about how to get rid of after lunch tiredness and fatigue.

• Avoid heavy meals, which can cause tiredness after eating lunch. Instead of a heavy lunch, go for two small meals. You must also avoid processed foods for lunch.
• As you may feel tiredness after eating carbohydrates, reduce the intake of carbohydrates during lunch and instead of that consume foods high in proteins. Carbohydrates can cause fluctuations in blood sugar levels, which leads to tiredness after eating lunch.
• Avoid soft drinks, meat or meat products, sugary foods, bread and foods rich in caffeine during lunch, as these food items can also lead to fatigue.
• You can retain your energy levels by doing some light exercise, like walking after lunch. This can help you get rid of tiredness after eating lunch.
• If you are taking any medication, which is causing the tiredness, seek the opinion of your doctor for a change in the medication.

A change in diet, along with a healthy lifestyle can help you get rid of tiredness after eating lunch. Avoid smoking, excess alcohol consumption, drink lots of water, include more fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet and adopt a good exercise program. All these measures can be make you feel energetic throughout the day and relieve you from the tiredness after eating lunch. If you are experiencing this condition, even after adopting all these measures, you should consult a doctor to find out the cause and start the treatment.