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Why do some feel sleepy after eating? Some tips to avoid it

 Many people suffer from sleep or fatigue after eating, unlike normal, and some call this condition a food coma. Learn with us the causes of drowsiness after eating and tips to avoid it.


drowsiness after eating

Certain types of foods and meal timings can make you feel tired or sleepy, especially after a meal, due to low energy levels. Normally, food helps raise energy levels.

Why do some feel tired after eating?

Doctors have disagreed about the theories as to why tiredness after eating, but they agree that it's a normal response and there's no cause for concern except in certain cases.

Causes and factors that cause fatigue after eating include:

The type of food you eat

Foods rich in protein and carbohydrates may cause you to feel sleepy than other foods. Some doctors believe that feeling tired after eating these foods occurs because the body produces more serotonin.


Serotonin: A hormone and neurotransmitter that plays a role in regulating mood and sleep cycles.

Tryptophan, which is found in many protein-rich foods, helps the body produce serotonin. And carbohydrates help absorb tryptophan in the body. Therefore, eating a meal rich in proteins and carbohydrates may make you feel sleepy.

Dietary sources of tryptophan include:

  • salmon;
  • poultry;
  • eggs.
  • spinach;
  • Seeds.
  • Dairy products and cheese.
  • soy products.

Foods rich in carbohydrates include:

  • the pasta.
  • the rice.
  • white bread.
  • Cakes and biscuits.
  • baked goods;

Amount of food eaten

Feeling tired and sleepy after eating a large meal. Eating a large amount of food may cause your blood sugar to rise which leads to low energy.

Lack of sleep at night can lead to tiredness throughout the day, which increases the feeling of tiredness after eating.

Eating timing

Your circadian rhythm (the body's natural clock) can affect how you feel after eating. If you eat late at night, you may feel tired and sleepy after eating.

Daylight and darkness are essential in regulating the circadian rhythm, but meal timing may also have an effect.

Tips to avoid feeling tired after eating

The following strategies can help prevent and avoid post-meal fatigue:

  • Divide a large meal into smaller meals every few hours to maintain energy levels.
  • Get enough sleep at night.
  • Doing light exercise during the day or after eating: Helps reduce fatigue.
  • Take short naps during the day.

When should you consult a doctor?

If you feel constant fatigue after eating and it affects your daily life, you should consult your doctor to find out the reason that leads to this chronic fatigue. The following medical conditions can contribute to feeling excessively tired after eating:

  • Food allergy.
  • Celiac disease.
  • Anemia.
  • diabetic.

Many people experience a decrease in energy after eating, which may be caused by eating large meals being rich in proteins and carbohydrates. Although low energy after eating may be a normal biological response, if you feel chronically tired after every meal or if this fatigue affects your daily life, you should consult a doctor immediately to find out the real cause and treat it.

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