From sweet tends to sleep. Foods that make you want to sleep

Food is ours main source energy. But at the same time, many of us after a hearty lunch are not at all inclined to increased activity, but on the contrary, they dream of taking a nap for at least a few minutes. What is the reason for this, should such a condition be alarming and what to do if you want to sleep after eating?

The main causes of sleepiness after eating

In most cases, not severe drowsiness after a meal - the condition is quite normal and should not be frightening. Experts have identified several factors contributing to this phenomenon. Although, looking ahead, we must say that in some cases the desire to sleep after eating can be a sign of certain malfunctions in the body.

Influence of the nervous system

The main culprit sleepy state after a meal, experts often call nervous system. To be more precise, the specifics of the interaction of its two parts: sympathetic and parasympathetic. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for activating the muscles and responding to the body. When the parasympathetic is included in the work, then, on the contrary, the muscles relax, the heartbeat slows down, the person calms down. After eating, the parasympathetic nervous system is reflexively activated. Thus, the body, as it were, protects itself from possible stresses, makes sure that nothing distracts its attention from the digestion of food. Hence the feeling of relaxation and peace, and with them - and the desire to take a nap. However, this is only one of the possible causes of afternoon sleepiness.

Redistribution of blood in the body

The blood is to blame, or rather, its distribution throughout the body. And it should be said that today this is the most common and most popular explanation for why you want to sleep after eating. It is well known that all organs of our body are supplied with blood to one degree or another. Together with it, oxygen and useful substances are carried through the body, necessary for correct operation all systems. But when one of the organs (or system) works in an enhanced mode, then the blood also flows to it more intensively. In the case of the digestive system, the blood supply to the organs gastrointestinal tract increases during the digestion of food. Not in last turn this happens due to the flow of blood from the brain to the digestive organs. The brain does not suffer from such castling, but becomes less active for a while. This causes a feeling of relaxation and a desire to relax.

Influence of hormones

The process of digestion of food is accompanied not only by the release of energy, but also by more active production of certain hormones. In particular, digestion is accompanied by the release of glucagon, amylin and insulin, which directly affect the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. But at the same time, there are hormones, the increase of which can lead to drowsiness. Examples of these are serotonin and melatonin. By the way, the synthesis of the latter is not a direct reaction of the body to eating food, however, some foods can increase the level of this hormone.

Carbohydrates

Another one possible reason, why after dinner a person wants to sleep, this. It is well known that high-carbohydrate foods are necessary for quick recovery forces. In particular, carbohydrates are an important part sports nutrition bodybuilders. Also, everyone knows that people whose work requires a lot of money need carbohydrate food. physical energy. However, one should not think that more carbs you eat, the more energetic you will be.

All carbohydrates are divided into simple and complex. The first (they fast sugars), entering the body, do not require additional splitting, so they are immediately absorbed and quickly provide energy. The absorption of complex (slow) carbohydrates takes much longer. The rate of their breakdown and assimilation is determined by the glycemic index. The lower it is, the longer body will receive uniform portions of energy. In the case of fast carbohydrates, energy (blood sugar) initially rises sharply, but then just as quickly decreases. When this happens, the activity of brain neurons decreases, the body feels a breakdown and drowsiness appears. Experts have calculated that after eating food with a high glycemic index, sleep tends to occur approximately 30 minutes after a meal.

Binge eating

Drowsiness can be the result of overeating. Nutritionists advise to eat more often, but in small portions, not only those who want to lose weight excess weight but also for those who do not have time for a siesta. The desire to take a nap after dinner is a reaction of the body, which does not have time to digest extra calories. To avoid drowsiness, it is useful to eat every 3 hours and at the same time focus on fiber-rich vegetables (they allow you to quickly get enough without the risk of going overboard with calories).

Dehydration

When the body does not have enough fluid, it signals this different symptoms. Sleepiness is one of them. If a person consumes too little, his blood becomes thicker, as a result arterial pressure decreases, the pulse becomes weaker, there is lethargy, fatigue and a desire to lie down to rest.

Rest and physical activity

Absence good rest at night can also be one of the causes of sleepiness after dinner. If the body is exhausted and feels tired, then the influence of factors leading to drowsiness is further enhanced.

Another important factor that determines how the body reacts to a particular food is the physical activity of a person. people leading sedentary image life, more often complain of drowsiness after eating than their more active peers.

Diseases

IN rare cases fatigue and weakness after a meal may indicate health problems. Drowsiness after eating is common in people with diabetes, food allergies, anemia, diseases thyroid gland. For example, in patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, feeling tired after eating may be a symptom of hyper- or hypoglycemia. At food allergies, the desire to take a nap after eating is usually accompanied by other symptoms, for example, gastrointestinal upset, headache,.

In addition, drowsiness after meals occurs in people with circulatory problems, for example, due to atherosclerosis that has arisen in the vessels that supply blood to the intestines. If this is so, then, in addition to the desire to sleep, the person has abdominal pain and other digestive disorders.

Sometimes drowsiness after eating can occur as a result of combining certain foods with medications. Such a reaction, for example, can be given by the drug lovastatin (to reduce the amount of lipids in the blood) against the background of grapefruit juice.

Foods that cause drowsiness

All products entering the digestive system are digested according to the same principle, but they all affect the body in different ways. Some of them may cause drowsiness. For example, those containing .

Tryptophan is necessary for the body to synthesize serotonin and melanin - hormones on which the quality of sleep depends. Thus, infatuation with foods with tryptophan can affect hormonal background and cause drowsiness after a meal. By the way, dairy products contain not only tryptophan, but also quite a lot, which only enhances the absorption of the amino acid. That is why after eating dairy dishes or different types cheese may appear drowsiness.

If you don’t want to fall asleep right at work, you shouldn’t stock up as a snack. These fruits also contain tryptophan, which, when combined with carbohydrates, is absorbed quite quickly. Do not forget that bananas are also rich in minerals that cause muscle relaxation and drowsiness. Also tends to sleep after large portions, and other nuts. There is relatively little tryptophan in these foods, but instead they have melatonin, known as the sleep hormone. By the way, after a large portion of fatty fish, such as or, the level of melatonin in the body also rises, which can subsequently cause a feeling of fatigue.

In addition, drowsiness may appear after a large serving of sweets. First, as already said, sugary food causes a surge, and then a sharp decline blood sugar levels, which in turn makes us sleepy. Secondly, excessive passion for cherries increases the concentration of melatonin in the body. It is clear that a few juicy berries will not make the weather, but after a couple of glasses of juice it is quite possible to plunge into sweet Dreams. Chamomile tea is also better to drink in the evening, and not after a hearty meal, as this plant contains the amino acid glycine, which has a relaxing effect on the nervous system. Lovers may complain about drowsiness after eating, (especially if you add almonds and bananas to the porridge), white rice dishes.

Recently, scientists have made another discovery: drowsiness can cause food, rich in proteins And . At least, fruit flies, on which scientists conducted an experiment, about half an hour after eating salty-protein food, reduced their activity and fell asleep. During the experiment, it turned out that food rich in salt and proteins “turns off” a group of neurons (leukokinin receptors), which causes a desire to fall asleep.

However, we are all different and listed products can affect different people in different ways.

How to prevent sleepiness after eating

If drowsiness occurs every time after eating, it is worth telling the therapist about it. You may need to undergo an examination to determine the cause of the ailment. However, when the possibility of the disease is excluded, and drowsiness after eating occurs only occasionally, you can try to prevent untimely cravings for sleep. To do this, you may need to reconsider your dietary preferences and make adjustments to your lifestyle.

So, to prevent afternoon sleepiness, you need to:

• observe the water regime (drink about 2 liters of water per day);
• stick to ;
• give up desserts after dinner;
• reduce portions of food consumed at a time;
• enough rest;
• give preference to slow carbohydrates and avoid a lot of sweets;
• reduce or eliminate alcohol from the diet.

Most the best medicine to restore energy after a lunch meal is nap. If circumstances allow, a 15-minute nap is enough to improve your well-being. Moreover, in Lately scientists have found a lot of evidence that siesta is actually beneficial to humans.

But if you don’t get the opportunity to sleep even for a few minutes, then oxygen saturation of the brain will help to quickly get rid of drowsiness. To do this, do 20-30 quick and deep breaths. It's better to do these breathing exercises on fresh air. This trick will allow you to quickly restore strength, restore energy and efficiency.

Mild drowsiness after eating in most cases is a natural reaction of the body to biochemical processes occurring in the body against the background of the digestion of food. However, if the symptoms of malaise are pronounced, repeat after each meal and do not go away for a long time, it is better to seek help from a doctor.

When the body is deficient in a vitamin, mineral, or other required substance, it signals this. We just don't understand it the way we should. If we really want sweet, salty, spicy, sour, we just eat the first foods that come across that fit the required characteristics. It is absolutely impossible to do this. Such urges of the body indicate that you need to enrich yourself with some element that is unlikely to be in harmful products. Most people crave sweets. The reasons for this phenomenon have long been studied by scientists.

If you suddenly feel like eating something sweet, especially in in large numbers, you need to solve one of these problems:

• Lack of chromium in the body.
• Insufficient amount of phosphorus.
• Tryptophan deficiency.

It is worth noting that chocolate is a special product. If you have an irresistible desire to eat a whole chocolate bar or eat in unlimited quantities chocolate candies Most likely, the body does not have enough magnesium. It could also be a lack of carbon. In any case, this is not a reason to rush to sugary foods and eat them. You can find safer and useful solution for your body.

A small table will help you navigate what is missing in the body.

As you can see, not only sweet dishes can become an imaginary panacea. Any of the above products can be substituted for more wholesome food that will satisfy your hunger and fill you up.

Psychological problems and addiction to sugary foods

Sometimes you crave sweets for no reason. What is missing in the body is not clear, since a person eats fully. Then the reason can be looked for in psychology.

Professional psychologists are sure that a pathological craving for sweet foods occurs when a person lacks love, affection, attention, he is unhappy, notorious and unsure of himself. Such people experience a certain event in their lives, after which they find solace in sweets and cakes. They are vulnerable, often in need of approval and support from the outside.

In more advanced cases, such cravings indicate pathological anxiety, personality disorders, and persistent depression. Then the sweet is the so-called antidepressant, a sedative.

How to get rid of psychological problems

How to understand what is missing in the body, we have decided. However, if the matter is psychological problems, regular replenishment useful substances will not help. Try to take these steps:

• Think about what can make you happy instead of sweets. Perhaps you want to update your wardrobe, visit a beauty salon, buy a book or magazine. Small pleasures can replace sweet dishes.
• Try replacing sweets with something else. For such purposes, fruits, nuts, dried fruits, dark chocolate or a small amount of honey are perfect.
• If you decide to switch to sweeteners, give up this idea. They are very harmful to the body, and the problem of cravings for sweets will not be solved.
• Analyze your life. Perhaps there is something in it that does not suit you and depresses. It's time to eliminate this factor. It is easier to get rid of stress than to seize it.

Sometimes the above methods do not help, you still constantly want sweets. What is missing in the body is not clear, and the problem is becoming larger. In this case, it is best to visit a psychologist who will listen to you carefully and give recommendations that are right for you.

Other causes of sugar cravings

From the point of view of physiology, a person absorbs sweet foods in unlimited quantities for the following reasons:

Eliminating one of these causes will normalize the state of your body. If the problem arose due to a lack of something, you constantly want sweets, which is not enough in the body, you figured it out, then you need to start replenishing the natural balance.

All about tryptophan

Tryptophan is an amino acid whose deficiency leads to various problems. This substance:

• Maintains a high level of mood.
• Promotes harmony.
• Raises
• Stimulates the desire to learn new information.
• It contributes to the fact that a person remains emotionally stable even in situations of increased tension.
• Helps to quit smoking and drinking alcohol faster.
• Reduces the level of aggression, eliminates irritability.
• Combats emotional tension and anxiety.
• Helps normalize the sleep cycle.
• Increases the quality of sleep.
• Promotes outdoor activities in short time.

The lack of tryptophan greatly affects the emotional state of a person. Without it, the body stops producing serotonin, which is responsible for the feeling of happiness. Scientists have proven that people who are in a state of depression are extremely low level tryptophan in the body.

Craving for sweets is a mandatory symptom of a lack of this substance, but not the only one. Along with it, the following problems may arise:

• Weight loss.
• Skin dermatitis.
• Diarrhea.
• impulsivity, irritability, nervousness, elevated level anxiety.
• Insomnia.
• Memory deterioration.
• Deterioration of brain activity.
• Poor concentration.
• Tendency to depression.
• Sharp weight gain.
• Constant uncontrollable overeating.

But do not overdo it with the use of tryptophan. Its excess in the body also adversely affects health. It causes weakness, fever and fever.

Thanks to the quality and balanced diet your body will get enough tryptophan. This will not only improve your well-being, relieve problems with the nervous system and emotional state but also helps to avoid various complications and diseases. Do not forget that tryptophan is not the only substance that a person needs. Nutrition should be complete, that is, contain all essential trace elements and macronutrients.

How to increase tryptophan levels

Tryptophan can be purchased at any pharmacy. The drug should be taken according to the instructions, but it is much easier and safer to eat foods with high content this substance. They are available to almost everyone. So, contains tryptophan in the following products:

• Turkey and chicken meat.
• Chicken liver.
• Lamb meat.
• Beef liver.
• Chicken eggs.
• Red and black caviar.
• Squids.
• Perch.
• Mackerel.
• Various cheeses.
• Dairy products.
• Nuts.
• beans.
• Oat groats.
• Black chocolate.
• Dried apricots.
• Mushrooms.
• Pasta.

But it’s not enough to just eat foods high in tryptophan. In this case, it simply will not be absorbed by the body. The following ingredients are required:

• Fast carbs.
• Vitamin B.
• Ferrum.
• Magnesium.

The best product that will help the body absorb tryptophan in full is the usual chicken liver. It is rich in all of the above substances, it can be prepared in different ways.

Please note that a product such as corn is low in this substance. Scientists note that people who often eat dishes with its content have an increased level of aggressiveness.

What you need to know about phosphorus

Not only cravings for sweets can say that there is a lack of phosphorus in the body. Along with this symptom, the following factors should be present:

• Loss of appetite.
• Constant feeling of weakness.
• Hands and feet become less sensitive.
• Pain in the joints.
• "Needle" in the body.
• General malaise.
• Feeling of anxiety.
• Unreasonable feeling of fear.

Also, a lack of phosphorus can occur if a person has leukemia, hyperthyroidism, or poisoned by phenol or benzene.

If you suddenly started exercising or went on a strict diet with low content protein and at the same time you have a sharp increase in the need for sweet foods, then be sure that you are dealing with a lack of this macronutrient.

Another factor signaling a lack of phosphorus is an increased content of magnesium or iron in the diet. These substances prevent the body from absorbing certain elements. Phosphorus is one of them.

If the pathological craving for sweets is associated precisely with the lack of this element, then be prepared for the fact that if this problem is not eliminated, a number of difficulties will appear. This is because phosphorus:

• It has a strong effect on mental abilities.
• Participates in the process of formation and strengthening of bones and teeth.
• Participates in the formation and development of muscle tissue.
• In combination with other elements, it contributes to the production of energy.
• Participates in protein synthesis.
• Takes a direct part in metabolism.

To enrich the body with phosphorus, eat the following foods:

• Melted cheese.
• Fish flounder, sardine, tuna, mackerel, sturgeon, horse mackerel, smelt, pollock, capelin.
• Shrimps, squids, crabs.
• Legumes.
• Cottage cheese.

If you are using legumes to increase the phosphorus content in the body, soak them in water first. This is due to the fact that sometimes a macronutrient is not absorbed or not absorbed enough. Preprocessing can solve this problem.

Fortunately, it is very rare today for people to be deficient in phosphorus, as it is found in many foods. Due to certain circumstances, there may be a lack of this element in the body, then there will be an unreasonable craving for sweets. This problem can be quickly and easily solved by following the recommendations above. You can also buy capsules containing phosphorus in a pharmacy.

Chromium in food

Unlike previous substances, it is extremely difficult to increase the level of chromium in the body with the help of food. This is because only foods grown in soil rich in this element contain it. It's hard to find one today.

To compensate for the intake of the substance with food, chromium preparations can be purchased at the pharmacy. But do not forget about proper nutrition. The substance is found in the following foods:

• Vegetables and fruits.
• Cereal products.
• Various spices.
• Legumes.
• Homemade meat.
• Fish products.
• Seafood.
• Liver.
• Various types of cheese.

Doctors recommend cooking these foods with minimal processing, as heat can destroy the chromium compounds. This will lead to the fact that the body simply does not receive this substance. Therefore, along with proper nutrition and it is recommended to take chromium preparations bought in official pharmacies licensed.

This element plays important role in the body, namely:

• Removes bad cholesterol from the body.
• Helps maintain normal weight.
• Regulates the state of the thyroid gland.
• Promotes Recovery different functions organism.
• Strengthens bones.
• Normalizes blood pressure.
• Enhances the effects of insulin.
• Prevents diabetes.
• Reduces feeling unreasonable fear and anxiety.
• Prevents rapid fatigue.
• Removes radioactive components and salts of heavy metals from the body.

You can not judge the lack of chromium only by increased cravings for sweets. Along with this symptom, one or more factors must be present. These include:

• growth retardation.
• Problems with the nervous system.
• Increased levels of glucose in the body.
• Excess body weight.
• Unusual perception by the body of alcoholic beverages.

Be careful, as excess chromium is also detrimental to health. This results in:

• To the occurrence of allergic reactions.
• Problems in the psychological state.
• Diseases of the liver and kidneys.
• infectious diseases.
• An increased risk of developing cancer.

Therefore, plan your diet wisely, and drink all pharmaceuticals strictly according to the instructions.

Chromium deficiency can occur for the following reasons:

• Frequent use of glucose.
• Abuse of chocolate and carbonated drinks.
• Strict diets associated with the exclusion of protein foods from the diet.
• Infectious diseases.
• Excess calcium in the body.
• Increased physical activity.

As you can see, the presence of chromium in the body in enough- this is very important aspect for the full functioning of all organ systems. If not receiving it long time health problems cannot be avoided. If you are not sure that your diet saturates the body with enough chromium, then you need to choose pharmaceutical drug, which would compensate possible disadvantage. It is best to do this by consulting your doctor.

What to do if you want to bake

Baked goods and sweet foods are foods that are different in structure. And pathological cravings for their use need to select different explanations. It often happens that you want to bake. What is missing in the body in this case can be determined by several symptoms. If you really want sweet pastries, then the point is the lack of one of the above elements. But it happens that a person just wants something floury. Then the problem is in one of the factors:

If you listen to the state of your body in time, analyze it and draw conclusions, then it will not be difficult for you to solve any problem.

When we eat, our body receives nutrients, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and essential minerals. In theory, after eating, we should feel cheerful, full of strength and energy. Then why does this weakness occur after eating? Why do we feel sleepy and dizzy, and sometimes even experience bouts of nausea?

Problem feeling unwell after eating - a fairly common phenomenon. Well, let's try to find out what could be the cause of this condition.

What happens in the body immediately after eating?

Reception and processing of food - difficult task for the body. In the process of eating, blood is more actively supplied to the digestive organs to help cope with the incoming food faster. And if the food, moreover, was not digestible enough and formed a hard lump (chyme), after the food arrives in the small intestine, strong pressure, which not only activates the release of catecholamines into the blood, but also causes other unpleasant symptoms(nausea, weakness,).

Perhaps you also noticed that immediately after eating you experience terrible drowsiness? This is because your digestive system spends a lot of energy processing food, so you feel weak and tired immediately after the body has finished the digestive process.

There is another reason why after eating you want to sleep. When nutrients are absorbed in the intestines, there is a spike in blood glucose levels. Brain cells use sugar as an energy source, so if a person is hungry, the brain actively produces orexin, a special substance that prevents a person from falling asleep and directs him in search of food. When the food entered the body, it was digested and assimilated, the brain receives a signal about this and immediately stops the production of orexin, and we begin to fall asleep.

What can cause weakness after eating?

Weakness after eating is a rather multifactorial condition. We list only the most probable pathologies and conditions in which there may be a deterioration in well-being after eating.

hypoglycemia

Decreased blood sugar levels after meals. At the same time, the body does not use carbohydrates to replenish blood sugar, but sends them to fat reserves. Hypoglycemia can also develop a few hours after a meal if there were not enough carbohydrate-containing foods in the diet or if you drank alcohol, were physically active, and in diabetes, due to taking an excessive dose of antidiabetic drugs.

hyperglycemia

Elevated levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood serum. Hyperglycemia occurs predominantly with diabetes or other diseases of the endocrine system. It is characterized by the fact that weakness appears in the body after sweet or starchy foods.

If fatigue after eating is caused by hyperglycemia, then you should reduce your intake of carbohydrates in your diet until you determine the amount you need. First of all, you need to eliminate fast carbohydrates, that is, foods with a high (GI) glycemic index, including White bread, sweet food, sweet fruits and alcohol.

dumping syndrome

Complication due to recent surgical intervention on the stomach. Dumping syndrome is characterized by accelerated evacuation, "dumping" of food from the stomach into the intestines, which is accompanied by a violation carbohydrate metabolism and functioning of the digestive system. Dumping syndrome develops in 10-30% of patients who have undergone, in the near or distant postoperative period. Condition symptoms: sharp deterioration feeling immediately or one and a half to two hours after eating, weakness, cardiac arrhythmia, dizziness, nausea and vomiting.

Disorders of the endocrine system

Thyroid hormones are responsible for regulating metabolic processes, including energy. When there is an imbalance in the secretion of hormones, then the energy is not used properly, and, as a rule, there is a feeling of fatigue after eating.

Doctors Say Weakness After Eating May Be a Symptom serious violations in the work of the body. Gastritis, pancreatitis, cholelithiasis, anorexia nervosa - this is far from full list pathologies in which you can feel varying degrees of discomfort after eating. Therefore, if you observe regular weakness after eating, you should immediately contact a specialist, first of all, a gastroenterologist, and then an endocrinologist.

It should be said that nausea and weakness after eating can also occur due to banal overeating, when you eat food even after you already feel full stomach, or when you eat too fast without chewing your food. In this case, you should change the approach to eating: review the diet and eating schedule, perhaps apply a diet or switch to fractional nutrition.

We all know that food is a source of energy. Why, then, do many face such a phenomenon as weakness after eating, drowsiness and decreased performance? It makes you want to, after a hearty lunch, lie down and take a nap for at least 20-25 minutes. The desire becomes so irresistible that there is no strength to fight it. What to do in such a situation?

First of all, you should find out why it becomes bad after eating, and then take measures to eliminate the annoying ailment.

Sleepiness after eating is quite common.

Causes of post-prandial weakness

Let's try to figure out why, after eating food, weakness occurs and you want to lie down. There are many reasons for this condition. Some of them are not associated with a serious illness and are explained by an improperly selected diet or a failure in the diet. Others testify to serious problems health and require close attention.

Below we will talk on this topic in more detail, find out in which cases weakness appears after eating, and learn about its causes.

Heavy and junk food

We all understand the benefits of a healthy and nutritious diet. But for some reason we continue to eat food that is harmful to our health. Fatty meats, fried potatoes, sausages, ketchup and mayonnaise all cause weakness and a feeling of sleepiness after dinner.

The reason for the afternoon nap is often a heavy and satisfying meal.

This is explained quite simply. For the digestion and assimilation of heavy and fatty foods it takes a lot of strength. The body, having done the hard work and decomposing the products into nutrients, loses great amount energy, the lack of which is manifested by drowsiness after a hearty and plentiful dinner.

Poor health after eating can be caused by an excess of tyramine. The amino acid increases the level of epinephrine and dopamine, but lowers the concentration of serotonin. This eventually leads to a sharp narrowing of the cerebral vessels, oxygen starvation And great weakness. Possible dizziness and loss of consciousness.

People with a history vegetative dystonia, it is desirable to limit the use of products containing tyramine:

1. Cheese and dairy products.
2. Bitter chocolate and overripe fruit.
3. Citrus.
4. Meat and sausages.
5. Alcohol.
6. Fried, fatty and smoked foods.

Biochemical processes

Modern scholars claim that main reason drowsiness after eating is an increase in blood glucose concentration. This substance reduces the production of orexin, which is responsible for physical activity. Let's see how this happens.

Simple carbohydrates found in sugar and confectionery, cause a breakdown after dinner

The gastrointestinal tract is directly related to endocrine system organism. During hunger, the brain begins to actively synthesize the hormone orexin. The substance stimulates a person to wake up and search for food.

After lunch, which usually consists of simple carbohydrates, most of the glucose received from the gastrointestinal tract does not have time to be absorbed by the cells and is concentrated in the blood. As a result, the brain reduces the production of orexin, and symptoms such as loss of strength and decreased performance appear.

Advice. To reduce your chances of developing afternoon sleepiness, you should limit your intake of simple sugars and replace them with proteins.

Associated pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract

Often, weakness after eating can be triggered by diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. If afternoon sleepiness is accompanied by discomfort in epigastric region, nausea, flatulence and stool disorders, the following pathologies are likely to develop:

• ulcers of the stomach and duodenum;
• gastritis;
• cholelithiasis;
• enteritis.

To identify the causes of poor health after eating and setting accurate diagnosis you should contact a specialist.

Very often, the afternoon breakdown occurs after resection or gastroenterostomy. A complication of the operation is dumping syndrome (accelerated evacuation of the contents of the stomach into small intestine). IN medical practice cases of development of an indisposition at the persons which were not exposed to surgical treatment are known.

Pathology is formed in 30% of patients in the postoperative period. The disease appears against the background of a violation of the digestion process and does not depend on the amount of food eaten.

Dumping syndrome is one of common causes feeling unwell after a meal

There are three stages of the development of the disease:

1. Light. Attacks of general weakness appear during meals or during the first 10-12 minutes after it. They last no more than half an hour and pass on their own.
2. Average. At this stage, the patient becomes ill immediately after eating. Sweating increases, drowsiness develops, dizziness, tinnitus and tremor of the limbs may appear. The symptoms become so severe that the patient has to lie down.
3. Heavy. Attacks can develop after eating any food. Last at least three hours and are accompanied by an increase in heart rate, shortness of breath, migraine, numbness of the extremities. Weakness often turns into fainting.

Dumping syndrome most often occurs after eating dairy products or foods high in carbohydrates.

Advice. To reduce the severity of the symptoms of the disease, nutritionists recommend switching to fractional meals in small portions. liquid and solid food should be consumed separately with an interval of 30 minutes. Remove foods from the diet high content fats, carbohydrates and sugars. After finishing lunch, you should lie down for 20-30 minutes.

Other Causes of Loss of Energy After Eating

Medical practice shows that the cause of afternoon weakness can be various violations regulatory systems of the body. Therefore, if you regularly feel sleepy after eating and feel weak, you should visit a doctor as soon as possible. Such symptoms may herald the onset of an endocrine disease.

Diabetes

This disease develops against the background of disorders of carbohydrate metabolism and an increase in the concentration of glucose in the blood and urine.

Diabetes mellitus is usually accompanied by drowsiness and decreased performance.

With this ailment, after-dinner weakness is accompanied by:

• intense thirst and frequent urination;
• rapid weight loss;
• poor regeneration of the skin;
• drowsiness after a meal.

If these symptoms appear, it is urgent to visit a doctor and measure blood sugar. Why this is so important, you can find out from the video at the end of the article.

Diabetes is not fatal disease. A strict diet and adherence to the doctor's recommendations will help overcome fatigue and drowsiness after eating, increase efficiency and quality of life.

Rigid diet

Excessive dietary restrictions caused by attempts to lose weight often end in grandiose breakdowns, during which a person is able to eat a huge amount of food. At the same time, signs similar to the dumping syndrome are observed.

However, in this case, weakness after eating is provoked long-term disadvantage nutrition, and drowsiness is a banal overeating, with which the digestive system, which has become unaccustomed to work, simply cannot cope.

Food is a source of energy. But what to do if after a hearty dinner you feel sleepy, and the only desire is to lie down on the sofa and take a nap for at least half an hour? We figured out why you feel sleepy after eating, and figured out how to avoid this and be alert all day long even after meals.

Dima Solovyov

Drowsiness that occurs after eating may be the result of the nervous system. We are talking about its vegetative part: the one that imperceptibly for us regulates the work of the whole organism. It consists of two components, the function of which is largely opposite: the sympathetic and parasympathetic parts of the nervous system. Sympathetic activates muscles, improves reaction - in all its glory, its work can be seen in runners standing at the start, or in a person who was suddenly scared and stressed by something. The parasympathetic nervous system, on the contrary, relaxes the muscles, slows down the heartbeat, and as a result, the person calms down.

So, after eating, the action of the parasympathetic nervous system reflexively predominates in a person. This has its own meaning: under its influence, the blood supply to the muscles decreases somewhat, but the blood rushes to digestive tract: after all, the food eaten needs to be digested somehow, and for this, the organs involved must receive more blood. In other words, our body cannot simultaneously be in tension and digest food normally, so it has to choose one thing. So immediately after eating, the body experiences a strong influence of the parasympathetic nervous system - this allows it to digest food. And in order to protect you from possible stress (after all, when it occurs, you will have to activate the sympathetic nervous system, which does not contribute to digestion at all), your brain gives you a feeling of relaxation and peace, along with a desire to take a short nap. This is especially noticeable after a heavy meal.

However, this is just one of the theories - it is possible that drowsiness after eating can occur for other reasons. There are new studies that reveal the role of blood glucose levels in this process and the associated production of the neurohormone orexin. Chronic lack of sleep, which many residents of large cities face, also plays a role. Under these conditions, the body tries to snatch as much sleep as possible, and the time when a person has eaten and is relaxed is great for this.

And here are the very reasons, by eliminating which, you will regain your energy and lightness.

1. You provoke a sharp jump in sugar.

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Perhaps this is the most common cause of drowsiness after eating. Why is blood sugar one of the most important indicators health and how to control it.

Glucose in the human body is the result of the breakdown of carbohydrates. Along with fats and proteins, carbohydrates are nutrients, necessary for the body V large quantities. And it is carbohydrates that are responsible for the energy level in the body. But if you think that the more carbohydrates you eat, the more alert you will be, then you are mistaken.

By chemical composition Carbohydrates are divided into simple and complex. The speed of their assimilation and, as a result, the impact on the human body depends on their structure.

Simple carbohydrates or simple sugars are those that, once ingested, do not need to be consumed. additional splitting and quickly absorbed. Many people know them as fast carbohydrates: they quickly release the sugar they contain and provoke sudden jump energy. Complex or slow carbohydrates work differently. Due to the structure, their breakdown is slower, and glucose enters the blood evenly.

Foods with a high glycemic index will give you energy for the first half an hour after eating, but later your blood sugar levels will plummet. And because of this, you always tend to sleep.

The rate of breakdown of the product to the simplest glucose - glycemic index(GI). The smaller it is, the slower sugar enters the blood, and the body more time will be provided with energy. Foods with a high GI will give you energy for the first half hour after eating, but later your blood sugar levels will plummet. And this can cause you to feel tired and sleepy. But if you choose to slow carbohydrates, then avoid drops in glucose levels, and your body will maintain energy balance.

There are a lot of fast carbohydrates - in fact, these are all foods that have undergone heavy processing. For example, white flour and all flour products(yes, say goodbye to buns, puffs and cookies) White rice and sweet drinks. Despite the abundance of fiber, fruits and dried fruits are also fast carbohydrates, albeit less harmful.

Pay attention to foods that have undergone less processing: they contain a huge amount of fiber. That is why the body needs more time to process them. This means that glucose from them will enter the blood more slowly, and this will avoid a jump in sugar and energy imbalance. Therefore, give preference to those foods that are rich in fiber - these are all foods from whole grain flour, buckwheat, brown rice, bulgur, hercules, lentils (there is also protein), etc.

Here are some ideas for a hearty meal that will leave you fresh and cheerful:

2. You eat more than you need.

“Eat more often and in small portions” is not only advice for all those who are losing weight. Large portions create a feeling of heaviness, and this makes you want to "lie down and digest." The body simply gets tired of coping with hundreds of extra calories.

Overeating is usually the result of a prolonged feeling of hunger, and regular meals help you avoid this. In addition, observing the intervals between meals allows you to maintain sugar levels at the same level. Therefore, portion control is important not only for those who want to lose weight, but also for those who want to feel light throughout the day.