Why do I get tired after eating? Eating foods that contain tryptophan can induce sleep because it contains an amino acid and when the body metabolizes tryptophan this can induce sleepiness and drowsiness. Serotonin is a hormone that plays a role in your sleep cycle. Some dietary food sources of tryptophan are salmon, tuna, shrimp, seeds, nuts, chicken, beef, steak, etc.
Why do I get tired after eating? iStock-photo credit: Drazen Zigic
A 2018 research study revealed that people that eat a large high calorie meal can experience fatigue when this happens. There are other factors can contribute to fatigue after eating a meal which is stress, hormonal changes, sleep disorders, mental health conditions and medical treatments like chemotherapy.
Eating large meals or eating foods that carry a high amount of tryptophan can contribute to being drowsy or sleepy after meals. This doesn’t happen with everybody, but some have experienced this in various research studies.
Some lifestyle changes that can help with people being fatigued are incorporating good sleeping habits, exercising regularly and being mindful of how much caffeine you consume in the day.
The Bottom Line is if you are eating a large meal or if you are consuming a high amount of tryptophan foods then it can potentially cause you to be sleepy or tired.
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References
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2) Lehrskov LL, Dorph E, Widmer AM, Hepprich M, Siegenthaler J, Timper K, Donath MY. The role of IL-1 in postprandial fatigue. Mol Metab. 2018 Jun;12:107-112. doi: 10.1016/j.molmet.2018.04.001. Epub 2018 Apr 12. PMID: 29705519; PMCID: PMC6001918.
3) Zuraikat FM, Wood RA, Barragán R, St-Onge MP. Sleep and Diet: Mounting Evidence of a Cyclical Relationship. Annu Rev Nutr. 2021 Oct 11;41:309-332. doi: 10.1146/annurev-nutr-120420-021719. Epub 2021 Aug 4. PMID: 34348025; PMCID: PMC8511346.
4) Yoshitake R, Park I, Ogata H, Omi N. Meal Timing and Sleeping Energy Metabolism. Nutrients. 2023 Feb 2;15(3):763. doi: 10.3390/nu15030763. PMID: 36771468; PMCID: PMC9919906.
