Do you feel tired after eating?
Many people feel tired after eating, particularly after lunch. I think most of us can relate to the 'afternoon blues'. You know, when you've had lunch and need to get back to work but are feeling so tired that all you want to do is lay down and sleep! Most people put this tiredness and lethargy down to lack of sleep, but in actual fact feeling tired after eating lunch probably has more to do with what you just ate than how much sleep you got last night.
So which foods will make us tired? Everyone is sensitive to different foods, but a well known fact is that carbohydrate sensitive people will suffer from tiredness shortly after eating carbohydrate foods. In fact, most people will feel like this after eating food high in carbohydrates such as white pasta, bread and rice. Try to replace these with whole grain varieties to increase their nutritional value.
People can also feel tired after eating when they suffer from reactive hypoglycemia. This means that a person is left with high blood sugar after they eat sugary foods. There is then a sudden rush of insulin which leads to the blood sugar to drop very low. This condition often goes undiagnosed with people who have been suffering for many years. The symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia are of course feeling tired after eating, as well as sweating, anxiety and headaches.
To feel energized after eating, try to eat protein foods such as fish for lunch .This will keep you more awake and alert than carbs. Although some fruits are high in sugars, these are still preferable to eat compared to a chocolate or crisps for a snack at work and will leave you feeling energized. Try blueberries, strawberries and mangoes for a quick energy boost.
If you are feeling tired after eating, you should see your doctor to rule out any serious illness. After you are in the clear, gradually eliminate one food at a time from your diet to see what sort of effect it has on you. Eventually you should be able to pinpoint the foods that are causing your tiredness and lethargy after eating.