Feeling sleepy when it’s time to eat or after eating is quite common. It’s what we colloquially call sleepiness. Why does it happen to us?
Photo provided by Glucovibes
The moderra or postprandial drowsiness it causes us to be more tired and want to sleep, a feeling that usually occurs during and after lunch, when our body’s energy levels decrease.
On the occasion of World Dream Day, on March 17, EFESalut talks to the Dr. Ainhoa Álvarez, neurophysiologist and coordinator of the Insomnia working group of the Spanish Sleep Society (SES)to know why we feel this way.
Does it have to do with what we ate?
Although the cold usually comes after lunch, it doesn’t always have to be related to the food we’ve eaten.
According to Dr. Álvarez, our body is programmed to rest around this time, which usually coincides with lunch time, around two in the afternoon.
“Alterations occur in the brain substances in which we find it easier to sleep, regardless of whether we have eaten or not,” he explains.
Some foods can influence the mood
However, there are certain foods that can influence and cause a greater feeling of sleepiness, as in the case of alcohol and the fatsas they cause digestion to be heavier.
On the other hand, the nutritionist Itxaso Erasun Gorostidi of Glucovibes (a platform that monitors blood glucose levels), has an impact on this aspect, pointing out that not all foods act the same in our bodies.
“With meals high in carbohydrates and fats such as paellas, risottos, lasagnas, pastas…our body feels more run down and enters a state of exhaustion”, points out the nutritionist.
Along these same lines, he points out that meals balanced in macronutrients or rich in proteins such as fish, baked or grilled meat with vegetables and tubers reduce the feeling of bloatedness.
If there is a nap, make it short
“Our body is programmed to be awake during the day and sleep at night, but right at this time we have a small beak to sleep, which is why the nap is so physiological”, explains the neurophysiologist Ainhoa Álvarez.
She recognizes that it is very normal for us to feel more tired at this time and more inclined to sleep, so we must pay attention to our body, which the nutritionist also agrees with.
In this way, they recommend taking a nap as long as it is short, not exceeding thirty minutes, which will help us rest our bodies and wake up with more energy to endure the afternoon.
Does age play a role?
Both specialists agree that in principle age is not something that influences, but rather it will depend more on what each person is like and on their metabolism.
“There are people who need to take a nap for at least ten minutes to be human and others who don’t,” says the sleep expert.
What can we do to avoid blackberry?
With a view to trying to deal with the feeling of numbness, the SES specialist advises:
- Lighter food, avoid the intake of copious meals.
- Schedule the nap, trying to find a hole for him. “You don’t need to put on your pajamas and get into bed for two hours, closing your eyes for five minutes can do us good,” he says.
- Have coffee or tea, as caffeine will counteract this sleep pressure. However, it is not recommended later than four in the afternoon, as it can influence the hygiene of the night’s sleep.