Getting sleepy after lunch?

Most times, post lunch sleepiness is caused by a carbohydrate rich meal. This is called as postprandial somnolence.

While it's common in many cultures to take an afternoon nap, feeling sleepy after lunch is not essentially normal.

A combination of refined carbohydrates and high calories can cause blood sugar spike and insulin spike which can cause you to get tired.

This happens for many reasons:

• The parasympathetic nervous system gets activated

• The blood flow to the brain reduces

• Arousal pathways to the brain get reduced.

• Production of sleep hormone called melatonin and serotonin because of incomplete amino acid absorption due to high carbs.

If you're trying to reduce post kunch sleepiness, consider trying not consume carbohydrates with lunch for one week and see if this experiment helps you feel less sleepy after eating.