What makes me so sleepy after I eat a big meal?

purplehayes

Golden Member
Mar 31, 2000
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If I eat a big meal and there's a bed nearby, it's bye-bye purplehayes for an hour. The problem used to be almost uncontrollable, but now that I've gotten into shape, it gotten a lettle better. I've learned to eat smaller meals throughout the day to spread out my food intake, but sometimes it's hard to avoid an occasional big meal.

I don't touch junk food and I get plenty of exercise. I'm only 31, although this has been a pattern for probably 10 years now. I'm just wondering if anyone here has had a similar experience and what they did to correct it. Could this be a blood sugar problem?

And before anyone jumps on my case about "Go see a doctor!", I'll probably go soon, I just want to do some research so I can ask intelligent questions when I have my the office visit.

PH
:D
 

luv2chill

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2000
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it's probably your parasympathetic nervous system getting in gear to digest that huge meal. Do you still get sleepy if you eat normal portions?

l2c
 

SaltBoy

Diamond Member
Aug 13, 2001
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The blood that's supposed to go to your brain is being used for digestion. At least, I THINK that's it.
 

MikeO

Diamond Member
Jan 17, 2001
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Happens to me too, sometimes when I eat too much... I try to avoid that.

Usually I give in and take a nap, 30 mins max. cant be that bad.
 

purplehayes

Golden Member
Mar 31, 2000
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<< Do you still get sleepy if you eat normal portions? >>

Yup, but less so if I eat a smaller portion.

PH
:D
 

Crashedout

Member
Jan 11, 2000
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Sounds like blood sugar, probably hypoglycemia. You may have too much insulin after you eat. Try you dumping all sugar, and refined/simple carbs from your diet and replace them with complex carbs you might feel better. When you see a doc go for an endocrinologist that specializies in diabetes and thyroid diseases. There is tons of info out there, here is a little:

Thyroid info
Hypo message board
Hypo diet
 

ChrichtonsGirl

Platinum Member
Aug 24, 2000
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There are a couple of different theories. I'm quoting some sources, because I'm not awake enough yet to paraphrase:



<< Large meals force your body to use precious energy stores for the huge task of digestion. Blood rushes to your gut, robbing the rest of your body of oxygen and nutrients. Afterwards, you may not feel like eating again for several hours. If you wait too long for dinner, you're more likely to overeat again. Soon you're stuck in a cycle of feast or famine in which your cells, like your body, are always either overloaded or starving, leaving you constantly fatigued. Eating smaller, more frequent meals can keep your digestive system humming along steadily and your energy level consistent. >>



And another theory, which has more to do with why you feel sleepy after eating large amounts of carbohydrates:



<< Recent studies suggest that carbohydrate-rich meals may cause sleepiness by increasing the number of tryptophans in the brain. >>



And one more:



<< Too many carbohydrates without protein (pasta for example) will elevate serotonin levels in your brain, leaving you calm and sleepy for the afternoon. Too much fat will do the same thing. >>



Edit for one more:



<< Large meals, carbohydrates and an amino acid tryptophan induce sleep. After a large meal, blood pools in the gastrointestinal tract to pick up the nutrients from the meal. Excess carbohydrates work the same by increasing blood sugar levels. >>

 

Descartes

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
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The same thing happens to me, but it largely seems to be contingent upon what I eat, and not how much I eat. Also, it seems to be more frequent for my lunches, and not very often for my dinners. I believe I'm hypoglycemic, and as someone noted above, that might be part of it. I drink tons of water, avoid soda, or any sugar-loaded intake for that matter, but it still happens every once in a while. It's an annoying feeling, especially since I'm trying to get some work done when it usually hits me.

Btw, I'm 21, and I've only noticed this within the past year or so.
 

KBrinks

Senior member
May 13, 2001
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<< The blood that's supposed to go to your brain is being used for digestion. At least, I THINK that's it. >>



you are correct... a lot of blood that gets supplied to the brain is now in around your stomach to help heat up and digest the food

also there are chemicals in turkey that makes you sleepy..
 

co0lbean

Member
Nov 3, 2000
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It's probably low sugar.
I kindof have the same problem, but it's more of an unbalanced metabolism.
Once i start it up in the morning(AKA eat breakfast usually at 8). I get so weak by 11:30. But it doesn't effect me anytime else. This is because my metabolism is too high in the morning, but it slows down by the afternoon