Tired after eating? You should know that!

Do you know that? After eating, you want to relax and throw yourself on the couch. You feel weak, as if eating was a strenuous activity. We actually want to absorb energy through food and not lose it, right? So why do we feel so tired after eating?

Before I go into what the reasons are and how you can beat food fatigue, I would like to take a trip into my personal story and my experiences with the topic.

Maybe you're like me...

For a long time I accepted the state of tiredness after eating without even being particularly aware of it. It was just normal, I didn't know any different. So I didn't really notice it. But then about a year and a half ago I became aware through a post on Instagram that many people feel this way. And that we don't have to feel that way. That it can be a sign of “wrong” or unhealthy nutrition. I didn't change my diet straight away, but I kept this new information in mind.

In the coming weeks and months I began to become more and more concerned with nutrition, food and its effects on our bodies. I paid more attention to eating less sugar and more unprocessed foods. And I tried to drink more water again. I was just curious to see if these changes were affecting my body and well-being, because for some people online, even the smallest changes seemed to have a big impact. At first I thought to myself, “As if what I eat can have such a big effect on my mood and my body.” But I still wanted to try it.

What has changed?

After just a few days I noticed that I felt more energetic and balanced. I felt completely looked after, my skin was literally glowing, and I often received comments from those around me about how healthy and fresh I looked - and that I was hardly tired after eating. At first I couldn't believe what a difference a little change in diet could make, and I wondered why I hadn't started sooner. Then I thought about how many other people must have felt weak and tired after eating. And that leads me to write a little post about it today.

Today it is the most logical thing for me that body, mind and food are so closely linked. What we eat is processed or stored inside us. So, in a sense, we really are what we eat.

PHOTO BY SANDER DALHUISEN ON UNSPLASH

Why do I feel tired after eating?

Tiredness after eating is a completely natural reaction of the body. Digestion costs the body energy, and more blood is sent to the digestive organs because it is needed, for example, for the absorption and removal of nutrients. We then lack this blood in other parts of the body. Our brain is supplied with less oxygen - and we become tired.

Simple carbohydrates, sugar and therefore most sweets in particular also lead to fatigue. They increase blood sugar levels rapidly, causing us to experience an “awake kick”. The body then releases more insulin in response. Insulin promotes the influx of sugar into the body's cells, which lowers blood sugar levels again. As a result, the brain is undersupplied and what follows is fatigue.

The amino acid tryptophan also leads to food-related fatigue. Eggs, meat and fish in particular contain tryptophan. It reaches the brain via a special transport system in the blood and is converted there into serotonin. Serotonin makes us feel happy - but also a little sleepy and weak.

What can I do about tiredness after eating?

• Although the “energy low” after eating is natural, it can be minimized and varies depending on what we eat. The harder the food is to digest, the more tired we feel. Fat and simple carbohydrates in particular take a long time to be digested. Complex carbohydrates, on the other hand, which are found in vegetables, rice and whole-grain bread, increase blood sugar levels evenly and ensure that they do not drop rapidly.
• In addition, you should not eat too much. The more food you eat, the more your body has to digest and the more tired you feel.
• A lack of fluids also makes you weak because the body then transports less blood to the brain. It therefore helps to drink plenty of fluids - something you should pay attention to anyway.
• Fresh air can also help a lot! It supplies our brain with oxygen. This can be easily combined with a short walk. Because exercise supports digestion. But everyday movements also help, e.g. walking up the stairs or taking out the trash.
• But rest in the form of a nap also helps. Here you should just make sure not to sleep for more than 15 minutes, because then your circulation drops significantly.
• So if you're tired after eating, both a walk and a short nap are great - especially after a particularly heavy meal.
  

What helps you most to stop feeling so tired after eating? Feel free to tell me about your experiences and tips in the comments!

If you want to learn more about healthy eating, mindfulness or sustainability, take a look here over.

PHOTO BY MADDI BAZZOCCO ON UNSPLASH