No, it's not laziness or indulgence. The urge to nap after a heavy meal is a natural bodily response to foods that weigh it down. Some may appear healthy on the surface, others less so, but all of them affect blood sugar levels, hormones and digestive load. So what disrupts our alertness?
Heavy meals rich in white starches: pasta, white rice, mashed potatoes or white bread quickly raise blood sugar levels and then cause a sharp crash, leading to fatigue.
The richer the dish is in processed starch, the stronger the post-meal crash.
Meals combining simple carbs and saturated fats: pastries, bourekas, salty snacks, cookies, and milk chocolate put stress on the digestive system and lower energy levels.
The body focuses on digestion, and blood flows from the brain to the stomach. The result: the notorious "afternoon paralysis."
Meals low in protein: when there's not enough protein, blood sugar doesn't stabilize, and fatigue sets in faster. Even light meals, like a salad with no added protein, can lead to tiredness.
Excess caffeine: one cup of coffee might energize, but three to four a day lead to dependence and fatigue when the caffeine wears off.
Large amounts of sugary drinks or fruit juices: these cause a sharp spike in blood sugar levels followed by a steep drop.
Timing matters too:
Heavy dinners: After a fatty or overly rich meal, the body takes hours to digest. As a result, sleep quality decreases, heartburn may occur, and one might wake up feeling heavy.
Overloaded lunches: During the body’s natural energy dip (1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.), a large meal intensifies fatigue.
Skipping meals: Blood sugar drops, and at the next meal we tend to eat too fast and too much, worsening the post-meal energy crash.