Published on: 6/20/2025
Why might someone experience fatigue after eating a meal?
Feeling tired after eating can happen because of how your body processes different foods and due to certain chemicals that are released during digestion.
Explanation
After eating, some people may feel tired, which is called postprandial fatigue. This can happen for a few reasons:
Types of Food: Foods high in fats and carbohydrates can make you feel sleepy. When you eat these foods, your body works hard to digest them. This can make you feel tired.
Body Chemicals: Certain chemicals in the body, like IL-1, can also make you feel sleepy after eating. These chemicals are part of how your body processes food and can affect your energy levels.
Carbohydrates: Eating foods with lots of carbohydrates can change how you feel. They can make you feel more relaxed and sleepy.
Understanding why you might feel tired after eating can help you make choices about what to eat and when. If you often feel very tired after meals and it bothers you, it might be a good idea to talk to a healthcare provider.
(References)
- Wells AS, Read NW, Uvnas-Moberg K, & Alster P. (1997). Influences of fat and carbohydrate on postprandial .... Physiology & behavior, 9145937.
- Lehrskov LL, Dorph E, Widmer AM, Hepprich M, Siegenthaler J, Timper K, & Donath MY. (2018). The role of IL-1 in postprandial fatigue. Molecular metabolism, 29705519.
- Spring B, Chiodo J, Harden M, Bourgeois MJ, Mason JD, & Lutherer L. (1989). Psychobiological effects of carbohydrates. The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 2565898.
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