The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
Have you ever experienced a food coma?
I know I have, and I have been a victim of it… many times.
I recently learned the term “food coma” to describe my tiredness. Personally, I find it a little strange to use because it seems to trivialize the medical condition of a coma. However, don’t get me wrong; I certainly believe food comas are serious. Especially when it begins interfering with one’s daily activities, I will continue to refer to it as a “food coma” in this article rather than the more formal expression, “postprandial somnolence.”
After eating, whether the meal is big or small, I have felt extremely worn out for some time now. Of course, it is common to feel satisfied and sleepy after meals, and I see my friends sharing the experience. However, I gradually realized that my post-meal sleepiness was not typical because I began feeling tired and discouraged and even developed a headache. Eventually, I have to take a short nap, but when time is of the essence, this interferes with my work and activities.
But! As someone who has experienced these symptoms, I’ve found a few effective ways to reduce them. Today, I’d like to share five of my tricks and tips.
1. Change up the order of your meal.
According to WENELL, eating your vegetables first and high-carbohydrate foods like rice, noodles, and bread later on, can help reduce the rapid rise in blood glucose levels. This is because the soluble fiber in vegetables slows down digestion and the absorption of carbohydrates. Overall, this method could help maintain energy levels by preventing rises and rapid drops in energy.
2. Chew gum
I have commonly heard that chewing gum helps your memory. Since this seems to stimulate brain activity, I’ve taken to doing it after meals to steer clear of the dreaded “food coma.” I’ve tried this a few times, and it works! I recommend a very minty-flavored gum to chew, but for the maximum “wake-up effect,” pair it with a glass of water, and your mind will get going!
3. Have a refreshing drink or eat something sweet.
I’ve also found that it helps to get a nice cold drink, an iced coffee, or even just a piece of sweet chocolate.
4. Listen to or watch a high-energy song or video.
This is something that I only occasionally do because I still nod off to sleep while the video is playing, but there are times when it keeps me from falling asleep so I will include it here.
(Don’t let the video lead you to procrastinate your work!).
5. Exercise (move your body!).
Not many people will like the idea of ‘exercising’ right after a meal. Physical education (PE) after lunch was always dreadful as a student, mainly because it is hard to exercise on a full stomach (although it did wake me up!). On the other hand, I don’t think stretching your legs and arms will help that much. But what makes a difference is getting up and moving around! It could be as simple as walking to the restroom, washing the dishes, and doing the laundry.
I hope that some of the tips and suggestions shown here can help you and even help you discover your own approach to overcoming post-meal sleepiness!