It’s not uncommon to feel sleepy after a holiday meal. Several recommendations, easy to apply, help to avoid this post-prandial drowsiness.
- Festive meals can have significant consequences on our body. They can in particular promote postprandial drowsiness.
- Reducing your alcohol consumption helps prevent the risk of drowsiness after a meal.
- Going for a walk after a hearty meal helps you regain your energy.
During the end-of-year holidays, our digestive system is put to the test. Smoked salmon, foie gras, guinea fowl… The sequence of copious meals sometimes associated with alcohol consumption can lead to feelings of heaviness, “overfullness” or bloating. Overeating can also promote postprandial drowsiness, which results in a desire to sleep shortly after eating.
How to prevent postprandial drowsiness?
To avoid dozing off right after a meal and fully enjoy your loved ones, several tips can be put in place. Julia Zumpano, dietician-nutritionist, particularly advocated eating smaller portions. “There’s no harm in indulging in different dishes, but eating a smaller amount of food can help you not feel tired after the meal.”she clarified during an interview with the Cleveland Clinic.
Second tip: take your time to eat. During the meal, appreciate the food on your plate and eat it slowly. To do this, you can use your non-dominant hand to force yourself to slow down.
It is also better to limit your alcohol consumption to prevent post-prandial drowsiness. During meals, drink water frequently. Good hydration helps fight fatigue.
Sleepiness after a meal: the importance of rest before the holidays
At Christmas, you may continue to eat even though you are full. This bad habit, however, promotes drowsiness after meals. “If you feel full, stop eating. Try using a smaller plate or filling your plate with vegetables first, which will leave less room for meat and carbs,” recommended the specialist.
There’s nothing better than stretching your legs after a big meal. In fact, taking a walk after eating helps the body digest the meal and, at the same time, keeps you awake while increasing your energy.
Quality sleep is essential to prevent postprandial drowsiness. “It is important to get enough rest, because it increases the effects of the meal if you are already tired (…) And it can also lead you to make bad decisions during the meal”warned Julia Zumpano.
