How does food make you feel sleepy after you eat it? Like, whenever you eat a good amount of food people seem to feel a bit drowsy after eating. I've always wondered how food makes you feel like that.

"Certain foods contain an amino acid called tryptophan that causes sleepiness. Carbohydrates make tryptophan more available to the brain, which is why carbohydrate-heavy meals can make you drowsy. 

Proteins from the food we eat are the building blocks of tryptophan, which is why the best bedtime snack is one that contains both a carbohydrate and protein, such as cereal with milk, peanut butter on toast, or cheese and crackers."

 

On some people it doesn't work.  If I was to eat when I'm tired the action of eating would wake me up where I wouldn't be tired for a few hours.

 

Also depending on the size of the meal and how small peoples bites are they may feel what they perceive as exhausted after eating a large meal which makes sleep more attractive.  

"Certain foods contain an amino acid called tryptophan that causes sleepiness. Carbohydrates make tryptophan more available to the brain, which is why carbohydrate-heavy meals can make you drowsy. 

Proteins from the food we eat are the building blocks of tryptophan, which is why the best bedtime snack is one that contains both a carbohydrate and protein, such as cereal with milk, peanut butter on toast, or cheese and crackers."

 

On some people it doesn't work.  If I was to eat when I'm tired the action of eating would wake me up where I wouldn't be tired for a few hours.

 

Also depending on the size of the meal and how small peoples bites are they may feel what they perceive as exhausted after eating a large meal which makes sleep more attractive.  

Interesting.

The Itis works in many ways.

 

http://youtu.be/BBM2ahgnkbw

Soo THATS how it works. With my mom, the case with these foods is extreme, btw (she's on a low carb diet now).