Why do I feel tired after eating?

It's not uncommon to feel tired after eating a large meal. Your stomach feels full, and you feel like you could get into bed and drift off to sleep right there and then.

If you find that you constantly feel the urge to go to sleep when you've eaten a meal, even if it's not particularly large, it's worth figuring out why this is the case for you. There are a number of reasons why post-meal tiredness happens. Some of these reasons are nothing to be concerned about, while others are a little more serious and might require you to take further action.

Why do I feel tired after eating?

Here are some of the most common reasons why you might feel tired after eating a meal.

You've eaten lots of high-tryptophan foods

Tryptophan is an amino acid that is used by the body to make a neurotransmitter called serotonin. This neurotransmitter plays a role in sleep regulation and when it is produced in your brain (from tryptophan), it can cause you to feel drowsy or sleepy.

High-tryptophan foods include poultry, eggs, soy products (like tofu and edamame beans), fish, cheese, and spinach. If you've eaten a meal with large quantities of these foods, it could be their high tryptophan content that is causing you to feel sleepy afterward!

You've had foods that contain melatonin

Melatonin is a hormone that is produced in the body. The level of melatonin naturally increases throughout the day and reaches its peak between 11 pm and 3 am, causing you to feel tired. However, there are some foods that contain melatonin and eating these foods could cause you to be drowsy and ready for bed.

Melatonin-rich foods include cherries, bananas, salmon, tuna, walnuts, and almonds.

You're not getting enough sleep at night

One of the most obvious reasons for post-meal tiredness is not getting enough sleep during the night. If your sleep quality or quantity is lacking, you will naturally feel more drowsy during the day. Having a regular nighttime routine and making sure you get into bed at a decent time each day should help to optimize your sleeping pattern for peak performance during the day.

You have an underlying health condition

There are a number of medical conditions that can cause post-meal drowsiness and it's important to address these issues if you want to feel more awake during the daytime. Conditions such as diabetes, food allergies or intolerances, anemia, hypothyroidism, and sleep apnea are associated with increased tiredness after eating.

Make sure to speak to your doctor to get the appropriate diagnosis and treatment if you suspect that your tiredness is being caused by an underlying medical issue.