Foods That Make You Feel Sluggish

Few foods are known to cause sluggishness and makes one feel drowsy! Foods high in carbohydrates are known to induce sleep. Refined carbohydrates or foods with high glycemic index release glucose rapidly into the blood stream. This leads to a sudden spike in the blood sugar level.

Excess glucose

Insulin, the hormone released from pancreas, helps to maintain glucose with the normal range in the blood stream. The excess glucose released into the blood stream is stored in the liver or muscles by insulin. But glucose is the main source of energy for the brain cells. As insulin stores the excess glucose in the liver, little is left for the brain, and therefore the brain activity slows down. Foods with high glycemic index like rice, white bread, cookies, potato, starches and sugars are best avoided while at work.

Heavy meal

It has also been noticed that after a heavy meal, with lots of oil and butter, you feel sluggish! No doubt “aloo paranthas with lots of butter” are best enjoyed on Sunday! This is because a diet high in fat slows down the rate of digestion. Fats in comparison to carbohydrates take more time to digest. Post a heavy meal (note oily food), the blood rushes to the stomach, and hence less blood is left for the brain cells, making a person lethargic. As Sunday is a day to relax, most people enjoy the day with fried foods like paranthas, pooris, vadas, samosas, chips etc. All tasty foods, but extremely oily, and this leads to a slow and late start to Sundays!

Turkey makes you drowsy

Foods like turkey are considered to make a person sluggish! But there is more to this thought! Turkey is a part of special meals like Thanksgiving. Along with turkey, other foods like chicken, nuts, milk contains an essential amino acid called tryptophan. Tryptophan is considered as an essential amino acid as it is not produced in the body and helps to produce the vitamin Niacin.
Tryptophan present in turkey is a heavy amino acid. When this combines with carbohydrates, it easily enters the brain. In the brain, tryptophan is converted into serotonin, which induces drowsiness and lethargy.  Tryptophan content of turkey is the same as other meats like chicken. But when this combines with carbohydrates, it easily enters the brain, and causes sluggishness.
The reason why it is recommended to have hot milk before sleeping is because milk has tryptophan that relaxes the nerves and induces sleep. Bananas due to their high magnesium content acts like a muscle relaxant and helps relax!

Small frequent meals

Therefore, small frequent meals at regular intervals are recommended, as the constant supply of energy from complex carbohydrates like fruits, nuts, vegetables like carrot, cucumber does not make you sluggish. These complex carbs release glucose slowly in the body, constantly supply the fuel for the brain and does not make you sluggish! Hence, small meals are better recommended than binge eating!