What food is coma?

What is a food coma? Postprandial somnolence, or a food coma, is the feeling of tiredness after eating a meal. It's also commonly known as the “post-lunch dip,” as many people notice the effects in the early afternoon following lunch (1).

healthline.com - Food Coma: Symptoms, Causes, and Prevention Tips - Healthline

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Postprandial somnolence — the medical term for food comas, or post-meal sleepiness — isn’t well defined. As many studies on this phenomenon are from the early 2000s, more research is needed. This article tells you what food coma is, the main theories on what causes it, whether it’s dangerous, and how to avoid it. Although there’s limited scientific evidence about how or why this sleepiness occurs, theories exist. This experience is particularly common after large meals, such as those common on Christmas or Thanksgiving. It’s often referred to colloquially as a food coma. Medically, it’s called postprandial somnolence, which just means sleepiness after eating. If you feel sleepy after chowing down, you may wonder what’s going on. A food coma is the feeling of sleepiness that’s sometimes experienced following a meal. Medically, it’s called postprandial somnolence. Additionally, although the term contains the word “coma,” you don’t experience a loss of consciousness. Food comas should not be confused with this serious medical condition .

You may experience the following symptoms:

It’s also commonly known as the “post-lunch dip,” as many people notice the effects in the early afternoon following lunch ( 1 ). Postprandial somnolence, or a food coma, is the feeling of tiredness after eating a meal.

Despite its frequency, food comas aren’t well studied.

Several theories as to the causes of food comas have been challenged or debunked, while others may be plausible scientifically. However, keep in mind that very little recent research is available.

Changes in blood circulation

For a long time, food comas were thought to be triggered by an increase in blood flow to your gut causing a reduction in blood flow to your brain (2). Yet, this theory has been challenged. Your body is able to maintain blood flow to your brain in many types of stressful situations, such as during exercise, when your muscles require more blood (2). So, it’s unlikely that blood flow to your intestines diverts enough blood to cause sleepiness. In fact, an older study suggests that blood flow to your brain may increase following meals ( 3 ). While a more recent, small study found a decrease in blood flow to the brain following lunch, this effect was only seen in people who skipped breakfast. This study also didn’t link the decrease in blood flow to feelings of tiredness ( 4 ).

Eating a big meal

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People often complain of food comas after eating large or heavy meals.

Studies in fruit flies found that larger meals — particularly those high in protein and salt — resulted in longer post-meal sleep ( 5 ). In a study in men who ate pizza, those who overate reported less energy and more physical tiredness, sleepiness, and lethargy in the 4 hours after eating, while those who ate only until comfortably full had no adverse effects ( 6 ). Another older, small study compared the effects of a light lunch with a heavy lunch that had 3 times the calories on driving and sleepiness. The heavy lunch increased the number of times drivers deviated from their lane, and the effects increased over a 2-hour period (7). These studies all suggest that large meals may be a trigger for postprandial somnolence.

Meals high in carbs, fat, or protein

Meals rich in carbs, fat, and protein have all been linked to food comas (8). These macronutrients may promote sleepiness independently through various mechanisms. They may also influence each other. For example, high carb meals may raise levels of the amino acid tryptophan in your blood, which increases the amount of serotonin — a hormone linked to sleep — in your brain ( 9 , 10 ). Furthermore, meals high in protein may also induce sleep if they contain foods with high amounts of tryptophan. These foods include chicken, eggs, cheese, fish, turkey, milk, and tofu ( 11 ). In combination, calorie dense, high fat, high carb meals cause the release of small proteins known as cytokines, which are linked to fatigue (12). Still, the relationship between foods and released hormones, neuropeptides, inflammatory proteins, and other substances is complex. Determining which, if any, may be responsible for sleepiness requires more research (8).

Effects of eating on your brain and sleep hormones

Another theory links sleepiness to the activation of sleep centers in your brain after eating. Eating releases various hormones and neurotransmitters that activate parts of your nervous system responsible for digestion (2). Some brain and nerve pathways involved in digestion overlap with those involved in sleep, fatigue, and drowsiness. So, when these pathways are triggered for digestion, you may begin to feel sleepy (2, 8).

Plus, specific hormones released or reduced around mealtime may affect sleep.

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For example, the hormone orexin — which promotes hunger and alertness — is inhibited after you eat ( 12 ). Furthermore, the hormone melatonin is thought to be involved in inducing sleep. It’s generated by your pineal gland and your gut, and production increases after meals (2).

Effects of natural sleep rhythms

Many people experience a food coma as a “post-lunch dip,” where they feel sleepy in the early afternoon (1, 6). Your body has a natural 24-hour sleep-wake cycle known as the circadian rhythm, or body clock. Research shows that, in addition to the expected sleep phase at night, there’s a smaller sleepy phase (known as the 12-hour harmonic) in the early afternoon (1, 13 , 14 ). This phase has been observed by dips in work performance and increases in vehicle accidents around 2–4 p.m. (1, 14 ). In fact, this natural dip in the circadian rhythm may be one reason for the common practice of an afternoon nap in many cultures around the world (1). However, eating may still contribute to increased tiredness during sleepy phases of the circadian rhythm. In fact, an older study noted that meals increased the length of an afternoon nap but didn’t induce it. Similarly, studies simulating night shift workers showed that nighttime meals increase tiredness, compared with not eating ( 15 , 16 ).

Evolutionary adaptation

Interestingly, postprandial somnolence is seen in many animal species, including simple lifeforms, like nematodes.

This suggests there may be deep-rooted evolutionary reasons for sleepiness after eating.

For example, sleeping after eating may allow your body to store energy for when it’s needed later. It may also allow your brain to process sensory information or learned behaviors about food gathering ( 17 ). Additionally, sleep may simply be the default state that your body reverts to once you eat. This is supported by hunger signals, like acetylcholine and orexin being linked to wakefulness and alertness ( 17 ).

healthline.com - Food Coma: Symptoms, Causes, and Prevention Tips - Healthline

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