If you’re often falling asleep after eating, chances are you’re not getting great sleep. Sure, the satisfaction of a full belly can easily lull you into dreamland, but it can also cause you to wake up with discomfort and actually make your more tired in the morning. Find out how to improve your sleep if you like to dine before dozing.
Falling Asleep After Eating is Common, But Some Foods Make You Sleepier Than Others
It’s totally natural to become drowsy after eating. As your body digests food, it breaks down nutrients to turn them into glucose that will convert into energy. While this is going on, the body releases hormones that increase blood sugar levels, creating a feeling of fullness and producing insulin that will provide you with energy. At the same time, your brain releases serotonin which causes drowsiness.
But while this is all normal, some foods can make you sleepier than others — especially if they contain the amino acid tryptophan which the body uses to produce sleep-inducing serotonin. Foods like poultry, eggs, and cheese are rich in tryptophan so they’ll likely lead to napping after eating them. You’ll also get super sleepy after eating carbohydrates like whole grain bread or cereal because they also help produce serotonin and tryptophan. So if you want something before bed that will help you sleep, try a turkey sandwich or a bowl of healthy cereal. (If you don’t want to fall asleep right away, avoid these things!)
Love sugar (who doesn’t)? You’ll definitely feel the effects of your lunchtime candy bar or late night cupcake right away as you try to keep your eyes open. Sugary foods first cause your blood sugar to rise, then make your pancreas release excess insulin, which drives tryptophan from your bloodstream into your brain where it’s converted to serotonin. That’s why you’ll find yourself falling asleep after eating sugar. The problem is that when your blood sugar drops in the middle of the night, you’ll wake up. So if you want more sound, deep sleep, save the sweets for earlier in the day.
Why Falling Asleep After Meals is Not Always a Good Idea
Heading to bed right after you eat can cause digestive issue that make you wake up in pain. It takes two to four hours for the contents of your stomach to empty into your small intestine, so staying in an upright position allows the digestion process to happen as it should. When you lay down right after eating, acid from your stomach can make its way back up into the esophagus and cause heartburn, especially if you’ve eaten spicy or acidic foods, chocolate, and other foods that lead to indigestion.
How an Adjustable Base Can Improve Your Sleep After Meals
If you’re one of the many people who love falling asleep after eating because you like the feeling of a full belly or you need that one last piece of candy before bed, the best answer may be to adjust your sleeping position. An adjustable base allows you to stay upright as your food digests, and if you want to lower it after you’ve been in bed for a few hours, you can. You’ll be surprised how much better you sleep when you’re not waking up with indigestion all night long. Adjustable bases are also great for relieving back pain since they promote the natural curvature of the spine, and they’re known for reducing snoring.
Beloit Mattress Has Awesome Adjustable Bases
Whether you like to eat dinner and go straight to sleep or you enjoy eating snacks while watching a movie in bed, we have several adjustable bases to keep you comfortable. With remote controls that allow you to lift and lower the head and foot of the bed, you’ll love how comfy an adjustable base can make your mattress — and how much it will improve your sleep!
Shop online or visit us in a store to find out which adjustable base is right for you.
Learn more about how a better mattress and mattress topper can improve your sleep and health. Download our Mattress Buying Guide now!
