Why do certain foods make me feel drowsy?

[daveed]

how come when i eat some foods, like turkey or greasy stuffs, i feel really drowsy?

 

[HallsofIvy]

Because you are eating too much. It takes energy to digest food. If you eat too much, especially of things that are hard to digest (grease in particular), your body will channel energy to the stomach. Animals that eat seldom but a lot at one time (boa constrictor, lion, etc.) typically sleep while digesting.

 

[Evo]

Turkey contains an amino acid L-tryptophan that can make you sleepy. (there was a great tv commercial last year about turkey putting people to sleep)

Anyway, it seems it may not be a major culprit. Thanks to google, here is "everything you wanted to know about turkey, but were afraid to ask".

http://kidshealth.org/kid/talk/qa/turkey_sleepy.html

 

[marcus]

Turkey contains an amino acid L-tryptophan that can make you sleepy...

oh, turkey, I misread the title of the thread and thought it said
"fools make me drowsy"
I guess I already am drowsy and had better trundle.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

oh, turkey, I misread the title of the thread and thought it said
"fools make me drowsy"

I am often on these forums way, way too late.

 

[BoulderHead]

Greasy food quite literally bogs me down. There is a tangible difference I feel before and after.

 

[Monique]

Because you are eating too much. It takes energy to digest food. If you eat too much, especially of things that are hard to digest (grease in particular), your body will channel energy to the stomach. Animals that eat seldom but a lot at one time (boa constrictor, lion, etc.) typically sleep while digesting.

This is also why you shouldn't swim right after a meal. Blood circulation changes, where the circulation increases to the organs involved in digestion.

 

[selfAdjoint]

If you happen to have low blood pressure, the concentration of blood in the digestion process can make you light headed and woozy after meals.