Exhaustion or fatigue after eating is a common symptom, explained by several different medical conditions. These conditions include insulin resistance, a sugar crash, anemia, heart conditions or alkaline tide. You should consult with a medical professional if your fatigue after eating prevents you from performing adequately throughout the day.
Insulin Resistance
The endocrinologist Gerald Reaven coined the term insulin resistance, also known as Syndrome X or metabolic syndrome, in the 1980s. According to Reaven, individuals with insulin resistance cannot effectively use insulin. This causes the pancreas to secrete large amounts of insulin to push glucose into the cells. According to the book "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," this increase in insulin causes the amino acid tryptophan to move from your bloodstream into your brain, releasing serotonin and thus making you feel tired or exhausted.
The Blood Flow Theory
According to the book "Integrative Medicine," another theory for the feeling of exhaustion after eating results from the fact that during digestion, your body diverts blood flow into the digestive system. This loss of the regularity of the blood flow to your brain can also result in tiredness. However, this theory does not explain why only some people seem to feel tired after eating.
The Food Theory
Another theory discussed in "Integrative Medicine" proposes that foods with a high content of carbohydrates or sugar may directly cause feelings of exhaustion after eating. Medical professionals commonly refer to this phenomenon as a sugar crash. After you eat large amounts of carbohydrates, glucose starts to flow through your blood. Your body then secretes insulin to push that glucose into your cells. However, as soon as the glucose enters your cells, your body consumes the glucose. This can leave your body without an adequate supply of glucose, resulting in the feeling of exhaustion.
Alkaline Tide
After eating a meal, your body secretes gastric acid into your stomach. This can cause compensatory base excretion into the blood, as your body attempts to neutralize the acid. However, in some cases, this neutralization results in alkalization of your blood and urine. This change in the acid-base balance of your body may, according to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," also cause feelings of exhaustion after you eat.
References
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine"; Dennis Kasper et al.; 2004
- "Integrative Medicine"; David Rakel; 2002
- "Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology"; John E. Hall; 2010
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch and James Balch; 2000
