Hope everyone is having a great week, with the holiday coming up, and we all love a good BBQ, I want to address for this week’s topic a term I think we all know…FOOD COMA.  So, what is it and how do we combat it?

Food coma is defined as a state of sleep or extreme lethargy mostly induced by the consumption of a large amount of food.  There are several causes

• Overeating, especially meals high in protein, fat, or salt, can increase the likelihood of feeling tired afterward.
• Your body redirects energy and blood flow to the digestive system, which may contribute to a sense of lethargy.
• Eating triggers the release of hormones like insulin, serotonin, and melatonin, which can promote relaxation and sleepiness.
• There’s a natural dip in alertness in the early afternoon (often called the “post-lunch dip”), which can amplify the effects of a food coma.

What to look for if you think you are going into a food coma-

• Drowsiness
• Low energy
• Difficulty concentrating
• Physical sluggishness

Overall, just watching your consumption of food and not overeat is the best way to not go into a food coma if you don’t want to be in one.