Why do you feel sleepy after breaking the fast in Ramadan? Here's why

2024-02-22 2024-02-22T09:47:13Z

Weather of Arabia - After the hours of fasting in the month of Ramadan, and as the time for Iftar approaches, fasting people eagerly await the Maghrib call to prayer, looking forward to eating Iftar, which breaks hunger and thirst, and restores vitality and energy to their bodies. However, some people may find that eating Iftar does not provide them with the required activity. Rather, they suffer from headaches or drowsiness that affects their ability to stay awake.

What are the reasons behind this sudden desire to sleep after breakfast? How can it be overcome or mitigate its impact?

Causes of sleepiness after eating breakfast

In general, feeling sleepy after eating is completely normal and does not cause concern. According to experts, what happens to the body after eating breakfast - which includes a feeling of relaxation and laziness - is due to the intestines’ need for large amounts of blood to help them with the digestion process.

According to the Medical News Today website, feeling tired is due to the release of more serotonin after eating, a chemical compound that plays a role in regulating sleep and making you feel sleepy.

The amino acid tryptophan, found in many protein-rich foods, helps produce serotonin, and carbohydrates also help the body absorb tryptophan. Therefore, eating a meal rich in proteins and carbohydrates may make a person feel sleepy.

According to the American “Healthline” website, in some cases, feeling tired after eating or feeling sleepy all the time may be a sign of the presence of another health problem such as diabetes, an allergy to some food components, anemia, or other health problems. Thyroid.

To avoid feeling sleepy after eating breakfast and increase energy and vitality in the body, there are some tips that can be followed:

Tips to avoid feeling sleepy after breakfast

Avoid or reduce the intake of excess sugars that increase insulin in the blood, such as fruit juices and foods rich in simple carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, white flour, baked goods, and white sugar.
Breaking the fast in a healthy way contributes to reducing the feeling of sleepiness, such as eating a date and a cup of water, then performing the Maghrib prayer, then returning to eating by starting with soup, because eating dates provides the body with the necessary energy and helps in receiving food well.
Focus food on a balance between starches, proteins, and carbohydrates , eat a sufficient amount of salad at the beginning of breakfast to replace vitamins and minerals, and reduce the intake of carbohydrates and starches.
Delay taking stimulants an hour or two after breakfast to avoid insufficient absorption of vitamins and iron deficiency.
Delay eating breakfast for some time after breaking the fast with drinks or dates for only 10 to 15 minutes, then focus on the previous method mentioned for breaking the fast to feel energetic and energetic.
Organize bedtime regularly and ensure you get enough sleep at night, and include exercise as part of your daily routine to help get better sleep and increase energy levels during the day.
Maintaining physical activity during the day to ensure that energy is stored and used effectively, which helps prevent post-meal relaxation and increases activity and alertness.