Post-meal drowsiness is a common issue for many people, especially the sleepiness after lunch can significantly affect the afternoon's work. Here’s how office workers can eat lunch to avoid feeling sleepy afterward.
I. Eat more vegetables
To avoid drowsiness in the afternoon, it's best to eat more vegetarian foods. A lunch composed of protein and vegetables, such as fresh fish, chicken, seafood, and tofu, contains a large amount of tyrosine, which plays a decisive role in keeping the brain sharp for thinking, memory, and alertness. Meanwhile, green, high-fiber vegetables, like peppers, carrots, and spinach, can ensure that brain cells receive sufficient oxygen, keeping you energetic throughout the afternoon.
For staple foods, it's best to choose mung bean rice or whole wheat bread. Additionally, potatoes have a high starch content, so it's best to avoid them at lunch; eating them at dinner can help with sleep.
Stir-fried Spinach with Carrots
II. Eat some fruit during work breaks
Furthermore, eating fruits rich in vitamins during work breaks, such as pineapple, oranges, and lemons, can also relieve nervous system fatigue and boost energy. However, bananas and sunflower seeds have a depressive effect on brain activity and can easily cause drowsiness, so it's best to avoid them.
III. Avoid high-fat and high-sugar foods
Many people for lunch prefer foods high in sugar and fat, such as steamed buns, rice, pork, or fast food like french fries, hamburgers, and fried chicken.
These foods stimulate the secretion of insulin and bile, overburdening the body's internal organs and reducing the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity. This leads to lower oxygen levels in the brain, making one feel tired easily.
IV. Order of eating
Regarding the order of eating, to avoid post-meal drowsiness, you should eat meat first, followed by vegetables, and finally the staple food. Also, don't eat too much for lunch. Have a few whole-wheat crackers or a piece of chocolate at afternoon tea time to replenish your energy.
Spinach and carrot