Can food cause drowsiness

Answer 1

Yes, by different mechanisms at work, such as increased blood sugar which can make you get drowsy, especially diabetics or pre-diabetics. Later, after the body has sent insulin to equalize the higher blood sugar, too much may be sent for the calories in the food, and the blood sugar can dip too low which can also cause drowsiness and dizziness.

Drowsiness after eating can also be due to what foods were eaten, for example, turkey and other poultry and many other common foods contain a chemical that actually causes drowsiness (that is one reason people often nap after a big Thanksgiving dinner). The chemical is called tryptophan, an amino acid that the body needs to provide serotonin, which helps to equalize mood and melatonin which causes sleepiness.

And another way eating food can make you drowsy, is through the digestive process which causes increased blood flow to the digestive system and decreased flow to other areas, so you may feel chilly and sleepy from that, especially after a very big meal.