You might want to try eating more frequent, smaller meals. Going for a brisk walk or jog can help with studying too, to keep your blood pumping plenty of oxygen to your brain.
Hmm. This is a good idea. I hadn't really thought about it, but during times of stress/business I think I do tend to start combining meals and generally eating more at fewer sittings throughout the day. Thanks.
Disclaimer: I'm also an archaeologist and not a nutritionist, but for what it's worth (high school nutrition classes, don't fail me now!)... carbs are where your body gets its energy from. Protein is used for things like building muscle. So if you're eating fewer carbs, the food coma is normal and not unexpected - you're simply getting less energy. Two things that could help:
1. If you're going to cut back on carbs, do it gradually, not all at once, so your body has time to adjust.
2. Pay attention to the kinds of carbs you're eating. There are two types: simple carbs, like fructose and sucrose (fruit and table sugar), or complex carbs, like whole grains, bread, cereal, rice, pasta, potatoes, carrots, corn, beans... Your body breaks down simple carbs quickly, producing a sugar spike followed by a crash. Complex carbs are broken down more gradually, providing a constant level of energy. If you've been cutting out things like bread and leaving in things like fruit, what you're effectively doing is cutting off your body's supply
( ... )
Yeah I was thinking something along these lines too. I am thinking the problem is mostly related to still having the balance a bit off. Because I definitely haven't been *overloading* on protein or anything, just trying to make sure that it plays a slightly larger role in my diet. Interestingly, most of my carbs seem to fall under "complex carbs"... so maybe it's a timing or portion thing.
I get 'food coma' whenever I eat too much in one go, and it's not on just carbohydrate-rich foods. When you eat a large amount of protein, a lot of water will rush to the stomach to help digest it, so if you're amazingly dehydrated, it can make you feel sleepy to the point of coma! My aunt had to be hospitalized once because of this; she had an amazing habit of not listening to anyone despite her being constantly dehydrated. Her favorite food - quiche. Milk, egg, meat, cheese. Duh. I know it sounds kind of retarded - but maybe you need to drink some more water?
walking and eating a salad is what keeps me from falling asleep in class. if i eat a carby lunch, i go into practical coma but when i eat a salad for lunch, i'm wide awake!
Drink water! Lots and lots of water! I discovered recently that I have loads more energy the more water I drink. Also, I didn't know this until recently, but your body literally needs an excess of water to break down fat. You didn't mention weight loss, and I forget why your body needs water to do that, but has to do with proper energy usage.
I did not know that! Weight loss was not really my driving force in this, but it was a factor. I have been drinking more, but I doubt I'm getting the "recommended amount". I have also noticed the correlation between water and energy though, it's especially useful in morning lectures :-P
Comments 14
Reply
Reply
It's also a great way to ramp up your metabolism.
Reply
1. If you're going to cut back on carbs, do it gradually, not all at once, so your body has time to adjust.
2. Pay attention to the kinds of carbs you're eating. There are two types: simple carbs, like fructose and sucrose (fruit and table sugar), or complex carbs, like whole grains, bread, cereal, rice, pasta, potatoes, carrots, corn, beans... Your body breaks down simple carbs quickly, producing a sugar spike followed by a crash. Complex carbs are broken down more gradually, providing a constant level of energy. If you've been cutting out things like bread and leaving in things like fruit, what you're effectively doing is cutting off your body's supply ( ... )
Reply
Reply
Yeah I was thinking something along these lines too. I am thinking the problem is mostly related to still having the balance a bit off. Because I definitely haven't been *overloading* on protein or anything, just trying to make sure that it plays a slightly larger role in my diet. Interestingly, most of my carbs seem to fall under "complex carbs"... so maybe it's a timing or portion thing.
Reply
My aunt had to be hospitalized once because of this; she had an amazing habit of not listening to anyone despite her being constantly dehydrated. Her favorite food - quiche. Milk, egg, meat, cheese. Duh.
I know it sounds kind of retarded - but maybe you need to drink some more water?
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment