Many people feel sleepy after eating a plate of rice in the afternoon. Whether in the middle of work in the office or at home, the body starts to want rest shortly after eating. Many people think that only rice is responsible for this. But according to experts, the matter is not so simple. The sugar in rice, the body's hormonal activity, the amount of food we eat and our daily lifestyle—all contribute to this drowsiness.
Rice contains a lot of sugars (carbohydrates). It is digested into glucose in the body and temporarily raises blood sugar levels. In response to this, insulin is released from the body. An amino acid called tryptophan easily enters the brain under the influence of insulin. It is then converted into the hormones serotonin and melatonin, which calm the body and promote sleepiness.
But not only rice, eating extra food can also cause sleepiness. Because the body has to work extra to digest more food. At this time, the blood flow to the stomach and intestines increases, as a result of which many people feel tired and drowsy.
In addition, a natural biological rhythm (circadian rhythm) works in the human body. Generally between 1 pm and 3 pm the alertness of the body decreases a bit. Eating a heavy meal during this time may increase the tendency to sleepiness.
According to experts, white rice is digested relatively quickly and raises blood sugar levels faster. As a result, insulin is also released quickly, which can increase drowsiness in many people. On the other hand, red rice or starchy rice digests slowly and provides energy for a long time. So playing them can cause relatively less sleepiness.
Not only rice, but what you eat with rice is also important. Excess oil-fatty, fried or too sweet food can increase the lethargy in the body. On the other hand, if you keep pulses, fish, chicken, vegetables and salad with rice, the food is balanced and excessive drowsiness is reduced a little.
Experts suggest some simple habits to reduce sleepiness after eating rice. Eating in moderation without eating too much rice at one time, having enough protein and vegetables with meals, walking for 5-10 minutes after eating, drinking enough water and ensuring adequate sleep at night can be beneficial in this case.
However, not everyone gets sleepy after eating rice. It may vary from person to person. It also depends on various physical conditions including age, body metabolism, diet, physical activity, sleep quality and diabetes.
According to experts, falling asleep after eating rice is usually a normal reaction of the body. Therefore, it is possible to keep this kind of drowsiness under control by having a balanced diet, regular exercise and adequate rest rather than just blaming rice.
