Food Coma
Here and now I have the science of the food coma.
For those who don’t know, that’s the term for the sleepy feeling we get after eating a large meal. Ever wonder where that sluggish feeling comes from? And why do some people stay in a food coma longer than others?
According to the American Dietetic Association, the most popular theory is that when you eat lots of food, your stomach needs more energy to digest it. Aas your body sends more blood to your stomach, it sends less to your muscles and limbs, which leaves you feeling literally “drained.”
Unfortunately, several new studies show that always being in a food coma is bad for your health! That’s because large meals tend to be full of a dangerous type of fat called triglycerides, which are very good at penetrating arterial walls, and blocking blood flow. In fact, a new Yale study found that people with chronically high triglyceride levels are at a higher risk for diabetes and stroke, and they’re ten time more likely to have heart-attacks.
So, how can you avoid the dangers of a food coma? A new Danish study suggests that exercising 12 hours before a large meal can help.
That’s because when you exercise before eating, your body is primed to flush fats out of your blood stream.
It also helps to go for a 30-minute walk after eating a large meal. Researchers from the University of Texas say that’ll help speed-up the digestion process, and walking can reduce peak levels of triglycerides for up to 16 hours.
For those who don’t know, that’s the term for the sleepy feeling we get after eating a large meal. Ever wonder where that sluggish feeling comes from? And why do some people stay in a food coma longer than others?
According to the American Dietetic Association, the most popular theory is that when you eat lots of food, your stomach needs more energy to digest it. Aas your body sends more blood to your stomach, it sends less to your muscles and limbs, which leaves you feeling literally “drained.”
Unfortunately, several new studies show that always being in a food coma is bad for your health! That’s because large meals tend to be full of a dangerous type of fat called triglycerides, which are very good at penetrating arterial walls, and blocking blood flow. In fact, a new Yale study found that people with chronically high triglyceride levels are at a higher risk for diabetes and stroke, and they’re ten time more likely to have heart-attacks.
So, how can you avoid the dangers of a food coma? A new Danish study suggests that exercising 12 hours before a large meal can help.
That’s because when you exercise before eating, your body is primed to flush fats out of your blood stream.
It also helps to go for a 30-minute walk after eating a large meal. Researchers from the University of Texas say that’ll help speed-up the digestion process, and walking can reduce peak levels of triglycerides for up to 16 hours.
