What Happens When You Sleep Right After Eating

Many people tend to get sleepy right after meals. At such times, taking a nap seems like an irresistible and delicious idea. However, it seems that this is precisely what we should avoid. Sleeping or just lying down after eating can have very unpleasant consequences. Maybe you’ve even felt some of the symptoms, but you haven’t linked them to the cause.

we, from awesome.club, we learned what that nap after lunch or dinner does to our body, and we couldn’t help but share all this knowledge with you. Read to the end to find a bonus that indicates the ideal time to wait before going to bed after a meal.

The stomach produces acids that are used to digest food. In this case, gravity is of great importance, as it forces down the flow of fluids, including the acid itself. When the body is lying down, acid moves through the stomach and can come into contact with more sensitive areas of the digestive system. And the result of this can be heartburn, that uncomfortable and painful burning sensation in your chest or throat.

If you eat a big meal right before bed, the digestion process will continue during the rest period. The reasons behind poor sleep can vary greatly from person to person. The mind can remain more active during the metabolism stage, impairing rest. Another reason could be the alertness caused by heartburn. It also depends on the type and amount of food ingested.

There is also the matter of unpleasant dreams. As we mentioned before, the activation of metabolism puts the brain in a state of alert. The person enters the so-called “Rapid Eye Movement” (REM) phase, when dreams happen. So, if you find yourself having very vivid or even frightening dreams, avoid eating too much when it’s close to bedtime.

Some people experience an increase in the urge to urinate at night, a phenomenon known as nocturia. This may have to do with the amount of caffeine present in the ingested food. In other words, perhaps the food is acting as a diuretic, which increases the urge to urinate. The substance is obviously present in coffee, but not just in it. You might not even know it, but caffeine is also found in chocolate and oven-baked desserts, as well as certain medications.

When a person goes to bed immediately after eating, it prevents the body from burning the calories from the meal. So, even if you feel very sleepy after a big meal and want to throw yourself on the couch for a nap, the ideal thing is to stay awake if you don’t want to gain some unwanted (and unnecessary) pounds.

To prevent any problems, such as heartburn or sleepless nights, you need to ensure that the food you eat reaches the small intestine before taking a daytime nap or lying down at night. According to nutritionists, the time it takes is usually around three hours. The number is just a guide, but it’s good to keep it in mind.

Have you ever felt any of the effects described in this post when sleeping after eating a meal? What do you usually do right after eating? Do you like to sleep or do you prefer to do some physical activity? Comment!