Extremely sleepy/feel drugged after eating certain foods

[Lorirose1155]

I sometimes feel just like I've taken a sleeping pill after I eat certain foods...but not all foods. For instance, after I eat cold cuts but not all cold cuts, breads, but not all breads, pastas, but not all pastas. The only thing I can think it might be is an allergic reaction to preservatives. I don't feel sleepy right away. It's usually within 20 min. after I eat, and I can't fight it. I feel it hit my brain and I am so sleepy, I HAVE to sleep. I sleep for about 3-4 hours and awaken suddenly and feel like the drug is wearing off. Could this be an allergy to preservatives? I can't eat any Walmart cold cuts, but I can eat Dietz and Watson and Boarshead, both of which have little to no preservatives in them.

[Zest]

Hi Lorirose1155

Welcome to the Healthy eating forum.

This article entitled "Why do I feel tired after eating?" by Healthline may be helpful to you:

healthline.com/health/food-...

Hope you are having a great weekend.

Zest

[Activity2004 Administrator]

How many carbs. do you eat for each meal? Depending on the type of food you eat and the number of carbs., you may feel tired afterwards.

[Cooper27 Administrator]

Your tiredness is likely due to blood sugar levels crashing after you meals. You mention a lot of simple carb - white bread, white pasta, white rice, sugar, etc. They induce a sharp rise in blood sugar levels when you eat them, but shortly after, your levels crash, leaving you tired and craving more.

You can make some simple swaps to wholegrain breads, brown rice and sweet potatoes to help reduce the fatigue. It would be a good idea for you to cut way back on sugar.

The best thing would be for you to try a month following a gluten free, sugar free, preservative free diet, and then reintroduce food groups to see if you have a specific reaction to them.

[suramo Star]

Heavy food shunts the blood to the alimentary tract depriving brain of the blood.

[lukup]

I am also one of those (rare) people who know exactly what you are talking about. I'm 72 and have had this all my life. I gave up a long time ago trying to explain to people what I felt was happening. Now, in this age of internet, I can tell you I have spent at least 5 years trying to find out exactly what is going on. Most people think a) it's in your head b) you're just tired c) they make up their own logical explanation (like blood rushing to your stomach) etc etc etc. What I feel (and I'm guessing you do too) is more like being drugged or drunk (in the extreme.) It's certain foods, certain beverages and just like you, it starts about 20 or 30 minutes after I eat/drink.

You and I both know that doctors have very very little training in nutrition. Also most doctors simply recite what they were taught in medical school because trying something new (against protocol) is absolutely forbidden. Therefore, when dealing with something "new" you're basically out of luck.

A) I promise you it's NOT your imagination

B) I'll best most friends/family think you're overreacting/exaggerating.

I'm a retired professional who was responsible for a LOT of people. It got so bad that I had to stop working (my decision, based on safety.)

We both know that it is NOT Narcolepsy, since we don't suddenly fall down in a "coma." But it IS debilitating. I, like you, suspect it has to do with our immune systems reacting to whatever it is we're eating entering our blood stream. I have my suspicions as to what it is, but since I'm not a medical doctor, I won't post it here. I will say that we have a lot to learn both about nutrition and our immune systems.