‘The Itis:’ Foods That Are Making You Sleepy at Work

Super sugars

You guessed it. Those quick pick-me-up candy bars may give you a jolt of energy, but will soon after make you sleepy. Cookies, candies, cakes and just about anything with excessive sugar (even sugary drinks) will zap your energy as it raises your blood sugar levels. As a result, your body releases insulin which in turn sparks a chain of events that eventually triggers tryptophan, a sleepy agent.

Breads and grains

Kudos to you all who eat your whole wheat, but if after enjoying a turkey sandwich you feel tired, don’t put all the blame on the lunch meat. We often overlook grains and breads because they do provide us with nutrients that make us tick. However, many are high on the glycemic index and can spike your blood sugar quickly making it drop. Examples include French bread, kaiser rolls, white bread, rice, bagels and wheat bread.

Fried foods

Queue the yawns if you indulge in fatty foods. Oily edibles like fried meals and chips don’t really settle well, forcing your digestive system to work on the double.

Foods with heavy sauce and cream

Oh how a slice of pizza is an extremely tempting meal for lunch! It’s a quick and affordable fix. Foods with heavy creams and sauces can cause  us complications in the digestive department which in turn, zap the energy from us. If you think those juicy meals are weighing you down, you are probably right.

 Caffeinated drinks

Say what ?! Caffeine gives you “the itis?” It does keep us energized, but doesn’t always offer us a source of energy. Why else do you think you have to constantly fill your cup? When it comes to trying to stay awake, swap out constant sodas and coffee for water.

Processed and red meats

This seems to be a bit of a double-edged sword as processed meats like cold cuts (anyone a Subway fan?) cause sleepiness. While most are still a healthier alternative to fried meals, processed carne has high levels of tryptophan.

Red meat found in hamburgers, tacos and burritos is another culprit that can give you itis moments as it’s hard to breakdown.

Aged cheese

Who cut the cheese? If you enjoy partaking in the fine life with aged cheese, be careful as they have been known to have high levels of tryptophan. What does this mean? Potential sleepiness of course. Examples include Parmesan, mozzarella, brie, cheddar, Gouda and many more.

Legumes

Snacking on some of your fave legumes is definitely a smart choice in the health department. Should you pop a handful (or more) and start to feel relaxed, just know it’s because legumes contain niacin that can stir up sleepiness.

(Herbal) teas

Teas should be a given when it comes to making us feel nice. It’s probably why so many enjoy a cup when trying to get a good night’s rest. Certain teas have the power to calm our nerves which is good for working in a stressful environment, but bad for trying to stay awake. Green tea, for example, has theanine that promotes the feeling of sleepiness.