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I'm not into no carb or even low carb,but I do try to limit carbs at dinner and not overdo the bread,as that is one thing I used to do. I like rice,pasta type things for lunch sometimes,or even  a toasted sandwich or multigrain sandwich/roll if I haven't had toast with breakfast.

Anyway,my query is...Do carbs make you tired? Is there a 'science' to it??

On days where I eat carbs for breakfast(i.e cereal or toast) and days where I have carbs for lunch...I just want to go to sleep after and sometimes the tiredness is just overwhelming and I have to have a siesta! ...see the Europeans(and others) have been doing it for years!!!

I have tested my theory...and enjoyed many siesta's along the way. I just don't find it happens when I have little or no carbs with that particular meal...or is it just that one feels more satisfied eating carbs and therefore more 'relaxed' ??..though it's not really a relaxing feeling I get...more a *really* !! overwhelming urge to sleep!(as in nodding off at the table or in the chair straight after brekkie or lunch(even after a good nights sleep)

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SW-104.3 (April 06)
CW- TBA
GW-65 kgs

~*It's not rocket science...eat less,move more!!*

*If you do what you always do, you'll get what you always got*

I have had the feel sleepy after a generous meal effect as well.

 

I could not restrict this effect just to carbs.

 

There is one theory that the rise in blood glucose can make you feel lazy.

 

An alternate theory is the blood tends to flow to the digestive system reducing the blood flow to other areas.

 

There have been suggestions that having a midday snooze may have health benefits.

 

I must admit that my tendency to snooze/siesta has been a lot less since I have had my sleep apnoea treated.

 

Just because you have a long sleep doesn’t mean that it is high quality sleep.

 

I have had it suggested to me that the “siesta” is more about making love than having a sleep.

 

Having never visited a county that this is a common practice for me this is purely hearsay.

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Carbs make me really sleepy. Potatoes are nothing more than giant sleeping pills for me.

The way my dr explained it to me -- the body is really struggling to process the carbs. It then pumps out MORE insulin into your body, but the cells aren't responding properly. This sets up a vicious cycle know as Insulin Resistence. This can be verified by a blood test. Might be a good idea to have your dr. run a fasting glucose AND an insulin resistence test.

I'm IR, and now I take Diabex (metformin) for it. IR is a pre-cursor to type 2 diabetes, so it's best to get it under control asap.

And -- the best way to deal with it food-wise is with a low carb diet. Just up the veggies & do without the breads/carbs for a while & see if it makes a difference.

Oh -- and also have your dr run the blood test to see if you may actually be gluten intolerant/sensitive. Turns out I'm sensitive to gluten as well. It can sometimes be the cause of the sleepies as well.  

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Sally

petanque don:

I must admit that my tendency to snooze/siesta has been a lot less since I have had my sleep apnoea treated.

Just because you have a long sleep doesn’t mean that it is high quality sleep.

I have had it suggested to me that the “siesta” is more about making love than having a sleep.

 

LMAO Don..I knew you'd mention sleep apnoea

I never get 'high' quality sleep I must admit. I don't snore often(according to my dh)...sometimes,but not all the time...but I do wake at the drop of a pin...and being a mum of 5,I have had 20 years of sleep deprivation!

Sleep for me,never seems to ever get to the 'high quailty' standard! That said,it never hits me unless,like I mentioned, I have a carby meal..then I am just zonked! I've done the experiment!

 

Don,as for your suggestion that the 'siesta' is all about making love than having a sleep...*I* would suggest that any suggestion to the male species of an 'afternoon siesta' would have them rubbing their hands with glee and running for the bedroom having their y-fronts off before they reached the door!!!.....BUT...for the female species...I reckon about 99.99% actually REALLY want to SLEEP!

...and any suggestion of other pursuits may be dangerous for his health.

 

Sally,thanks for the IR info.Have heard about it,but haven't been tested.Will do that shortly as I am booked to see my GP soon.

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SW-104.3 (April 06)
CW- TBA
GW-65 kgs

~*It's not rocket science...eat less,move more!!*

*If you do what you always do, you'll get what you always got*

Of course there are different types of carbohydrates and they do make a difference. You need to read a book about the GI (Glycemic Index) in foods and it will open your eyes to this interesting information. Some foods are really high in GI such as white potatoes as mentioned and that means that you are basically receiving an insulin spike, you get this short little burst of energy but then experience that low where you become sleepy and tired. You need to target foods that are low in GI as you will receive energy constantly throughout the day, rather than that short spike! You will find that usually there are foods such as rice that have high and low GI options. For example white rice is a classic example of a high GI food where as Basmati rice is a great low GI option. Once you do a little reading you can come up with a great list of foods to target the next time you visit the supermarket!

found a great article about this topic

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/19/business/yourmoney/19career.html?ex=1345176000&en=7526afdb30658149&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

Yes, I believe, because most of the time, I felt very sleepy after I eat carbs. :D