# What wakes you up after lunch? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 17, 2000, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wakes-you-up-after-lunch/29767 "2000-08-17T19:30:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2000, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wakes-you-up-after-lunch/29767/1 "2000-08-17T19:30:12Z")
I’ve got the after lunch, full belly, I don’t feel like working, can’t hold my eyes open sleepies! Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2000, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wakes-you-up-after-lunch/29767/2 "2000-08-17T19:40:09Z")
And I can’t drink coffee… caffeine gives me migraines. ---
**Author:** ![Myndephuquer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f0a364/32.png) [@Myndephuquer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myndephuquer)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2000, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wakes-you-up-after-lunch/29767/3 "2000-08-17T19:44:09Z")
After lunch, smoking some crack wakes me right the hell up. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2000, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wakes-you-up-after-lunch/29767/4 "2000-08-17T19:52:11Z")
I’d suggest eating less carbs (especially high glycemic index carbs) at lunch and more protein and fat. The theory behind this (yes it is a theory) is that high glycemic index carbs will cause your blood sugar to spike, your body will respond with a big ass dose of insulin, which wil in turn cause you to be slightly hypoglecemic and therefore a little low energy. Eating low-glycemic index carbs (fruits and vegetables) will allow glucose to be released into your bloodstream gradually over several hours, and should not cause drowziness. Also, don’t stuff yourself at lunch. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2000, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wakes-you-up-after-lunch/29767/5 "2000-08-17T20:00:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lance Turbo \* > **I’d suggest eating less carbs (especially high glycemic index carbs) at lunch and more protein and fat. The theory behind this (yes it is a theory) is that high glycemic index carbs will cause your blood sugar to spike, your body will respond with a big ass dose of insulin, which wil in turn cause you to be slightly hypoglecemic and therefore a little low energy.** I can attest to the results, if not necessarily the cause. That is, I don’t eat a lot of carbs anymore and I no longer get sleepy after I eat … but without advanced blood chemistry testing, I can’t prove the theory. A related theory I saw recently–there’s some evidence that when your body takes in carbohydrates, it manufactures tryptophan (the famed turkey-derived tranquilizer). ---
**Author:** ![magdalene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@magdalene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magdalene)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2000, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wakes-you-up-after-lunch/29767/6 "2000-08-17T21:17:50Z")
After you eat, take at least a 15 minute walk around the block. Then drink lots of water. It’s how I avoid the afternoon sleepies. ---
**Author:** ![Meephead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b782af/32.png) [@Meephead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meephead)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2000, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wakes-you-up-after-lunch/29767/7 "2000-08-17T21:24:28Z")
What wakes me up after lunch is my head crashing into the keyboard because I fell asleep. 😃 Really, though I DO notice that after eating starchy foods I am more likely to be drowsy than if I have a cholesterol sandwich and spud sticks. (burger and fries for those lingustically challenged among us :-P) ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2000, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wakes-you-up-after-lunch/29767/8 "2000-08-17T21:33:24Z")
Potatos have a pretty high glycemic index, so take it easy on the fries. Also avoid: Pasta Rice Sweets Corn Bread Stick to meat and fruits and vegetables. (Other than those listed above) ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wakes-you-up-after-lunch/29767/9 "2000-08-18T18:38:51Z")
Or you can always try ephedrine. If it’s illegal where you live, go with Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) instead. I can’t believe they pulled real ephedrine off the market (so ravers/truckers wouldn’t abuse it) but left pseudoephedrine out there. Suckers. ---
**Author:** ![sleepee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7bcc69/32.png) [@sleepee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleepee)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wakes-you-up-after-lunch/29767/10 "2000-08-18T21:08:04Z")
TAKING A NAP!!! LOL ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wakes-you-up-after-lunch/29767/11 "2000-08-18T21:49:55Z")
Word to the wise (and everyone else): Watch out around chemicals. Take the warnings seriously. Addictions are a problem even for OTC drugs. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wakes-you-up-after-lunch/29767/12 "2000-08-18T22:21:29Z")
Excellent advice, **Derleth**. Since this question eludes a definite answer, I’m going to move it to In My Humble Opinion, where I think it will get better responses. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wakes-you-up-after-lunch/29767/13 "2000-08-18T23:17:49Z")
::Bows humbly:: Just doing my part. You’d be surprised how stupid some people can be around medicine.