Foods that make you sleep

Question
This afternoon, I had a McDonald's Filet o Fish, one third order of a medium fries and green tea. I later made a smoothie with one banana, 3/4 cup of pineapple tidbits in juice, half a mango, two small scoops low-fat vanilla ice cream and a splash of skim milk. I also ingested a B-enriched vitamin capsule with my second cup of tea.

About an hour later, I was so hit by a huge wave of drowsiness, I had no choice but to succumb to a 20-minute deep nap.

Was it something about the smoothie or the supplement that caused me to be suddenly drowsy?

Answer
Hello D!

   Thank you for your nutrition question.  
Eating sugary foods such as ice cream or those made from flour, such as bakery products or pastas, causes blood sugar to rise higher than normal. This causes your pancreas to release large amounts of insulin, which drives one of the protein building blocks called tryptophan from your bloodstream into your brain, where it is converted to serotonin.
  In addition, drowsiness occurs after any big meal, regardless of the meal components. Digestion of any large meal, whether it's a high-protein, a high-fat or a high-carbohydrate meal, causes the familiar after-meal drowsiness.  The body wants to focus its efforts on digestion.  
  Many people can avoid feeling sleepy after eating by restricting foods high in sugar and flour. When it is important for you to be alert, eat foods that do not cause a high rise in blood sugar, such as vegetable salads, nuts, seeds, meat, fish and chicken. Try to eat 2 or 3 small meals instead of one big meal. Hope this helps.

-George Rapitis, BSc. Nutritionist
http://www.juiceblend.com  

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