That's Fit

The holiday meal is over. There's a fierce battle being waged, and it's not the football game on TV. It's for rights to the couch and for who gets the most comfortable spot for the post-meal snooze.

Why do we get so sleepy after a large meal? Researchers at the University of Manchester think they've figured it out. Doing research on mice, they found that certain nerve cells in the brain work to keep us awake. When glucose levels rise, those same cells stop producing signals, making us want to sleep. Alternately, when we're hungry, those same nerve cells fire away -- keeping us alert to be on the look out for the next meal. (This may explain any late night trips to refrigerator, and why it's hard to sleep when you're hungry.)

Though this link is interesting, it seems more research is needed. We don't, for instance, feel tired after breakfast. And the afternoon slump many of us feel is more likely to be the cause of natural circadian rhythms than lunch. But researchers still think this finding may be helpful in treating obesity and eating disorders down the road. For the rest of us, it's just one more reason to take that brisk walk after dinner!