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food coma

/fud ˈkoʊmə/
IPA guide

Other forms: food comas

If you've ever become really sleepy right after eating a huge meal, you know what a food coma feels like. After Thanksgiving dinner, it's not uncommon for everyone to slip groggily into food comas.

A doctor might describe your food coma as postprandial somnolence, or a feeling of sleepiness after eating. It's common to experience a dip in energy after a meal, especially a large one. Scientists have many theories about why this happens, though there hasn't been much research exploring the phenomenon. The term food coma first appeared in the late 20th century; coma, or "prolonged unconsciousness," has a Greek root, kōma, meaning "deep sleep."

Definitions of food coma
  1. noun
    a state of sleepiness or inactivity after eating heavily
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