Be Cautious During Holiday Feasts: How Overeating Impacts Your Brain

Scientists have uncovered exactly how excessive holiday feasting affects the human brain, according to a report by the BBC.

Why Do We Feel Sleepy After Eating?

According to Tony Goldstone, an Associate Professor at Imperial College, a hormonal link known as the "satiety cascade" is established between the gut and the brain during a meal.

The post-meal lethargy, scientifically termed "postprandial somnolence," is not caused by blood rushing to the stomach—as commonly believed—but rather by the effect of these hormones on the brain. Researcher Aaron Hengist proved that blood flow to the brain does not actually decrease after a large meal.

Is a One-Time Binge Dangerous?

A 2020 study by Aaron Hengist (NIH, USA) suggests that a healthy body can effectively manage a one-time high-calorie meal, even if it contains double the normal calorie intake, through metabolic regulation.

• The Mechanism: When excess calories are consumed, the pancreas releases an increased amount of insulin. This hormone works to keep blood sugar and fat levels within normal limits.

The "5-Day Danger Zone"

However, Stephanie Kullmann, a researcher at the University of Tübingen, issued a stern warning: consuming fatty and sugary foods excessively for just five days can decrease the brain's sensitivity to insulin and impair memory.

"Even though the participants had not yet gained weight, their brains began to resemble the brains of individuals suffering from obesity," Kullmann stated in the study's conclusions.