Have you ever felt so good after a meal that you had energy for the rest of the evening? Or, have you ever had a meal and then felt tired, unmotivated, or even crabby? It’s not uncommon. The foods you eat affect the way you feel, both good and bad. Sometimes this is obvious and other times it can be more subtle.

You may think that the food you eat doesn’t “sit right” or make you feel good, yet you continue to eat it for various reasons. Maybe it’s a signal from your body that it isn’t good for you and ultimately cannot be processed well.

I’ve experienced both scenarios and needed help to figure it out. For example, too much red meat makes me feel bloated, whereas more vegetables make me feel energized. Yet, sometimes I still crave that steak.

If this sounds like you or someone you know, I hope this article makes things easier for you.

Here are some questions to consider:

Do you ever feel bloated after eating?

Do you ever feel so tired after eating that you just have to take a nap? Or do you fall asleep early in the evening?

It might be easy to assume you're just tired, but it could be related to what you had for dinner.

Have you ever noticed heartburn or gas after a meal?

Have you noticed changes in your activity or energy levels after eating?

Do you feel lethargic or overly energetic? Do you want to lie on the couch or take a walk after dinner? I’ve had both experiences, and it took me a while to link them to food.

Have you noticed your hair and nails are dry and break easily, or that your skin is dry and itchy, especially in winter?

All of these can be caused by the food you eat daily.

When you experience these symptoms, you may be quick to blame tiredness or lack of sleep. While that may be part of the issue, it’s important to look at the underlying causes. Listening to your body is crucial. The symptoms you experience are trying to tell you something important.

Yes, there may be a need to visit a doctor, but also consider what might have caused the symptom in the first place. Getting to the root cause is vital; otherwise, treatment can be just a ‘band-aid.’

The Mind-Body Connection

This topic extends to the mind-body connection, focusing on how food affects your body and how you feel. It’s not necessarily about calories or portion sizes. Several factors come into play, including the food you eat, your lifestyle, and your level of happiness or contentment with life. The speed at which you move through your meals also plays a role.

The foods you buy and serve your family may not be as healthy as you think, especially if any family members cannot tolerate certain foods.

It’s also interesting to note that certain foods – such as fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods – can improve your mental clarity, alertness, and energy levels. And, of course, unhealthier foods like those that are processed have the opposite effect – they can slow down reaction time and thought processes, as well as increase fatigue.

Making dietary adjustments can improve how you feel, sometimes quickly!

Make Decisions to Support Your Wellbeing

If you answered the questions at the start and realized that something you eat might be making you feel lousy or amazing, I hope you found this helpful.

One of the best things you can do is write down or note what you eat when you don’t feel good. This helps you remember and make connections between your diet and how you feel.

Be sure to also carefully read food labels for ingredients and pay attention to how foods are prepared at restaurants. Sometimes there are trigger ingredients hidden in foods and we don’t even know it.

Thank you for reading! I hope you found this helpful. Listen to your body, and make dietary choices that support your wellbeing.

Maureen Considine is Founder and CEO of Finding Your Way Coaching. A Master Coach with expertise in Income Acceleration, Business Development, Sales and Mindset, Health and Healing, she is the Wealth Health Creation Strategist for entrepreneurs, executives, and other high performers. Maureen has over 25 years of experience in sales and marketing. She has helped hundreds of clients grow their businesses and reach their true potential using her unique, intuitive, and holistic approach. Maureen has a B.A. in Psychology, with training in mindset and the Psychology of Sales.