There has been a common misconception that sugar helps to fight afternoon drowsiness, which is why people turn to sweets after lunch hours. However, recent studies have shown that it is in fact protein which is more effective in fighting afternoon drowsiness. This is because protein has properties which enables stimulation in particular brain cells which helps to keep the body awake. The finding has become a breakthrough in understanding obesity as well as sleep disorders.

Scientists from the Department of Pharmacology and Institute of Metabolic Science at Cambridge have discovered that the orexin cells in the brain are responsible for sending signals in the body that prompt it to wake up. They conducted studies to determine if any dietary factors played a role in triggering these cells, and therefore if the food we ate had any effect on the wakefulness or drowsiness we experience.

Certain factors such as jobs which require nighttime shifts, sleep patterns, poor diet, and sleep patterns all contribute to obesity. Because it is understood that orexin cells in the brain’s hypothalamus emit electrical responses which tell the body to wake up and burn calories, scientists wondered if there are nutrients we may take that may have an effect on these responses. A stimulant called orexin/hypocretin are released by the orexin cells is responsible for regulating the body’s wakefulness, energy balance, and reward systems. A loss of, or dysfunction in these cells leads to disorders such as narcolepsy and weight gain.

A study conducted in Cambridge involved comparing the effects of various nutrients on the orexin cells. It involved breeding mice which were genetically engineered to possess orexin cells which were capable of glowing through biofluorescence, so it was easy for the scientists to locate these cells. Scientists then introduced various nutrients such as various amino acid mixtures similar to what is found in egg whites, then they traced the activity within the orexin cells by observing the fluorescence. The findings revealed that it is the amino acids found in protein which generated the most stimulation among all the other nutrients in food. 

Previous studies showed that the consumption of sugar actually prevented stimulation in orexin cells, which is why we tend to feel sleepy after meals, so the scientists also studied the connection of sugar and protein. They concluded that the presence of protein in the body was a way of fighting any post-meal drowsiness caused when one consumes sugar or carbohydrates. It provides a good explanation why we tend to feel more alert after consuming meals that are high in protein.

The study proves to be an exciting find because it shows us how we can change the way our brain functions simply by making changes to our diet. Particular cells in the brain actually respond to the composition of our diet, which is why it is important that we properly choose the food we eat. This kind of information is valuable in today’s society where many people are constantly struggling with obesity and insomnia, and turning to a dependence on medicines when in fact we can improve our health by eating better food and giving our body the proper nutrients.