from journal SLEEP
The adage “you are what you eat” may be
more true in a new study from Penn State
University. It found that eating more fats
may increase daytime sleepiness in
healthy, non-obese adults. Eating more
carbohydrates , however, may increase
alertness. Researchers did not find a
relationship between protein consumption
and sleepiness or alertness. Participants
in the study did not have sleep apnea and
spent four consecutive nights in a sleep
laboratory prior to testing for objective
sleepiness. Writing in the journal SLEEP,
the Penn State team noted that excessive
daytime sleepiness and fatigue are very
prevalent in our world—and on the rise.
Confirming previous studies, it appears
that a diet high in fat decreases alertness
acutely and may have an impact on a
person’s ability to function and, depending
on the person’s activity, it may also have
an impact on public safety.