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Three foods may be causing your afternoon slump, says expert

If you're feeling tired and sluggish in the afternoon, it could be down to what you're eating for lunch

[Woman sat at laptop with stomach ache]

An expert is warning against eating three foods at lunch(Image: Yuliia Kaveshnikova via Getty Images)

That afternoon energy crash might be down to what you're eating, according to one expert. Even if you believe you're having a nutritious lunch, your meal could still be leaving you feeling drained when 3pm rolls around.

Oliver Goble, deputy head of nutrition at food intolerance testing firm Supply Life, has cautioned that mental fog, or that familiar afternoon dip, could be a sign of food intolerance.

Oliver explained: "Many people think brain fog is just tiredness, but it can actually indicate something more serious.

"The gut and brain are closer than people realise. Any inflammation in the gut sends distress signals to the brain, even from foods that look healthy on paper."

Dairy

While a cheese sandwich or pot of yoghurt might be a typical midday meal, it can prove particularly troublesome for those with a dairy intolerance.

Oliver explained: "For those with a dairy intolerance, the body will create antibodies against the protein in an attempt to rid it from the body, as a result, individuals can begin to experience uncomfortable symptoms such as excessive gas, bloating, and difficulty concentrating."

[Sandwich with cheese]

Cheese sandwiches can cause havoc for those with dairy, gluten, or yeast sensitivity(Image: Getty)

Bread

If you're unknowingly dealing with a yeast intolerance, then your regular sandwich could be the culprit behind your problems, with certain breads potentially disrupting your digestive system hours after consumption.

Oliver noted: "Yeast intolerance reactions aren't immediate, symptoms can appear several hours later, which makes it really hard to connect them to what you ate at lunch.

"Bloating, abdominal pain, and brain fog are all common, and most people never think to blame their bread."

Protein bars

Despite being seen as a handy health snack, protein bars often contain refined carbohydrates, dairy, and gluten. These can cause more harm than good if you have a sensitivity to any of these ingredients.

For those seeking a protein boost, Oliver suggests sourcing it from whole foods like eggs, chicken, and nuts, which don't come with the added extras.

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