My friends and I have found that for programming jobs where you sit around, the 2 hours following lunch are incredibly hard to stay awake and focused. Should we eat different food for lunch? What are some good caffeine alternatives to staying sharp?
Ask HN: How do you stave off food comatose after lunch?
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Re: Ask HN: How do you stave off food comatose after lunch?
#2Reduce sugar & other carbs during lunch (replace with protein & fiber as much as possible.)
Instead of caffeine you could try Yerba Mate tea... more brain energy, less jitters.
Re: Ask HN: How do you stave off food comatose after lunch?
#3You dont! You take a nap.
Re: Ask HN: How do you stave off food comatose after lunch?
#4Eat protein and increase your dopamine production, which is a "happy and alert" neurotransmitter (http://frank.mtsu.edu/~studskl/food.html). Going heavy on the carbohydrates spikes your serotonin, and if they're simple carbohydrates your insulin vs. blood sugar will suck the energy right out of your brain in an hour. Ergogenics like Adrafinil are a more extreme and expensive alternative to caffeine, but cheap nootropics like Piracetam or Vinpocetine may do the trick, if dietary changes alone don't.
Re: Ask HN: How do you stave off food comatose after lunch?
#5You dont! You take a nap.
The United States needs to adopt the siesta! With the proper implementation, the productivity gains could be tremendous!
Re: Ask HN: How do you stave off food comatose after lunch?
#6Re: Ask HN: How do you stave off food comatose after lunch?
#7Reduce sugar & other carbs during lunch (replace with protein & fiber as much as possible.) Instead of caffeine you could try Yerba Mate tea... more brain energy, less jitters.
I second the Yerba Mate suggestion. It jolts the mind without giving you that over-caffeinated coffee feeling.
Re: Ask HN: How do you stave off food comatose after lunch?
#8Reduce sugar & other carbs during lunch (replace with protein & fiber as much as possible.) Instead of caffeine you could try Yerba Mate tea... more brain energy, less jitters.
Do you build the same dependency on it that you do with coffee?
Re: Ask HN: How do you stave off food comatose after lunch?
#9Eat, get back to the desk (check email or some low intensity stuff), then about 30 min later, go for a walk. Get out of the building and into sunlight for a minimum of 15-20 minutes. Hot, cold, doesn't matter. Get out and walk.
Re: Ask HN: How do you stave off food comatose after lunch?
#10As other posters have said, avoid starch and sugar.
Walking quite far to lunch is good. Then you have to walk the same distance after lunch.