Just about everyone can relate to a food coma, sometimes known as postprandial somnolence — and by sometimes, we only mean within medical and scientific circles. Whether you just finished eating a hearty, savory Thanksgiving meal, your grandma’s comfort food, or simply a large serving of pizza, there’s a good chance you’ll fall into that coma. You’ll feel amazing, but unable to move. Sleepiness creeps up, and within a few minutes, you’re dozing off.

While many people believe this happens because all that food requires more blood to aid digestion, and that that blood comes from the brain, which ends up making us tired, that’s not true. To the surprise of many, we’re sure, tryptophan isn’t the culprit either, as the people at “How Stuff Works” describe in their YouTube video. No, it turns out carbohydrates are the main suspect in this mystery we’re still trying to unravel.

You can check out the video for why carbs do this. But this being a health website, it’s important you know that eliminating carbs isn’t the answer to avoiding food comas. Carbs are actually kind of essential to our diets; it’s just the type of carb we’re eating that matters. Replacing refined grains like white bread and white rice with whole grains like whole-wheat bread and brown rice will give you a ton of natural vitamins and minerals like fiber, iron, and various B vitamins.

If you’re trying to avoid food comas, try eating regularly throughout the day. Not only will this manage your blood glucose better, which will help with avoiding a food coma, but you’ll also be able to manage your portions. And that’s the secret right there.