Tired From Your Turkey?

Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks and reflect upon all that you are grateful for.  It’s a time to celebrate with family and friends and look forward to the signature part of the holiday: a turkey feast.

When all is said and done and you have eaten your meal, you may feel compelled to find the nearest couch to lay down for a nap!  “It’s the tryptophan,” people say as they begin to yawn after the day’s festivities.  But is it the tryptophan that makes you feel sleepy after the feast?  Research has yet to come to a conclusion but here are some theories:

Tryptophan is an amino acid (building block for protein) that is needed to build various tendons and ligaments.  In addition, tryptophan is responsible for making the hormone serotonin.  Serotonin helps nerve cells communicate with each other and is associated with feelings of satisfaction and sleepiness.  So yes, it may be the contributing factor for the post dinner snooze.

However, tryptophan is not only found in turkey.  It is found in chicken, milk, eggs and other protein rich foods, which often don’t leave you ready for a nap.  So what is it about Thanksgiving?  The answer might lie in how much you eat at the holiday meal.  Overeating can often make you feel lethargic.  Not to mention the many other activities of the day besides eating that can be exhausting.  Cooking, cleaning, entertaining, catching up with relatives and the excitement from the football games can make anyone ready for a nap!

You want to feel your best during the Thanksgiving holiday.  Feeling lethargic and overly full is not going to let you appreciate the time you get to spend with your family and loved ones.  Check out my blog “Hooray for a Healthy Turkey Day!” for some tips on a healthy Thanksgiving this year.

Let me know how you celebrated!  Happy Thanksgiving!

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