Sleepy After Thanksgiving Dinner?

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Don?t Put All the Blame on the Turkey

Many people believe that stuffing themselves with turkey on Thanksgiving Day is the main reason why they end up napping on the couch after dinner.

Turkey meat contains the amino acid tryptophan, which helps the body create seratonin, a chemical that calms and plays a role in sleep. You might be surprised to learn, however, that tryptophan is not the sole cause for drowsiness after Thanksgiving dinner.

"Tryptophan?s effect is limited when it?s taken on a full stomach," says Aimee Hromadka, M.D., a family practice physician at Beverly Hospital in Massachusetts.

"So, unless large amounts of turkey are eaten on an empty stomach, the tryptophan ingested during Thanksgiving dinner won?t create enough seratonin to cause lethargy."

Actually, she says, the drowsiness probably comes from the entire meal, not just the turkey. Thanksgiving dinners traditionally include mashed potatoes, stuffing and pumpkin pie ? starchy foods that are hard to digest. As the body tries to break down this food, blood is pulled away from the brain to help with digestion, and this creates the feeling of drowsiness, Hromadka says.

How do you combat the feeling of lethargy? Beverly Hospital staff offer the following tips:

• Eat something before dinner. Don?t come to the table on an empty stomach; have a light snack before the turkey is carved.
• Limit portions. The fuller you are, the harder your body must work to digest the food.
• Take a walk. Light exercise can actually help with digestion, and cool, autumn air will re-energize you.
• Have a cup of coffee or tea. The caffeine will wake you up and help with digestion.

Follow these tips and have a Happy Thanksgiving ? gobble, gobble!