Turkey Isn't Only Thanksgiving Food That Makes People Tired
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- As we celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow, many will be indulging in turkey with all the trimmings and Thanksgiving napping, a holiday tradition for many following the big meal.
Stop blaming the bird. Turkey often gets the rap for making people tired.
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Doctors say it does contain an amino acid called tryptophan, which is linked to sleep, but actually some of the other Thanksgiving favorites are more likely to land you on the couch.
Dietitian Liz DeJulius says, "It's the combination of, sure a little bit of tryptophan, with the high amount of foods that we're eating and especially the excessive amount of carbohydrates."
Potatoes, stuffing and other carbohydrates trigger the release of insulin, which allows more tryptophan to enter the brain and ultimately melatonin, which brings sleepiness.
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And doctors say there's a third component to the turkey day tiredness -- alcohol. That and pigging out on the food will crash your blood sugar.
DeJulius has one solution: "Small frequent snacks throughout the day, so that you're 'A' not eating as much, but also just getting a better regulation of your blood sugar for that day."
Another way to avoid the post-meal crash, eat fewer carbs and more veggies and turkey without the gravy, which is a great source of low-fat protein.
Also, tryptophan isn't just in turkey, it's in many protein sources, including yogurt, fish, and eggs.