Sleepy After the Thanksgiving Feast? Don’t Blame the Turkey (2024)

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Sleepy After the Thanksgiving Feast? Don’t Blame the Turkey? ›

Don't Blame the Turkey

The Turkey-Tryptophan Connection—Is There Really One? Turkey meat contains tryptophan, an amino acid that the body needs to make Vitamin B3 (Niacin) and serotonin, a hormone that helps you relax and—yes, makes you sleepy.

Turkey contains an amino acid called tryptophan; a chemical compound known to cause drowsiness. A person would have to eat about eight pounds of turkey to have a high enough level of tryptophan in their system to make the statement true. The chemical compound is also found in other foods, such as milk.

A decrease in energy levels after eating is called postprandial somnolence. Researchers have different theories about the cause of tiredness after eating, but they generally agree that it is a natural response and not usually a cause for concern.

As celebrated in the United States, the holiday of Thanksgiving usually revolves around a bountiful meal. Typical dishes include bread stuffing, potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and, above all, turkey.

Why Am I So Tired After Thanksgiving Dinner? While tryptophan in turkey may contribute to a feeling of drowsiness, it's more likely that you feel sluggish after a big meal due to a combination of factors, including the consumption of carbohydrates, alcohol, and the larger-than-typical volume of food.

So why do you feel tired after eating a big meal? Fatigue after eating could just be a sign that your body is working extra hard to digest your food. But it could also signal that something's off with your glucose (sugar) and insulin response or that there's an underlying condition that's the cause.

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid found in various foods, including turkey. Tryptophan can influence mood and sleep by affecting serotonin and melatonin production. While tryptophan may promote relaxation, overall diet and lifestyle greatly affect sleep quality.

Divide the total weight of two ounces per poult and spread as a top dress feeding over 3 or 4 times per day. It helps finish the turkey and that rate will not reduce the protein that enhances growth. At eight weeks, also start feeding one cup of shelled peanuts to the entire pen once per day.

What to eat to avoid feeling sleepy? ›

Elderly people fatigue easily and could potentially end up falling into a deep sleep during sitting. It is not a big problem if this happens at home or in other safe environments. When the person is not alone, their carer or child can easily escort them to bed or wait it out.

This happens because your body struggles to convert the food you eat into energy due to either insufficient insulin production (Type 1 diabetes) or resistance to insulin (Type 2 diabetes). Essentially, your body isn't effectively getting the fuel it needs from food, resulting in tiredness.

Psalm 50:14: "Offer God a sacrifice of thanksgiving! Fulfill the promises you made to the Most High!" Philippians 4:6-7: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

According to the National Turkey Federation, an estimated 88 percent of Americans consume Thanksgiving turkey each year. Per the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), this translates to more than 46 million turkeys eaten on Thanksgiving.

But before you dive headfirst into those epic sales, let's chat about Thanksgiving traditions, what goes down on the big day, and what to do if you snag an invite. Here's the deal: Thanksgiving is the BIGGEST holiday in the United States, even bigger than Christmas.

Tryptophan is an amino acid found in turkey. Obtained from our food, it can lead to feeling sleepy when consumed in large amounts. This is because it increases serotonin, a precursor to melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate sleep.

A lot of blood and energy is being directed to your digestive system to break down the big meal you just ate, which makes you feel sleepy. So remember to give yourself a break this Thanksgiving and have enough to get your Thanksgiving fix, but not enough to put you over the edge!

Reduced brain activity: Brain activity and cognitive function appears to slow. View Source following a meal, which may contribute to sleepiness. Hormonal changes: Eating promotes a drop in hormones that maintain alertness and a rise in hormones that promote sleepiness, including melatonin and serotonin.

After you eat a meal, your blood sugar rises, and insulin is released into the bloodstream, suppressing a specific neurotransmitter and making you tired. “Insulin spikes can reduce orexin production. Orexin is the neurotransmitter missing in narcolepsy, which makes people feel constantly sleepy.