Picture this: It’s Thanksgiving, you’ve just eaten a big meal and you’re ready to settle in for a nap. While you may be quick to blame the turkey for your drowsiness, don’t throw the bird under the bus just yet.
We asked Juliana Wright, a registered dietitian nutritionist with Huntsville Hospital Wellness Center, if the rumors about turkey causing sleepiness are true. While turkey does contain tryptophan, an essential amino acid that our bodies use to make the sleep-regulating chemicals serotonin and melatonin, it’s not the sole reason we fall into a “food coma” after stuffing ourselves with holiday favorites.
“High-carbohydrate Thanksgiving dishes like dressing, mashed potatoes, dinner rolls and pumpkin pie can cause a spike in blood sugar then a sudden drop in blood sugar, leaving us feeling tired,” she said. “A big meal also sends a rush of blood to your stomach to help with digestion, so less blood is available in the brain to keep you awake.”
