Dont blame the bird for your food coma.
Weve all heard that the amino acid tryptophan in turkeys causes drowsiness, but is it true?
Chelsea Edwardsis a Registered Dietitian and owner ofHuntsville Nutrition Collectivein Huntsville, Alabama.
Credit:Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood
Amanda Frankenyis a Registered Dietitian and director of food justice for theCommunity Action Partnership of Lancaster County.
Why Does Thanksgiving Food Make You Sleepy?
If the turkey isnt to blame, then what is?
Credit:Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall
Here are a few additional factors.
Paired with the turkey, that can create drowsiness.
What About Melatonin?
You may have noticed we mentioned that sleep-inducing hormone, melatonin.
However, cooking and heating your Thanksgiving meal could reduce the levels of melatonin.
Drinking Alcohol
Alcohol can also cause both lethargy and insomnia, according to Frankeny.
Food Chemistry 15 November 2024; 458: 140172.
Colrain IM, Nicholas CL, Baker FC.Alcohol and the sleeping brain.
