Hint: It isn’t necessarily the turkey on Thanksgiving that makes you sleepy but that could be part of it!

Turkey is usually cited as the culprit in the after Thanksgiving coma that overtakes many of us. Yes, turkey contains L-tryptophan which does have a sleep inducing effect. Tryptophan is also metabolized by our bodies into serotonin and melatonin which help us sleep. However lots of other food contain more L-tryptophan than turkey – like chicken, pork and cheese. We don’t normally fall asleep after a rack of ribs do we?

What seems to make us sleepy after our Thanksgiving feast is the huge number of carbohydrates we take in during the meal. Most of the dishes also contain lots of fats which take lots of energy to digest.

Combine the mashed potatoes, gooey casseroles, stuffing and desserts with a couple of glasses of wine (because the relatives are visiting or perhaps because the relatives are visiting) and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a long nap. So grab a spot on the couch, relax and enjoy your day! Just don’t nap too long or it will disrupt your sleep later that night – remember you’ve got to be up early for the after-Thanksgiving sales.

Have a wonderful holiday and please contact Dr. Mark Levy in Columbus, OH at 614-476-6696 to schedule any needed appointments before the end of the year.