Why Are You Tired After Eating Turkey

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and that means friends and family will come together for a turkey feast. Most likely there will be stuffing, green beans, sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce, other side dishes and, of course, pies. Once you and your family and friends made it through the feast, it seems like everybody starts feeling tired and at least half of your krewe will end up napping through the football game. What is it about the Thanksgiving dinner that makes everybody so tired?

What’s In The Turkey

The added stress from preparing the meal or from attending a family functions during the holidays may have something to do with the need for a nap after dinner. However, Christmas dinners don’t appear to impact us in the same way. Turkey is blamed for causing drowsiness because it is packed with a nutrient called tryptophan. Tryptophan is one of 20 naturally occurring amino acids which are the building blocks of proteins. Experts say the body uses tryptophan in the processes of making vitamin B₃ and serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate sleep. Other meats, chocolate, bananas, mangoes, dairy products, eggs, chickpeas and peanuts among others also contain tryptophan. Tryptophan doesn’t have much of an impact unless it’s taken on an empty stomach and in an amount larger than what you get from a drumstick, according to experts.

Maybe it’s not all in the turkey. As mentioned above, the Thanksgiving dinner does not only consist of turkey. The amount of alcohol you consumed may add to the urge to snooze after the meal. Also, turkey skin is delicious, but fats take a lot of energy to digest, so the body redirects blood to the digestive system. Reduced blood flow in the rest of your body means reduced energy. Overeating has the same impact on your body. It takes a lot of energy to digest a big feast, so blood is sent to the digestive process system, leaving you feeling tired.

To enjoy Cajun food, join us at Mulate’s for authentic Cajun cuisine, music, and dancing.

We’re located at 201 Julia Street in the Warehouse District, and laissez les bon temps rouler. For more information, call (504) 522-1492 or contact us by email at chantelle@mulates.com to inquire about accommodating large groups.