The term 'Thanksgiving food coma' refers to the phenomenon in which people experience sleepiness or yawning after consuming a large amount of food during the Thanksgiving holiday. There is a belief that this is due to the turkey's natural composition of tryptophan, an essential amino acid that produces serotonin, which is responsible for causing sleep.
However, experts have a different opinion. So, what exactly is Thanksgiving food coma, and why does it happen?
Thanksgiving Food Coma
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A sense of exhaustion that occurs after eating a heavy and rich meal is often called post-meal fatigue, or a 'food coma.' However, this does not entail being in a real medical coma, characterized by a profound state of unconsciousness. It is a common experience for many people to take pleasure in a delectable holiday dinner or takeout meal, only to find themselves beginning to feel sleepy or even falling asleep on the couch shortly afterwards.
Taking a siesta after a substantial meal, such as Thanksgiving dinner, has become so widespread that it has become a habit. The so-called 'food coma' or, in medical terminology, postprandial somnolence is exemplified by this post-meal fatigue, a classic example of the condition.
The hormone serotonin is considered one of the feel-good hormones since it can soothe and relax the body. According to Steven Malin, an associate professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health at Rutgers University in New Jersey, we consume insufficient amounts of turkey during holiday feasts, even if we return for seconds, to produce the necessary serotonin that causes sleepiness.
He also stated that to consume the quantity of tryptophan necessary to induce a state of food coma, we would need to consume approximately eight pounds of turkey meat, about half of a standard bird intended to serve many people. On the other hand, when preparing a holiday meal, the United States Department of Agriculture advises that one pound of turkey meat per person should be prepared. Thus, there is a low probability that tryptophan from turkey will enter the brain and convert into sufficient serotonin to trigger sleepiness.
Based on an associate professor of neurology and preventive medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, Kristen Knutson, Turkey does not cause us to feel sleepy. The cause of our tired feeling after a large meal might be because we did not get enough sleep in the days preceding the event, and then only after the dinner is done can we finally relax and unwind.
As per sleep specialist Dr. Raj Dasgupta, an associate professor of clinical medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, excessive eating is also a key contributor to the tiredness one experiences after consuming food. Accordingly, there is a change in blood flow from the brain to the digestive tract, which is another reason you would feel sleepy after eating.
Consuming an extensive holiday dinner reportedly increases blood flow to the stomach, which assists in the digestion of the meal. This, in turn, leads to a decrease in blood flow to the brain, which causes you to feel exhausted and ready to go to bed. In addition, keep in mind the influence that drinking around the holidays might have. During this time of year, many dinners are accompanied by Champagne, wine, and cocktails. Furthermore, afternoon sports events are frequently followed by a large amount of beer, often two or three.
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