Post Thanksgiving dinner pains are a real thing. They happen because of so many reasons, and many Americans are experiencing that today. However, today we are going to share just some of the reasons you may feel tired after eating decadent Thanksgiving dishes.

Post Thanksgiving dinner aches:

First off, the foods we eat on Thanksgiving usually are not in our usual recipe lineup. We have the creamiest of the creamiest green bean casserole, creamed spinach, and mashed potatoes. Then, we add on fried turkey or brown sugared ham and you have got yourself a case of an upset stomach.

We all have great intentions of making our dishes the best tasting they can be. Because of this, our health really is not on the top of the priority list when picking out our recipes. For holidays such as Thanksgiving, we opt for taste over nutrition.

Although some families do, the majority are not. Dessert choices were most likely so overwhelming you tried a little of everything. Now, after thinking about this, you may have just an inkling as to why you felt so full, bloated, or crampy after eating that delicious Thanksgiving meal.

Now, just consider those that do not just eat once. Some of us visited multiple houses on this past holiday. This means, these individuals ate these fatty and sugary rich foods more than once- sometimes more than once in the same day.

So, we are not judging here, we simply like to point out the possible ways you could prepare yourself in order to avoid stomach aches for the next upcoming meal, Christmas dinner. For many years, people have stuck blame on the big turkey on the table.

Is turkey to blame?:

Let’s talk a little about that. What exactly is in turkey meat that makes people stirred up? Well, tryptophan is the center of this discussion.

Tryptophan has been a hot topic that resurfaces at Thanksgiving time year after year. L-Tryptophan is an amino acid the body needs, but it does not make it on its own. This amino acid is a building block of proteins.

It is typically found in cheese, eggs, meat, poultry, or yogurt. The body needs to get Tryptophan to make niacin. This is a B vitamin that is important for digestion, serotonin, skin, and nerves.

For those that do not know, serotonin is what makes us happy or all the other good feels. It aids in sleep and let’s humans be in an overall better mood and state of well-being.

Tryptophan is not easy to come by. It is a scarce amino and requires help to get to the brain. This amino needs help traveling, so it catches a shuttle through your blood. Along the way, it competes with other amino acids looking to hop onto strong transport proteins.

Tired after eating turkey:

Tryptophan is a precursor to melatonin. For those that do not take this supplement, melatonin is a hormone associated with sleep. In other words, it is considered a light, more natural sleep aid.

So the verdict is in, according to medical professional Dawn Jackson, turkey contains less L-Tryptophan than other poultry. This means it is not to blame for us feeling tired after eating!

Perhaps it is the portions and the sugar crashes we experience that makes us feels incredibly sleepy after consuming our grand Thanksgiving meal. Plus, you must consider the stress and anticipation of buying the ingredients, cooking, baking, decorating, mingling, and then finally eating a large meal.

Large meals are known to cause digestive issues, especially for those with diagnoses chronic digestive problems. In addition, eating large meals any day of the year will most likely make you tired after eating.

Next year, consider planning Thanksgiving for a longer period of time, eat a normal portioned meal, and plan on watching a movie after eating. This way, you schedule in relaxation. We hope all of our patients had an amazing Thanksgiving holiday!

Consider going a little fancier. Give everyone a reason to dress up nicely. Serve Thanksgiving dinner in courses. This way, you will not engorge yourself with all the wonderful foods on your plate. Finally, you might avoid being tired after eating on this holiday.

Come back next time for more on digestive health! Make an appointment to discuss your digestive troubles.

Staff Writer