Thanksgiving Slump: How to Avoid the Infamous "Food Coma"

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As many of us know, Thanksgiving is right around the corner! The day where we eat all of our favorite comfort foods and follow it up with a Thanksgiving nap. Many of us know this as a “food coma,” but have you ever wondered what really IS a food coma and how can you prevent it? 

What causes a food coma? 

A “food coma” is actually called a postprandial somnolence. This is caused by a variety of side effects that the body has in order to break down the food that you just consumed. These effects can be things from changes in blood circulation, an increase in tryptophan causing tiredness, and an increase release of hormones and neurotransmitters that cause fatigue. 

Tips on how to prevent a post-meal slump: 

It’s very common to experience a bit of fatigue, tiredness, or even taking a nap after eating your Thanksgiving meal. Although Thanksgiving is the perfect day to indulge on plenty of turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, and pumpkin pie, here are a few tips on how to try and prevent that post-meal slump…. 

1.        Control your portion sizes: although it is easy to go crazy with your Thanksgiving meal, consider keeping your portions a little more modest to help your body easily break down the food you eat. 

2.        Keep your plate colorful: ensure that your Thanksgiving meal is well-balanced, having a mix of all food groups which will help keep your body nourished throughout the day.

3.        Stay hydrated: with your body working to break down the foods you eat during your meal, your body can become fatigued. Keeping yourself from getting dehydrated will help decrease the risk of becoming fatigued. 

4.        Limit alcohol intake: alcohol may increase your tiredness and leave you feeling sleepy. Try replacing alcohol with something like tea with lemon or ginger which may help with digestion, while keeping you from getting sleepy. 

5.        Get some movement: after you eat your Thanksgiving meal, consider getting some light movement and physical activity. Taking a walk or doing some stretches helps your digestive system and may give you a boost of energy. 

C  CH

References: 

https://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/thanksgiving-meal-sos-tips-to-prevent-and-recover-from-overeating/

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/food-coma#prevention

Comments

  1. Abigail El-RichaniNovember 19, 2024 at 11:56 AM

    I really enjoyed reading this blog and definitely related to the Thanksgiving food coma. Eating big meals on Thanksgiving is so common so thanks for the tips to help reduce these feelings, especially when it's around the corner !!

    ReplyDelete

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