Does your ideal Thanksgiving include a nap shortly after that magnificent meal? If so, you're not alone.
It's common wisdom that turkey -- the star of any Thanksgiving feast -- can make you sleepy. This is because turkey contains the amino acid tryptophan, which is known to increase brain serotonin production: a quick ticket to dreamland.
While this is fact, the turkey may be getting more blame than it deserves.
The amount of tryptophan you consume during a Thanksgiving dinner is actually pretty small. Even if you seriously load up on turkey, the mashed potatoes, ham, green bean casserole, rolls, stuffing, and all the other fabulous food you eat will dilute that tryptophan dramatically and prevent it from reaching the receptors it needs to bond with to send you off to sleep. The post-feast coma may not be the turkey's fault.
So why do we get sleepy after eating Thanksgiving dinner? Interestingly, desserts may play a role: that piece of pie (or any other sweet dessert) can actually enhance your body's ability to absorb tryptophan. Still, the most likely culprit is the sheer amount of food we indulge in on Thanksgiving! The science in a nutshell: a full belly gives us a very real, physical urge to lie down and snooze.
Regardless of whether it's the turkey or just the nature of the holiday, many of us love a good nap after the Thanksgiving feast is over. But with a house full of relatives, a TV blaring the traditional Thanksgiving football in the next room, and the kids running around underfoot, getting in a nice snooze after turkey time can be a challenge (even with the turkey and full tummy telling your body it's nap time!).
So how do you get to catch a great nap on Thanksgiving Day?
1. Make it quiet. Get some ear plugs -- foam does nicely for sleeping, and so do wax and cotton moldable ear plugs like Ear Stopples and Quies Boules. Both kinds are definitely comfortable enough to wear during sleep even if you're passing out on grandma's lumpy old couch, and foam ear plugs especially will block out plenty of noise.
2. Alternatively, listen to music. Both SleepPhones and Bedphones are designed specifically to be worn while sleeping and will allow you to listen to music during a nice long catnap -- without your headphones falling off or hurting your ears. SleepPhones are (in my opinion) more comfortable, with a plush fleece headband to keep your ears gently swaddled in soothing sound. SleepPhones are also warmer, though, so keep that in mind when choosing. Bedphones are a lower-profile, lighter-weight solution, and they're perfect if you're planning to sneak your nap in on the down-low. And on the flip side, Bedphones also look cooler, if you'll be napping where the family can see you.
3. Make it dark. You could just turn out the lights, but that's risky; your great aunt could trip over your 5-year-old cousin in the dark, and then you'll all be giving thanks for (hopefully) not winding up in the emergency room! Instead, bring your own sleep mask, and create your own personal bubble of darkness. Sleep masks are generally inexpensive and come in colors such as pink or classic black (Note: Bedphones come with a plain black sleep mask, for that trendy "Nap Ninja" look).
4. White noise is your friend. Bring that old CD player and try a white noise CD via your SleepPhones or Bedphones (or any other earphones you like) to block out the world... or at least the voices yelling at the TV in the living room. A travel white noise machine will also work beautifully for white noise anywhere -- look for a small one that takes batteries and that will fit in your purse or jacket pocket. And if worse comes to worst, seek out other white noise: the sound of the heater or AC running or a fan blowing is similar enough to pure white noise that it may just do the trick in a pinch.
5. Eat more turkey! Not only is it delicious, but whether it's the tryptophan or just a full belly, something about that turkey dinner really does make us nice and sleepy. So if you're trying for that perfect Thanksgiving Day nap, and making it quiet, listening to music or white noise, and making it dark won't knock you out, you've got the perfect excuse to call first dibs on some of those tasty leftovers.
Until next time, be safe and Happy (Early) Thanksgiving!
--Sarah Bergman, Web Developer
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