Debunking common Thanksgiving feast myths

It’s time for turkey, stuffing and all those traditional Thanksgiving dishes.

The holiday brings people together around the dinner table, but over the years, an expert says, some misconceptions about traditional Thanksgiving feasts have been passed down as fact.

Registered dietitian Sara Riehm, with Orlando Health, debunks common myths about Thanksgiving meals and celebrations.

If you’ve heard eating turkey makes you tired, that’s not exactly true.

“The turkey is not necessarily to blame,” Riehm said.

Riehm said it’s true that turkey contains small amounts of an amino acid called “tryptophan,” which is needed to release hormones that can make a person relax, but for the meat to make you sleepy, you’d need to eat a lot of it.

If you’re tired after turkey, Riehm said, the likely culprit is excessive carbohydrate consumption, which can cause a blood sugar spike.

“Then that subsequent blood sugar drop that comes down after that as our bodies are kind of starting to normalize and process and digest that food,” Riehm said. “That’s what’s actually causing us to be tired.”

Riehm said many people tend to overeat on Thanksgiving, but it’s another misconception that you have to eat excessive amounts of food.

“I would really encourage you to stay more in tune with your body. Listen to your hunger and your full miscues,” Riehm.

While Americans are used to their Thanksgiving staples, Riehm said it’s a misconception that you can’t stray from that. She recommends swapping out some ingredients for healthier ones.

“Items that have a little bit less of those inflammatory ingredients like our saturated fat, our added sugar and our sodium are ways to make things a little bit healthier, a little bit more nutritious for us without changing the whole Thanksgiving meal,” Riehm said.

Riehm said Thanksgiving can be whatever you want it to be, and it’s OK to decide to eat different foods during the holiday. She said it’s a great way to share your culture with others.