Introduction
Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and of course, food. But what happens to your body when you indulge in all the deliciousness of the holiday? From the effects of overeating to the impact of alcohol, there are a number of physical changes that occur when you celebrate Thanksgiving. In this article, we’ll explore what happens to your body on Thanksgiving and how you can make the most of the holiday without compromising your health.
What Happens to Your Body on Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and of course, food. But what happens to your body when you indulge in all the deliciousness that comes with the holiday? Here’s a look at how your body responds to the traditional Thanksgiving feast.
Your Digestive System
Thanksgiving is a time for feasting, and that means your digestive system is going to be working overtime. Eating a large meal can cause your stomach to expand, which can lead to feelings of fullness and discomfort. Your digestive system also has to work harder to break down all the food you’re consuming, which can lead to bloating and indigestion.
Your Blood Sugar Levels
Thanksgiving is a time for indulging in sweet treats like pumpkin pie and pecan pie. Eating too much sugar can cause your blood sugar levels to spike, which can lead to fatigue and headaches. Eating a balanced meal with plenty of protein and fiber can help keep your blood sugar levels in check.
Your Metabolism
Eating a large meal can cause your metabolism to slow down, which can lead to weight gain. Eating smaller meals throughout the day can help keep your metabolism running at a steady pace.
Your Mood
Thanksgiving is a time for celebrating with family and friends, and that can have a positive effect on your mood. Eating a balanced meal with plenty of fruits and vegetables can help boost your mood and energy levels.
Your Immune System
Thanksgiving is a time for gathering with family and friends, which can put your immune system to the test. Eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables can help boost your immune system and keep you healthy.
Thanksgiving is a time for indulging in delicious food, but it’s important to remember that your body needs to be taken care of too. Eating a balanced meal and getting plenty of rest can help keep your body healthy and happy this Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is right here once more, and in case you’re one of many individuals who use the vacation as an excuse to stuff your face foolish, we’re not judging. However we’re interested by what occurs to your physique on Thanksgiving.
Giving in to cravings—after which subsequently dozing off on the sofa along with your prime button unfastened—is what the vacation is all about. However after the massive meal enters your abdomen, the scenario inside is something however serene. In truth, your whole physique goes into overdrive the second you scent the vacation unfold.
Right here, Leah Kaufman, MS, RD, CDN, a New York Metropolis-based dietitian, and Lisa Moskovitz, RD, founding father of The NY Vitamin Group, clarify precisely how your system offers with the Thanksgiving dinner overload.
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“The second you stroll into the kitchen and get a whiff of the turkey and different vacation fare, gastric fluids and different enzymes wanted for digestion start to secrete contained in the abdomen, priming the digestive system for the meal forward,” says Kaufman.
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“When you begin chewing the primary chunk of meals, the abdomen instantly begins to broaden as a result of it is aware of extra meals is on the best way that can should be digested,” says Kaufman. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract additionally perks up a bit as a result of it is aware of extra meals is on the best way. “This prompts extra digestive enzymes to launch from the abdomen, pancreas, and the gut,” says Kaufman. “Insulin, the hormone that helps glucose transfer from the blood into the cells, can also be launched while you start to nosh and sugar from the meals enters the bloodstream. This subsequently triggers a launch of the hormone, leptin, which helps the mind register that we’re consuming and permits for extra insulin secretion.”
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“When you begin digging into carb- and sugar-laden dishes like mashed potatoes and stuffing, your physique releases serotonin, the feel-good hormone,” says Kaufman. That is the second you’ve got been ready for all month: carb-o-bliss.
“The serotonin then prompts the reward system within the mind, which tells you, ‘This tastes superior, I would like some extra’ while you eat one thing scrumptious,” says Kaufman. “This explains why it is so arduous to say ‘no’ to Turkey Day seconds.”
“Whenever you begin feeling full, sensory nerves within the abdomen and appetite-controlling hormones like ghrelin activate the satiety facilities of the mind, telling you you’ve got eaten sufficient. Nevertheless, these alerts are simple to disregard if others round you might be nonetheless munching away or the unfold seems to be notably interesting,” says Kaufman. Plus, in case you ate tremendous quick, your mind might not get the sign that you just’re full till you’ve got already served your self seconds.
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After your final chunk of pie, “the abdomen secretes enzymes and acids that assist break down your meal into smaller items so it might probably finally match into the small gut,” says Moskovitz. “Starchy and water-based meals are then damaged down additional into liquid, however fatty meals like Grandma’s buttery mashed potatoes stick round within the abdomen as a result of they don’t seem to be in a position to break down as rapidly, inflicting that uncomfortable, bloated feeling.”
“By now, all of your meals has made its approach from the abdomen down into the small gut. As soon as it is arrived, it alerts the discharge of enzymes from the pancreas and gallbladder that helps to digest carbs and proteins and break the meals down into amino acids and easy sugars to be absorbed into the bloodstream,” says Moskovitz.
Feeling drained but? Yup, that is what we thought. “Whereas many individuals get sleepy after consuming their Thanksgiving dinner, the turkey is to not blame,” says Moskovitz. “There simply is not sufficient tryptophan in a typical serving of the meat to have that sort of impact.”
As a substitute, the fatigue is almost certainly a results of your stuffed abdomen. “Blood rushes out of the extremities into to the stomach to help with the digestion course of, which causes emotions of fatigue,” Moskovitz says.
Your liver is starting to interrupt up your dinner into vitamins that your physique can take in and use to remain wholesome. “At this level, your physique will even start to make use of the meals you’ve got eaten for power. Something you do not burn off later tonight might be saved as fats,” says Moskovitz.
Lastly, you’ve got excreted your Turkey Day meal. Something that is been sitting in your abdomen supplying you with a bloated midsection ought to lastly be out of your system. Solely 363 days until subsequent Thanksgiving!
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