The Science Behind Eating Way Too Much Thanksgiving Dinner
The vast majority of us are about to get uncomfortably full of food tomorrow. While you’re trying to nap your excesses off on the couch, why not take a second to find out what, exactly, is going on in your body?
As this (very cute) video from the American Chemical Society shows, your stomach ache is a culmination of bad decisions.
You didn’t listen to leptin and peptide tyrosine-tyrosine hormones, which are responsible for sending the message that you need to stop eating. They are not to be confused with the more famous Thanksgiving hormone tryptophan, the component found in turkey that is typically blamed for making us sleepy after the big meal (and don’t believe that anyway — it’s mostly false).
Also addressed: Your stomach is about the “size of a burrito,’’ or one liter, so part of the feeling of “stuffed’’ is because you actually are stuffed. You physically cannot hold anymore. Carbonated beverages, such as beer and soda, only make things worse: that fizz turns into carbon dioxide in your stomach, which takes up more room. So now you’re full of gas. And a smorgasbord of turkey, sweet potato casserole, and pie.
Digestion can hurt, too. Breaking down an involved, high-calorie meal results in high acid levels, which, unless you’ve Pepto-Bismol-ed it up ahead of time, can cause even more discomfort. You know, heartburn.
But it’s worth it.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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