And turkey eaters should know they have two things working against them if they want to stay alert, says Sara Blackburn, DCS, R.D., associate professor of nutrition and dietetics at the IU School of Medicine. First, there is the large quantity of food recently ingested that slows down the metabolism and makes one sluggish. Second, there really is a substance in turkey that makes people sleepy. It is called tryptophan, an essential amino acid used as a building block for proteins. Generations of Americans have grown up eating turkey stuffed with dressing on Thanksgiving, but they should be aware it is a health risk, says Sara Blackburn, DCS, R.D., associate professor of nutrition and dietetics at the IU School of Medicine.
Salmonella poisoning is just as great a risk with turkey as it is with other poultry.
The cooking of turkey or dishes with turkey broth should be done according to directions. Those who cook dressing inside the great bird run the risk of not getting the dressing hot enough to kill bacteria. A person easily can consume 1,600 calories during one trip to the holiday table. Tips to avoid over-eating include eat slowly and watch your portion sizes. Too much of a good thing can haunt you and your waistline throughout the holidays.