Thanksgiving is a time for fellowship, giving thanks for the good things that have come to us, and a time for feasting. After that big Thanksgiving supper. you may find yourself becoming sleepy. Not surprising. Your body is working hard to digest the excess food.

But that might not be the only reason for the drowsies. According to the Chemistry guide at About.com:

"Turkey does contain L-tryptophan, an essential amino acid with a documented sleep inducing effect. L-tryptophan is used in the body to produce the B-vitamin, niacin. Niacin, in turn, is used to produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter that exerts a calming effect and regulates sleep."

>Dr. Sears.com has a list of "foods high in the sleep-inducing amino acid tryptophan:" Dr. Sears also says:

"Foods that are high in carbohydrates and calcium, and medium-to-low in protein also make ideal sleep-inducing bedtime snacks."

And again he gives us a list.

Yahoo Foods also offers a list of top ten foods for a good night's sleep. Yahoo agrees with some of the foods listed by Dr. Sears, but also includes others and suggests a reason why the make a person sleep. For instance:

"Oatmeal. Oats are a rich source of sleep - inviting melatonin, and a small bowl of warm cereal with a splash of maple syrup is cozy - plus if you've got the munchies, it's filling too."

If you need to be alert after your meal, by all means enjoy the bountiful feast, but don't overdo it.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!