Stuffing Your Way to Insomnia: Why Thanksgiving Carbs Are a Recipe for Restless Nights
Thanksgiving is the ultimate carb celebration. Mashed potatoes, stuffing, rolls, pies—they’re the MVPs of the holiday table. But while your taste buds cheer for joy, your sleep might be quietly begging for mercy.
Let’s talk about how your Thanksgiving carb-fest could be sabotaging your slumber—and how to navigate the feast without ruining your rest.
Why Do Carbs Affect Sleep?
When you eat heavy carbohydrates, especially in large quantities, your body processes them into sugar. This spikes your blood sugar levels, which feels great in the moment but often leads to a crash later.
That crash doesn’t just leave you feeling sluggish—it can mess with your body’s ability to maintain stable energy levels overnight. A rollercoaster of blood sugar means you might wake up in the middle of the night, heart racing and wide-eyed, wondering what went wrong.
And it’s not just the blood sugar. Carbs can trigger an overproduction of insulin, which affects hormones like cortisol and melatonin—two key players in your sleep cycle.
Why Thanksgiving Is a Perfect Storm for Insomnia
Here’s the thing: it’s not just the carbs. Thanksgiving meals are a trifecta of sleep challenges:
- Big Meals Late in the Day
Eating a heavy meal too close to bedtime forces your body to focus on digestion when it should be winding down. - Rich Foods Loaded with Sugar
Pecan pie, cranberry sauce, and sweet potato casserole might be delicious, but their high sugar content can lead to post-dinner wake-ups. - Holiday Stress and Late Nights
Combine all that food with the stress of hosting (or dealing with Uncle Bob’s political opinions), and your body is primed for tossing and turning.
How to Feast Without the Sleep Fallout
The good news? You don’t have to give up your favorite Thanksgiving dishes to protect your sleep. Here are some tips to enjoy your meal and rest easy:
- Time Your Feast
Try to eat your big meal earlier in the day, leaving time for your body to process it before bedtime. - Balance Your Plate
Pair carb-heavy dishes with protein and fiber to slow down digestion and stabilize blood sugar levels. A little turkey with your stuffing goes a long way. - Portion Control
Thanksgiving is a marathon, not a sprint. Sample your favorites without overloading your plate. - Drink Water, Not Sugar
Skip sugary drinks and focus on hydrating. Water helps digestion and keeps you from overdoing it on the food. - Move After Dinner
A light walk after your meal can aid digestion and help your body start winding down.
When All Else Fails, Call in the Sleep Cavalry
Let’s be real: even with the best intentions, sometimes Thanksgiving gets the better of you. If your meal leaves you restless, Sleep Remedy can help.
Formulated by Dr. Kirk Parsley, it’s designed to gently nudge your body into relaxation and promote deep, restorative sleep—without the grogginess of over-the-counter sleep aids.
So even if you go back for that second helping of pie (no judgment), Sleep Remedy has your back.
This Thanksgiving, you can have your carbs—and your sleep too. A little planning goes a long way to make sure your feast doesn’t turn into a restless night.
Because after all that cooking, eating, and celebrating, you’ve earned a good night’s sleep.
Sleep Remedy
CAPSULES
Doc Parsley’s Sleep Remedy is a natural sleep aid, formulated with a blend of calming nutrients to help you fall asleep faster and improve your sleep quality. Doctor-developed and recommended, it’s non-habit forming and safe for daily use.