Thanksgiving is often referred to as the biggest eating holiday of the year. With all of that overeating, comes what many in the Black community call "the itis."
If you're unfamiliar with what the itis is, it's the sleepy, tired feeling you get after eating a large amount of high-calorie food
The popular cable cartoon show, Boondocks played up on this by creating a great episode where “The ‘Itis” is the name of a restaurant that serves a giant burger consisting of an entire pound of beef patty, grilled onions, and five strips of bacon stuck between two donuts. Instead of tables, the meals were actually served on beds that patrons rented out, so that they could nap easily after finishing the giant burger. To make a long story short, all of the inhabitants of the neighborhood near the restaurant gain weight, with one patron actually suffering a heart attack in the restaurant.
The official name for the ‘itis, though lovingly named “ethnic fatigue,” is post-prandial somnolence. It’s the general term for the drowsiness that occurs after eating a meal comprised of a mass of simple carbohydrates (which can, in a nutshell, be boiled down to carbohydrates without fiber) and certain kinds of fats.
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The more heavy, fatty foods you eat, your body triggers a reaction from something called the “parasympathetic nervous system,” which tells your body to slow down and focus as much energy as possible toward digesting. The more you eat, the more your body has to slow down.
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With sides like creamy mac and cheese and loaded mashed potatoes, the turkey itself is often overshadowed, even though it’s the healthiest part of Thanksgiving dinner. Here are 4 benefits of turkey you need to know!
1. Prevents Anemia
Another great thing about turkey is that it can prevent anemia.
Anemia is a condition in which your body lacks enough healthy blood cells in order to carry an adequate amount of oxygen to your body's tissues. Typically, anemia can make you feel weak, tired, lightheaded, and dizzy.
Turkey has heme iron, which your body can easily absorb during digestion to prevent iron-deficiency. Because turkey also contains B vitamins and folate, it also helps your body with red blood cell formation and function.
By consuming turkey on a regular basis, you'll be able to maintain healthy and strong blood cells.
RELATED: Five Iron-Rich Foods to Give Anemia Eviction Notice
2. Helps prevent cancer
Turkey is extremely rich in selenium, which has been proven to decrease the risk of certain cancers due its ability to prevent the growth of free radicals, which are known to cause cancer, in the body.
3. Full of B Vitamins
Another great thing about turkey is that it's chock-full of B vitamins.
Just two thick slices of turkey provide you with 61% of your daily vitamin B3 needs, 49% of your vitamin B6 needs, and 29% of your vitamin B12 needs.
These vitamins offer many benefits, such as:
Vitamin B3 is great for energy production and cell communication
Vitamin B6 aids in producing neurotransmitters and forming amino acids
Vitamin B12 aids in DNA production and the formation of red blood cells
Turkey is also a great source of vitamin B1 and B2.
4. Low in saturated fats
Believe it or not, saturated fats can actually be good for you. They’re essential for reducing your risk for heart disease and improving bone health, but like with anything in life, too much can be a bad thing. With four ounces of turkey containing only 12 percent of the recommended daily intake of saturated fats, you don’t have to worry about consuming too much.
Visit the BlackDoctor.org Food center for more articles.
