Tucking into a turkey dinner this Christmas could set you snoozing behind the wheel, experts have warned.
And the drowsiness isn't just caused by eating too much.
A roast bird with all the trimmings is the classic feast millions of Brits look forward to as a highlight of the Yuletide celebrations.
Then there’s the sea of snacks - from nuts and chocolate to crisps and heaving cheese boards - that are a mainstay of the Christmas menu.
But if you plan to eat and then drive, you need to be aware of a little-known effect that turkey can have on the body.
Graham Conway, managing director of Select Car Leasing, said:
“Most people over-indulge a bit at festive season, whether it be too many mince pies or the odd glass of sherry. Christmas dinner is one of the main events of the Yuletide calendar and it’s not uncommon to see grandad or Aunty Pat dozing off in an armchair after they’ve eaten their fill.
While this is mostly harmless, it does highlight the fact that some of these foods can have an unwanted effect on the body if you are planning to drive home later that day. And one of the main foods to watch out for is the turkey itself.”
The popular roasting fowl is high in something called tryptophan, an amino acid that maintains the body's proteins, neurotransmitters, muscles and enzymes.
But while it does some vital work in keeping people fit and strong, one of its side effects is causing sleepiness.
Mr Conway said:
“Tryptophan is transformed into serotonin, the feel-good hormone that helps keep people calm and relaxed. But if you have too much, especially during the day, it can lead to drowsiness.
While it would be wrong to tell people not to eat turkey if they are driving on Christmas Day, it’s worth being aware that managing your portion size will help you stay alert later in the day.
Tryptophan is also found in eggs, soy, spinach, fish and tofu, so even if you are vegetarian or vegan there could be potential pitfalls in the festive menu that are worth watching out for.”
Refined carbohydrates, which are heavily processed and contain little nutritional value, also have the potential to be snooze-inducing.
Select Car Leasing’s Mr Conway said:
“Refined carbohydrates are often high in sugar and calories, and include snacks such as biscuits, crackers, muffins and sweets. Because they are low in fibre they are digested rapidly, which raises blood sugar levels.
This has the knock-on effect of the body producing more insulin to combat it, and when blood sugar levels then fall people can experience a ‘crash’, leaving them sleepy and lethargic.”
Even some more ‘innocent’ nibbles should be on the weariness watchlist, according to Mr Conway.
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These include nuts such as almonds and cashews.
“Many people only eat these items during the Christmas holidays, but because they are high in fat they are digested slowly and release a hormone called Cholecystokinin that can also lead to drowsiness,” he said. And obviously people should avoid alcohol if they are the designated driver over the festive season.
“That doesn’t just apply to drinks - there are many foods on a Christmas dinner table that contain surprisingly high amounts of booze. A standard Christmas pudding serving can pack in 1.5 units. That’s the equivalent of a glass of wine or half a pint of beer. Meanwhile, red wine gravy poured over beer roasted turkey clocks in at an eyebrow-raising 1.9 units.
“The current drink drive limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, which equates to around four units of alcohol for men and three for women. Scotland has a lower legal limit of 50mg per 100ml of blood.
“So there is the possibility of putting yourself over the limit without ever picking up a glass of champagne or sipping on an eggnog.”
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