Drug in turkey that makes you sleepy

But is there anything to the turkey-tryptophan-tired idea, or is it a Thanksgiving-themed myth to justify avoiding the post-meal cleanup? The science of sleepiness after a Thanksgiving meal is a little more complicated.

Once a year the Thanksgiving holiday is time spent with family and eating a large meal. After stuffing yourself much like a turkey at the center of this holiday, you notice yourself feeling extra sleepy. Most people have heard at some point in their lives this fatigue is due to the turkey containing tryptophan, a chemical that can make you tired. So is your mealtime bird to blame for your sleepiness? After a little research we found some answers to this popular holiday question.

Drug in turkey that makes you sleepy

Tryptophan in turkey has become almost as famous as the bird's white and dark meat. So has the legend of its power to make people sleepy. But does Thanksgiving turkey actually induce drowsiness? It's a myth," Dr. Trytophan is one of the amino acids , which the body uses to make proteins to help it grow and repair tissue, according to the National Library of Medicine. Turkey is a good source, but so is cheese, chicken, fish, milk, peanuts, egg whites and soy beans. Tryptophan can also be found in sunflower, pumpkin and sesame seeds. The body also uses tryptophan to make melatonin, which helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle, according to the National Library of Medicine. That releases insulin, which lowers the levels of other amino acids, so tryptophan has a chance to get in to the brain without competition. Many people do get very drowsy after consuming a huge Thanksgiving meal.

Other good sources include:.

If you feel like you need to take a nap after eating a Thanksgiving meal, it might not just be the turkey that's to blame. Cat Lafuente is an editor who lives in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. Previously, Cat worked as a book editor for a reference publisher, after she obtained her master's degree in religion from the University of South Florida. It happens to plenty of people: You eat your Thanksgiving meal, replete with a big pile of juicy turkey , and shortly thereafter you're lying on the couch ready for a nap. Why do we feel tired after our turkey-centered Thanksgiving dinner?

Does eating Thanksgiving turkey make you sleepy due to its tryptophan content? Though the turkey myth has been debunked, as turkey contains no more tryptophan than any other common food or meat, there are other aspects of this myth that are worth exploring. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid, meaning the body cannot produce it. One of its metabolic pathways includes the production of serotonin and melatonin. A simplified metabolic pathway is illustrated below:.

Drug in turkey that makes you sleepy

Tryptophan in turkey has become almost as famous as the bird's white and dark meat. So has the legend of its power to make people sleepy. But does Thanksgiving turkey actually induce drowsiness? It's a myth," Dr. Trytophan is one of the amino acids , which the body uses to make proteins to help it grow and repair tissue, according to the National Library of Medicine. Turkey is a good source, but so is cheese, chicken, fish, milk, peanuts, egg whites and soy beans.

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And chances are you'll be tempted to eat more than you would on a typical day. However, some folks will metabolize this amino acid in a different way than others. So, what exactly is tryptophan? Cardiologists suggest making plant-based side dishes as the main dish instead of eating a huge portion of turkey. So is the fact that eating foods high in tryptophan boost brain levels of tryptophan, therefore boosting brain levels of serotonin. Freestanding Emergency Department. So, don't blame the turkey for your after-Thanksgiving lethargy! For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Taken in isolation, tryptophan would increase brain serotonin, Wurtman says, but no food source contains tryptophan in the absence of other amino acids. Therefore, it takes quite a bit of turkey to cause drowsiness. Measure advertising performance. Source: webmd. Tryptophan is one of 20 naturally occurring amino acids—the building blocks of proteins. It's probably a combination of overeating, alcohol and the earlier darkness at this time of year.

Does turkey's tryptophan dose cause drowsiness?

Trending Videos. Mobile Newsletter banner close. To that end, Dr. Melatonin, the sleep hormone, is geared to start making you sleepy when the day turns dark. Previously, Cat worked as a book editor for a reference publisher, after she obtained her master's degree in religion from the University of South Florida. Was this page helpful? The science of sleepiness after a Thanksgiving meal is a little more complicated. Most likely, the whole traditional Thanksgiving meal produces that after-dinner lethargy. Add the stress of hosting or attending a Thanksgiving dinner, the lack of sleep during the journey to get there , free-flowing alcohol and all the sitting around in front of the TV afterward, and you have the perfect formula for dozing off. Elizabeth Barnes, MS, RDN, LDN, is a dietitian with a focus on treating clients with eating disorders and disordered eating to help them to mend their relationship with food and their bodies. Share this —. Tryptophan in turkey has become almost as famous as the bird's white and dark meat. Because the body is unable to manufacture tryptophan on its own, it must be obtained from food protein. You've probably heard that the main dish itself is to blame. Turkey is a good source, but so is cheese, chicken, fish, milk, peanuts, egg whites and soy beans.