It's time to stop blaming the turkey. The tryptophan in turkey does not make you fall into a sleep coma after eating loads of it during Thanksgiving.
It is a common myth that after having a hearty turkey dinner on Thanksgiving, you'd feel almost automatically tired or sleepy. It is said that the turkey is full of tryptophan which makes your drowsy and succumb to sleep. However, New York Times investigates the matter further and finds out that the turkey is quite innocent after all this time.
First, let us understand the basics facts about the centrepiece during Thanksgiving. Turkey contains tryptophan which is an amino acid that aids in the production of a chemical called serotonin. Serotonin is often linked to relaxation and healthy sleep. It an essential component to making melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate sleep. However, reports reveal that the amount of tryptophan is not higher than those found in other meats like chicken and beef. Other food like nuts and cheese contain more of the said chemical.
True enough that tryptophan can make you sleepy; it doesn't have much effect when taken with other amino acids, of which turkey is teeming with. Dr. Howard Markel of the University of Michigan told PBS Hour that, "In order for L-tryptophan to really make you sleepy, you need to take it on an empty stomach and without ingesting any other types of amino acids or protein." Turkey contains an immense amount of protein and it's going to get in the way of tryptophan in making you sleepy.
So what makes you really sleepy? The answer lies in the carbohydrates in creamy mashed potatoes, overloaded pies and warm rolls that you eat on top of that turkey. According to Live Science, all those carbohydrates in the pies and stuffing can cause the pancreas to secrete insulin which removes most amino acids from the blood and allow tryptophan to enter the brain and form serotonin and ultimately melatonin.
So you might try protein-filled meal this year and observe the difference. Without the rush of insulin from all of those carbohydrates, you may feel more awake this year.
