The family gathers for the traditional Thanksgiving feast, turkey and all the trimmings. After consuming not only turkey but assorted vegetables, cheeses, desserts and alcoholic beverages, numerous family members pronounce their overriding sleepiness. Someone mentions the well used Thanksgiving anecdote: “All the tryptophan in the turkey is making you sleepy”. Probably not.
Turkey and Tryptophan
Tryptophan is one of the essential amino acids; this means that it must be consumed in the diet because human cells cannot synthesize it on their own. Turkey contains tryptophan, as do all meats and assorted other food products. In fact, turkey meat does not contain an inordinately higher amount of tryptophan than does some other foods.
Tryptophan Facts
Tryptophan is not only an essential amino acid; it is also one of the aromatic amino acids. Aromatic amino acids have some of their constituent atoms joined into specific chemical ring structures. What is unique about tryptophan is that chemically it contains what is known as an indole ring. Because of its chemical structure, tryptophan can be used as the precursor to synthesize another chemical, one with known mood altering affects, serotonin. Serotonin is used as a neurotransmitter in the brain and its utilization is the target of common anti-depressant medications like Prozac. Additionally, serotonin can be used to make another important brain chemical, melatonin.
Turkey Makes You Sleepy, Right?
Even though turkey contains tryptophan, it does not contain an inordinately greater amount of it than do some other foods. The fact of the matter is that the typical Thanksgiving dinner contains numerous other food items that are very high in carbohydrates. The fact that a lot of people tend to overeat at Thanksgiving and their meal contains a large quantity of carbohydrates leads to a substantial production of insulin as a result of their meal. This is because the body is trying to metabolize not only the proteins in the meal but also all of the carbohydrates.
The Body Shifts Its Resources
Having weighed the digestive system down with such a large meal, a lot of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins, not to mention the often associated imbibing of alcoholic beverages, the body tends to concentrate on the task at hand, deciding what to do with everything that has been put into it. And less focus on keeping you alert and awake. This is the larger force at play when it comes to being sleepy after a big Thanksgiving meal, and maybe some less than scintillating conversation from extended family members. But don’t worry; you can always sleep it off.
Compare the amount of tryptophan in various foods at the US Dept. of Agriculture National Nutrient Database
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