Drug in turkey that makes you sleepy

By Coco Ballantyne. Let us give thanks on Thanksgiving for its cornucopia of foods: mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, creamed corn, cranberry sauce and, of course, turkey, among other delights. Every fourth Thursday of November, friends and family in the U.

So many of us just want to nap on Thanksgiving, and some say turkey may be to blame. So does turkey make you sleepy , or is it something else? Turkey has the makings of a natural sedative, an amino acid called tryptophan. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid the body uses produce to produce melatonin, serotonin and the B vitamin niacin. Melatonin is a hormone that helps regulate your sleep cycle, and serotonin is a neurotransmitter that also plays a crucial role in sleep.

Drug in turkey that makes you sleepy

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. So, what exactly is tryptophan? Therefore your diet must supply it. Tryptophan is found in turkey, other types of poultry, cheese, yogurt, meat, eggs and fish. Tryptophan is then used by the body to make the B-vitamin niacin which is vital for digestion, healthy nerves and skin, and production of the brain chemical serotonin. Serotonin is the chemical responsible for our moods and also can create feelings of happiness and relaxation. Serotonin is also used to make melatonin, the hormone that regulates your sleep cycles. So is your Thanksgiving turkey packed full of this sleep-inducing amino acid? Holding the turkey responsible for your holiday nap is just a Thanksgiving myth. So is the fact that eating foods high in tryptophan boost brain levels of tryptophan, therefore boosting brain levels of serotonin. In fact, turkey contains slightly less L-tryptophan than chicken.

Thanksgiving feasts are often washed down with bubbling champagne, beer, wine or other spirits. Here's how it can boost your sleep quality and mood. Naidoo suggested employing mindfulness while eating turkey so you can figure out your body's tolerance of the compound—or lack thereof.

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.

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.

Drug in turkey that makes you sleepy

Does turkey's tryptophan dose cause drowsiness? Not likely. Thanksgiving feasters take heart. Contrary to popular belief, turkey's tryptophan dose doesn't cause drowsiness. In fact, the substance could possibly aid in the treatment of depression and multiple sclerosis. Purified tryptophan is a mild sleep-inducing agent. That probably spawned the idea that turkey and other foods heavy in tryptophan cause drowsiness. But tryptophan can't get to the human brain in large amounts when ingested as part of a massive Thanksgiving feast—it needs an empty stomach. Consuming tryptophan-rich foods may cause blood levels of the amino acid to rise.

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Other studies show that one function of serotonin is the promotion of slow-wave sleep in nonhuman mammals, she adds, and it may do the same for humans. Turkey and other protein-rich foods contain many amino acids, and tryptophan is the scarcest among them, Wurtman says. Get the facts on how and why your…. Use limited data to select content. What Is Tryptophan? By comparison, two servings of turkey contain about milligrams of tryptophan — close to the daily requirement of this important nutrient. Melatonin, the sleep hormone, is geared to start making you sleepy when the day turns dark. It's probably a combination of overeating, alcohol and the earlier darkness at this time of year. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. How to avoid holiday grogginess. But is there anything to the turkey-tryptophan-tired idea, or is it a Thanksgiving-themed myth to justify avoiding the post-meal cleanup? Wellness Nutrition. Use profiles to select personalised advertising.

The idea that eating turkey makes you sleepy because of the tryptophan it contains is a common myth.

Medically reviewed by Natalie Butler, R. If turkey is not the culprit, then what besides dessert causes post-Thanksgiving torpidity? Let us give thanks on Thanksgiving for its cornucopia of foods: mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, creamed corn, cranberry sauce and, of course, turkey, among other delights. That releases insulin, which lowers the levels of other amino acids, so tryptophan has a chance to get in to the brain without competition. Tryptophan is an amino acid that performs important functions in your body. Thanks for your feedback! Turkey is a good source, but so is cheese, chicken, fish, milk, peanuts, egg whites and soy beans. The tryptophan in a Thanksgiving turkey has to vie with all the other amino acids that the body is trying to use. Does Turkey Make You Sleepy? Credit: Joseph Gaul Getty Images. Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph. Tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in sleep. Don't forget the beverages either. So many of us just want to nap on Thanksgiving, and some say turkey may be to blame.