For many a generation full Americans have found themselves drowsy and ready for a nap after stuffing themselves at the traditional Thanksgiving Day dinner. This puzzling behavior has long been blamed on the amino acid
tryptophan. Unfortunately this is just a myth, as described by Dr. Aaron Carroll and Dr. Rachel Vreeman in their book
Don't Swallow Your Gum!
| The truth is. turkey is not to blame for your sleepiness. Chicken and ground beef contain almost the same amount of tryptophan as turkey - about 350 milligrams per 4-ounce serving. ... Swiss cheese and pork actually contain more tryptophan per gram than turkey... |
Those 350 milligrams are far less than the 500-1000 milligrams often prescribed to help people sleep.
via Jelene on Flickr
Tryptophan is an essential amino acids, as in our bodies can not produce them and must be ingested with our diet. I can't really tell you much about tryptophan other than the
Wikipedia article is filled with complicated sciency words. Don't let anyone blame their post-dinner laziness on this poor defenseless molecule. Most scientists blame your desire for some shuteye to other aspects of the meal or even the combined experiance.
| Large meals have been shown to cause sleepiness regardless of what was eaten because the body increases blood flow to the stomach, and decreases blood flow and oxygenation to the brain. Meals both high in proteins or in carbohydrates may cause drowsiness. |
One of the most important aspects of your Thanksgiving feast might be the most over looked...
| One or two glasses of wine, especially for people who only drink occasionally, can increase drowsiness. |
All of this isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's simply our body's way of handling the sudden intake. Many people also forget that the lead up to the annual meal can be draining and even be stressful.
The real lesson in all of this? Don't trust the mindless banter between the anchor and meteorologist.
