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!

Those 350 milligrams are far less than the 500-1000 milligrams often prescribed to help people sleep.

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. read more