Every year since my first American Thanksgiving, I've heard people gobble about how turkey contains tryptophan and tryptophan makes you sleepy... Thus making it perfectly acceptable to take a nap post the annual Thanksgiving stuffing of the belly. Since it's that time of year, it seems a pertinent time to ponder this proposition.
Tryptophan is one of the 20 amino acids (building blocks of protein). Turkey does contain tryptophan, but before you clap the gavel and declare this thought a fact, let's examine some other evidence.

Tryptophan is used by the brain to synthesise serotonin, a sleep related neurotransmitter. Serotonin is ultimately metabolised by enzymes in the pineal gland to make melatonin, also sleep related. Think you have it pegged? Hold the phone...

What does it mean? After insulin's done its thing, there's a higher level of tryptophan hanging out in the blood. But again, this doesn't correspond with greater concentrations of melatonin synthesis.
The real cause of sleepiness after stuffing substantial amounts of scrumptious sustenance down one's pie hole? Exactly that, overeating. Stretching the small intestines induces sleepiness. More blood is needed there for digestion, therefore there is less blood elsewhere. Think "rest and digest", compared to "fight or flight".
We get to enjoy this holiday but once a year, why spoil it with a list of annoying tips? Here's a list of a different kind:
Happy Thanksgiving.
We get to enjoy this holiday but once a year, why spoil it with a list of annoying tips? Here's a list of a different kind:
Happy Thanksgiving.