Drug in turkey that makes you sleepy

So many of us just want to nap on Thanksgiving, and some say turkey may be to blame. So does turkey make you sleepyor is it something else? Turkey has the makings of a natural sedative, an amino acid called tryptophan.

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.

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. Those early revelers were probably knocked out by their marathon feast, and most people today are familiar with the post-Thanksgiving food coma. But often the blame falls on the bird. Turkey allegedly causes drowsiness because it is packed with a nutrient called tryptophan. Tryptophan is one of 20 naturally occurring amino acids—the building blocks of proteins. Because the body is unable to manufacture tryptophan on its own, it must be obtained from food protein. Turkey is a great source of this essential acid, but it is not unique: many meats and other protein products pack comparable amounts. If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. Tryptophan is used by the human body to make serotonin, a neurotransmitter. It has a somnolent effect on fruit flies, whose sleep is most likely equivalent to our slow-wave non-REM sleep, says neuroscientist Amita Sehgal of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia.

Because the body is unable to manufacture tryptophan on its own, it must be obtained from food protein.

But is there anything to the turkey-tryptophan-tired idea, or is it a Thanksgiving-themed myth to justify avoiding the post-meal cleanup? The science of sleepiness after a Thanksgiving meal is a little more complicated. In addition to the effect that consuming a lot of carbs and calories in a short time has on your body, the time of year plays a role in your holiday sleep cycle, too. First things first: Yes, turkey does contain tryptophan , which does promote good sleep and a good mood, according to research published in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews. Tryptophan is one of several essential amino acids, which are considered the building blocks of proteins in animals and plants. Specifically, tryptophan is involved in the production of serotonin a hormone that helps regulate mood and melatonin a hormone that helps regulate your sleep cycle , according to a review of studies on how tryptophan affects the body.

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.

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.

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Specifically, tryptophan is involved in the production of serotonin a hormone that helps regulate mood and melatonin a hormone that helps regulate your sleep cycle , according to a review of studies on how tryptophan affects the body. Tryptophan is a naturally occurring amino acid found in many foods. So, what exactly is tryptophan? According to a small study published in the Archives of Psychiatric Nursing , increasing the intake of tryptophan from foods resulted in significantly less depression and irritability and decreased anxiety reported by study participants. Thanksgiving Dinner and Tryptophan. Not only does tryptophan have paltry representation among the passengers; it also competes with five other amino acids for the same transporter. Related Articles. After a turkey meal, blood levels of tryptophan rise, which may amplify the pineal's production of such serotonin, but not melatonin, whose synthesis rate depends on the amount of enzymes available for the subsequent biochemical reactions to occur, Wurtman says. Serotonin is also used to make melatonin, the hormone that regulates your sleep cycles. Will a turkey really drown if it looks up during a rainstorm? One pound 0. Get the facts on how and why your…. Share this —. Use profiles to select personalised content.

There might be more than a few myths surrounding Thanksgiving.

Turkey allegedly causes drowsiness because it is packed with a nutrient called tryptophan. That means it's very likely that tryptophan alone isn't solely responsible for your sleepiness. Melatonin is a hormone that helps regulate your sleep cycle, and serotonin is a neurotransmitter that also plays a crucial role in sleep. Cite This! Here's how it can boost your sleep quality and mood. It has a somnolent effect on fruit flies, whose sleep is most likely equivalent to our slow-wave non-REM sleep, says neuroscientist Amita Sehgal of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia. The tryptophan in a Thanksgiving turkey has to vie with all the other amino acids that the body is trying to use. Tryptophan is one of several essential amino acids, which are considered the building blocks of proteins in animals and plants. Tryptophan is found in turkey, other types of poultry, cheese, yogurt, meat, eggs and fish. Share this article.