Turkey Time=Nap Time?

Posted 11-05-2009 9:36 pm by
With the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, you know at least one relative is bound to blame turkey on his sleepiness. With that being said, is there any truth in the fact that eating turkey makes one sleepy?

While scientific evidence does support a connection between tryptophan (an essential amino acid found in turkey) and sleep, turkey is not to blame for one’s sleepiness. Chicken and ground beef, in fact, contain almost the same amount of tryptophan as turkey – which is about 350 milligrams per four-ounce serving. While the common claim is that consuming turkey gives one the drowsy effect, you have likely never heard that chicken, ground beef, or any other type of meat causes sleepiness. This is because the amount of tryptophan in a four-ounce serving of turkey is lower than the amount used to induce sleep.  The recommendation for tryptophan supplements to help one sleep is between 500 and 1,000 milligrams.

So how come so many of us feel so sleepy after our staple Thanksgiving holiday meal? Large meals in general have been known to cause sleepiness regardless of what is eaten simply because the body increase blood flow to the stomach, and decreases blood flow and oxygenation to the brain. Meals that are both high in protein and carbohydrates may cause drowsiness, not to mention that glass or two of wine Aunt Sally or Uncle Fred is offering you…

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