Drug in turkey that makes you sleepy

Once a year the Thanksgiving holiday is time spent with family and eating a large meal.

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.

Drug in turkey that makes you sleepy

If you feel like you need to take a nap after eating a Thanksgiving meal, it might not just be the turkey that's to blame. Cat Lafuente is an editor who lives in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. Previously, Cat worked as a book editor for a reference publisher, after she obtained her master's degree in religion from the University of South Florida. It happens to plenty of people: You eat your Thanksgiving meal, replete with a big pile of juicy turkey , and shortly thereafter you're lying on the couch ready for a nap. Why do we feel tired after our turkey-centered Thanksgiving dinner? You've probably heard that the main dish itself is to blame. But why exactly does turkey make you sleepy? Here's what we found out—and how you might be able to prevent drowsiness after a big meal. There's a good chance the sleepiness is due in part to a compound called tryptophan. Tryptophan is an amino acid that your body cannot produce, so you need to get it from your diet, according to MedlinePlus. Naidoo added that tryptophan "helps support the healthy production of neurotransmitters including serotonin , which plays a role in producing the sleep-supporting hormone melatonin —which helps explain why eating turkey makes us sleepy. While it might be a bummer that tryptophan can make you tired, don't get too annoyed because the amino acid is actually quite helpful in other ways. 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. Given tryptophan's widespread reputation for making you nod off, you may think that everyone is ready to pass out immediately after feasting on turkey. However, some folks will metabolize this amino acid in a different way than others.

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So many of us just want to nap on Thanksgiving, and some say turkey may be to blame. So does turkey make you sleepy , or is it something else? Turkey has the makings of a natural sedative, an amino acid called tryptophan. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid the body uses produce to produce melatonin, serotonin and the B vitamin niacin. Melatonin is a hormone that helps regulate your sleep cycle, and serotonin is a neurotransmitter that also plays a crucial role in sleep. So you might think that if you eat a lot of turkey meat, your body would produce more melatonin and serotonin, and you would feel tired and want a nap. Food and Drug Administration banned tryptophan supplements in because of an outbreak of eosinophilia-myalgia, a syndrome that causes muscle pain and even death.

There might be more than a few myths surrounding Thanksgiving. For instance, was the first Thanksgiving really a harmonious gathering between pilgrims and native Americans that took place under the shadow of November foliage? The answer is foggy. But the mythos doesn't die with our bungled conception of history, because there's one Thanksgiving controversy that's managed to roil and fester to this day, and it starts at your dinner table: tryptophan. As legend has it, turkey contains an excess amount of tryptophan, an amino acid that makes you sleepy. So, when you see a slow tide of lethargy washing over everyone at your Thanksgiving party, the nasty T-word might come to the fore.

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. In fact, the substance could possibly aid in the treatment of depression and multiple sclerosis. Purified tryptophan is a mild sleep-inducing agent. That probably spawned the idea that turkey and other foods heavy in tryptophan cause drowsiness.

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Freestanding Emergency Department. The tryptophan in a Thanksgiving turkey has to vie with all the other amino acids that the body is trying to use. Use limited data to select content. Also, if you drink alcohol with your dinner, you'll likely feel its sedative effect. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Once a year the Thanksgiving holiday is time spent with family and eating a large meal. Thus, it is no wonder that turkey, which provides the raw material for the synthesis of sleep-related serotonin, is purported to have soporific power. Newsletter Sign Up. 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. In a nutshell, it's entirely possible that deli turkey is the culprit. Turkey is probably the first food that comes to mind when talking about tryptophan. Tryptophan is one of several essential amino acids, which are considered the building blocks of proteins in animals and plants. Today Logo.

Does eating Thanksgiving turkey make you sleepy due to its tryptophan content?

But does Thanksgiving turkey actually induce drowsiness? Vancouver-based nutritionist Megan Wong, RD , gives the specifics on nuts. The body also uses tryptophan to make melatonin, which helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle, according to the National Library of Medicine. Holding the turkey responsible for your holiday nap is just a Thanksgiving myth. A big high carb meal, alcohol, a change of seasons, and possibly other lifestyle behaviors can really help make those eyelids heavy after dinner. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. When more blood is needed in the stomach to digest turkey, gravy, and the rest of dinner, less blood is available in the brain to keep you awake. After a turkey dinner, several amino acids circulate through the bloodstream. Serotonin is also used to make melatonin, the hormone that regulates your sleep cycles. Mobile Newsletter banner close.