I can't get through a Thanksgiving meal without someone mentioning tryptophan. We all know that we'll gorge ourselves on turkey, mashed potatoes, and pie galore. Then plop ourselves on the couch in exhaustion, blaming the turkey's tryptophan for our comatose state. Is turkey really the culprit?
To find out read more
While it's true that turkey does contain the sleep inducing chemical tryptophan, its effects are only felt if you eat turkey on its own. Who just eats plain turkey with nothing else?
The truth is it's not the turkey that makes you sleepy. It's the fact that most people tend to overeat since the Thanksgiving table is laden with delicious food. Plus, if you eat a lot of high-carb foods like mashed potatoes, rice, corn bread, stuffing and apple pie, your body uses all its energy to digest it, which makes you feel really tired. If you've had some wine with dinner, forget it. The alcohol adds to your sleepiness.
Fit's Tips: If you want to avoid passing out before you get to try Aunt Elaine's famous apple peach cobbler, try eating a little taste of everything instead of stuffing your face. That way you can still indulge in the meal, and feel awake enough to enjoy it.
Matthew Williamson
It wouldn't be thanksgiving if i didn't stuff my face!
1Its thanksgiving! I will not be worried about my sugar, calories, or carbs intake. I'll burn it off at the gym later.
2I agree with you Liss
!
3I believe in the tryptophan thing because I get sleepy after a turkey sandwich. It's not just the Thanksgiving face-stuffing coma.
4My father passes out on the couch after we eat, it's hilarious...
5I actually don't stuff myself silly on Thanksgiving. I eat turkey and some of the sides, but I rarely eat dessert or drink any alcohol. And I never get the "turkey coma" that everyone else gets! This, of course, means I usually whoop up on everyone when we play Trivial Pursuit after dinner
6I think it's more of stuffing my face and WAY over-eating that makes me zonk out!
7I always have to make a dump after thanksgiving lol
8...hmm....I find, this is true. I just found out tonight though, because nobody ever mentioned "turkey makes you tired" at other dinners, so if I DID get tired, I wouldn't know if it was the turkey, or just because I'd developed tiredness throughout the day. However, it was not a happy night. It was the most silent supper I've ever eaten with family. So, I had some food like potatoes, turnip, stuffing/dressing--then I had turkey. And before I actually ate the turkey, my grandma suddenly mentions "turkey makes you tired" So, i'm like "really?" ..and I also know its true, because my 5 cats are super-spoiled. My cat Tigger, who loves to be picked up like you'd pick up a baby, and he'll sit on your shoulder for hours! Anyway, he was kind of hyper, while on my mom's shoulder, and she gave him some turkey. Just 5 minutes later, he rejected some turkey, and fell asleep! Ha ha! And when he woke up, he had more, and fell asleep again! hee hee..so, after I finished, I went into the living room, and sat on the recliner-rocking chair, and I layed down (sideways..so my legs were over one side,and my head was on the other) and suddenly fell tired! So I just daydreamed--about final fantasy 7, what else?!? ha ha..and when I got up, I was tired. I was exhausted! Ready to *hit the hay* at just 7 PM! So, yes, this does make you tired. Its because of the tryptophan in it. Once it enters the body, it begins a building block which contains serotonin, and melatonin, 2 brain compounds involved in regulating your mood, and sleep. XD
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