Healthy happy you.
While you may have heard that tryptophan, an amino acid popularly found in turkey, will make you tired after eating your annual Thanksgiving meal, the truth is that it's found in plenty of common foods and is likely not the cause of your lethargic behavior. In fact, the amount of tryptophan found in turkey is about the same as other poultry, and nearly the same amount as pork. Tryptophan is also Read more
Everyone's heard the age-old adage that turkey contains chemicals that make you sleepy. But is that really the explanation for why one feels inclined to fall into a deep slumber after Thanksgiving dinner? Not really. Turkey does contain tryptophan, an amino acid that's been known to convert to a sleep-regulating transmitter, serotonin. But tryptophan's also in virtually every other animal Read more
When you hear the word tryptophan, you probably think of turkey and sleepiness. What you may not know is that tryptophan is one of the 10 essential amino acids our bodies need in order to synthesize protein. It helps produces messengers that communicate with our nervous system, and yes, it's also related to relaxation, restfulness, and sleep. Turkey isn't the only source of tryptophan, though, so Read more
This age-old claim is both fact as well as fiction. Turkey does contain tryptophan, an amino acid that often converts to serotonin, a sleep-regulating neurotransmitter. But in order to truly experience the side effects of tryptophan, one would need to eat copious amounts of turkey on an empty stomach. Tryptophan can be found to some degree in red meat, eggs, fish, poultry — virtually every Read more
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 Read more
By now, everyone has heard that there's a chemical in turkey meat that makes you want to take a nap. Did you know it's also found in oats, bananas, dried dates, milk, yogurt, chick peas, and peanuts? Turkey does contain tryptophan, which has a documented sleep-inducing effect. But tryptophan works best when taken on an empty stomach. When's the last time you skipped all the fixings? It's Read more
Turkey Day is right around the corner (we're pretty excited for that Tryptophan-induced nap that we all enjoy after stuffing our faces), and heritage turkeys are quickly becoming the talk of the town. You may be wondering what the deal is with these birds. Why is everybody talking about them? Why should we leave our old supermarket turkeys behind? Do they taste better? How should they be Read more
I always thought that snacking after dinner packed on the pounds, but after learning that eating in the evening will lead to weight gain is a myth, I'm back to my happy-snacking ways. Knowing that eating after dinner isn't completely off limits doesn't mean you should scarf down a plate of loaded nachos before calling it a night, but if you need to eat something before bed, make sure to make the Read more
Whenever I need my sleep the most — whether it's when I'm stressed or overtired — is when I have the most difficulty falling asleep. And we all know that not getting enough sleepy time is a recipe for disaster. It's frustrating to say the least, and I feel like I've tried every tip and trick to relax and calm my mind, from hot baths and reading, to taking melatonin and drinking herbal teas. Read more
Between all the candy, cupcakes, cookies, and chocolate your tots eat on Valentine's Day, they might have a hard time winding down at night. A light snack may help them to snooze. The best bedtime snacks contain carbohydrates and calcium, since those foods are high in the sleep-inducing substance tryptophan. I've rounded up some great heart-shaped snacks. Check out these cute ways to cap off Read more
