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No, the Tryptophan in Turkey Won’t Make You Sleepy
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Travis McGee
Nov 25, 2015, 9:45:54 PM11/25/15
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No, the Tryptophan in Turkey Won’t Make You Sleepy
By DANIEL VICTORNOV. 25, 2015
A common myth during the Thanksgiving holiday is that the turkey you
eat, which is loaded with tryptophan, makes you drowsy. Credit Andrew
As the common myth goes, you’re ready for bed soon after Thanksgiving
dinner because the turkey you eat is loaded with tryptophan, which makes
you drowsy and drags you into slumber.
It’s a line often repeated, but it’s not true.
Tryptophan is an amino acid that is a precursor for the brain chemical
serotonin, which is associated with healthy sleep. But there is no more
tryptophan in turkey than in other common meats like chicken and beef.
Other foods, including nuts and cheeses, contain more.
While tryptophan could make you drowsy on its own, its effects are
limited in the presence of other amino acids, of which turkey has many.
You might be extra tired after your meal, but don’t blame the turkey; it
could just be that you overate. With potatoes, stuffing, yams, rolls and
pie on top of that turkey, you’re inhaling a lot of carbs.
Don’t believe us? That’s a shame, but Snopes is among those that have
also squashed the rumor. Or there are NPR, LiveScience, Wired and Texas
A&M University.
Nicolaas Deutz, a nutrition expert at Texas A&M, has studied the actual
effects of tryptophan and confirmed that the turkey has little to do
with your post-pie coma.
“Turkey is not special in relation to the other meats,” he said. “You
just eat a lot of meat, but if you would eat a steak you would feel as
satisfied as with the turkey.”
By DANIEL VICTORNOV. 25, 2015
A common myth during the Thanksgiving holiday is that the turkey you
eat, which is loaded with tryptophan, makes you drowsy. Credit Andrew
As the common myth goes, you’re ready for bed soon after Thanksgiving
dinner because the turkey you eat is loaded with tryptophan, which makes
you drowsy and drags you into slumber.
It’s a line often repeated, but it’s not true.
Tryptophan is an amino acid that is a precursor for the brain chemical
serotonin, which is associated with healthy sleep. But there is no more
tryptophan in turkey than in other common meats like chicken and beef.
Other foods, including nuts and cheeses, contain more.
While tryptophan could make you drowsy on its own, its effects are
limited in the presence of other amino acids, of which turkey has many.
You might be extra tired after your meal, but don’t blame the turkey; it
could just be that you overate. With potatoes, stuffing, yams, rolls and
pie on top of that turkey, you’re inhaling a lot of carbs.
Don’t believe us? That’s a shame, but Snopes is among those that have
also squashed the rumor. Or there are NPR, LiveScience, Wired and Texas
A&M University.
Nicolaas Deutz, a nutrition expert at Texas A&M, has studied the actual
effects of tryptophan and confirmed that the turkey has little to do
with your post-pie coma.
“Turkey is not special in relation to the other meats,” he said. “You
just eat a lot of meat, but if you would eat a steak you would feel as
satisfied as with the turkey.”
sf
Nov 26, 2015, 12:52:09 AM11/26/15
to
On Wed, 25 Nov 2015 21:45:47 -0500, Travis McGee <nob...@gmail.com>
wrote:
What on earth are you two nattering about now? This is the perfect
example of why groups should be moderated.
--
Barbara J Llorente 71 Cerritos Ave San Francisco, CA 94127.
wrote:
example of why groups should be moderated.
--
Barbara J Llorente 71 Cerritos Ave San Francisco, CA 94127.
John Kuthe
Nov 26, 2015, 9:56:09 AM11/26/15
to
On Wednesday, November 25, 2015 at 8:45:54 PM UTC-6, Travis McGee wrote:
...
John Kuthe...
...
>
> "Turkey is not special in relation to the other meats," he said. "You
> just eat a lot of meat, but if you would eat a steak you would feel as
> satisfied as with the turkey."
Yep, a good old fashioned case of a parasympathetic nervous system response called "rest and digest"! Analogous to but opposite of the "fight or flight" sympathetic nervous system response!
> "Turkey is not special in relation to the other meats," he said. "You
> just eat a lot of meat, but if you would eat a steak you would feel as
> satisfied as with the turkey."
John Kuthe...
Steve Freides
Nov 27, 2015, 7:57:25 AM11/27/15
to
Travis McGee wrote:
> No, the Tryptophan in Turkey Won't Make You Sleepy
> No, the Tryptophan in Turkey Won't Make You Sleepy
> Don't believe us? That's a shame, but Snopes is among those that have
> also squashed the rumor. Or there are NPR, LiveScience, Wired and
> Texas A&M University.
This was on Myth Busters on TV last night - same conclusion.
> also squashed the rumor. Or there are NPR, LiveScience, Wired and
> Texas A&M University.
-S-
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