Tryptophan….Are You Feeling Tired Yet?

Have you ever eaten a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with turkey and all the fixings? Are you tired afterwards? Tiredness can be related to preparing for the holiday festivities, eating a big meal or most commonly believed, Tryptophan.

Although high levels of Tryptophan are naturally found in Turkey, it is comparable to other meats as well. One widely-held urban myth is that a heavy consumption of turkey will result in drowsiness. Tryptophan can also be found in other foods that we eat daily such as; cheddar cheese, rice, potatoes, chicken, beef, milk, chocolate, and yogurt to name a few.

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid. The human body cannot manufacture essential amino acids. Our bodies can only receive Tryptophan from food. Tryptophan helps our body produce Niacin. Niacin in turn helps our body produce Serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical that acts as a calming agent in our brain. Serotonin helps us to sleep better, feel calm and at peace. One can deduce that by eating turkey, you would sleep easier and feel calmer because of the Serotonin produced in the brain. That may or may not be altogether true.

Your Thanksgiving sedation may have more to do with what is consumed along with the turkey, and in particular carbohydrates, rather than the turkey itself. Carbohydrates trigger insulin and insulin triggers amino acids, but not Tryptophan, into our bloodstream. These amino acids also produce the feast-induced drowsiness that we all have experienced so many times before.

So while you are enjoying your Thanksgiving dinner this year, prepare for, and enjoy a nice long nap afterwards!