Some people believe that eating turkey can induce sleepiness, since turkey meat contains high levels of tryptophan, an essential amino acid. Essential amino acid is an amino acid that is not manufactured by the human body but is otherwise essential for protein formation. Tryptophan pertains to the precursor for the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that exhibits a sleep-inducing effect of the brain.
Now, on to the main stuff: eating turkey does not induce drowsiness. For tryptophan to exhibit a sedative effect, it should be taken on an empty stomach. And while the amount of tryptophan in turkey meat is quite high, this is just not “high” enough to cause sleepiness. It should also be noted that aside from turkey, tryptophan is also contained in pork, chicken, and cheese, and yet these foods are not known to have any sleep-inducing properties. If you feel sleepy after eating turkey, it’s probably because you also have partaken of the other high-carbohydrate dishes on offer. Bottom line: don’t blame the turkey for your lethargy.
Source:
► Holiday turkey…can it make you really sleepy? www.emedicinehealth.com/script/main/art. asp?articlekey=55219
► Does eating turkey make you sleepy? http://chemistry.about.com/od/holidayseasons/a/tiredturkey.htm
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