It’s time again for the annual dispelling of that old Thanksgiving myth: turkey contains tryptophan which can make one sleepy. While turkey certainly contains tryptophan (an amino acid used by our bodies to make serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain which helps to regulate sleep), so do most other meats. Surprisingly, gram for gram, cheddar cheese contains even more tryptophan than turkey! So, why does turkey get the dubious honor of sleep-inducing meat of the year? Probably because it is the centerpiece of what’s typically the largest meal of the year, full of fat and carbohydrates which increase the caloric content of the average Thanksgiving meal to upwards of 3,000 calories. After consuming more than the daily recommended amount of calories in a single meal your body will work hard to digest it, thus making you sleepy. Furthermore, alcohol is often involved, which has a sedative effect on most people. So, if not falling asleep after this year’s Thanksgiving meal is your goal then eating in moderation, as always, would be your best bet.
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Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.