Tryptophan

Does the tryptophan in turkey make us sleepy after eating a big Thanksgiving turkey dinner?

Not really, if you’re looking for the sedative effect, it’s really unlikely you’ll get it from eating meats like turkey. L-tryptophan does not act on the brain unless you take it on an empty stomach with no protein present. The levels found in a turkey dinner are far too low to have such an effect. The true reality is, the trypophan isn’t to blame  for the sudden drowsiness that hits right after the meal when the football games come on, and the dishes are waiting!

It’s more or less due to the combination of drinking  and Carbs - not just turkey, but also mashed potatoes, ham, creamed onions, cranberries, sweet potatoes, peas, stuffing (or dressing, or filling), carrots, bread, pies, and whipped cream,  (and how many beers You have consumed  - all of which have the effect of pulling the blood away from your brain to help your digestive tract do it’s work, and the sugar/insulin effect.

More and more evidence suggests that caffeine is not only not bad for you; it can actually help many brain functions, alertness, learning, memory and countering Alzheimers.. so as long as you don’t become a total, jittery addict… have a cup of coffee or tea! Instead of the 17 beers and the nap on the couch.