What is in turkey that make people so tired?:confused:

It's actually a myth that turkey in particular makes you tired. The old wives' tale was that tryptophan, a particular protein, was responsible for wanting a nap after Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. However, turkey actually has LESS tryptophan than other meats that are not associated with naptime. The most likely reason for feeling tired after your holiday dinner is the sheer quantity of food you comsume- your body wants to shut down so it can spend all of its energy digesting the big meal you just ate.

:D

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Originally Posted by Cristal444

. The most likely reason for feeling tired after your holiday dinner is the sheer quantity of food you comsume- your body wants to shut down so it can spend all of its energy digesting the big meal you just ate.

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Or because you've been awake for too much time!

L-Tryptophan is found in turkey but also in chicken, pork and cheese for instance. But it's a carb rich meal that increases the level of this amino acid in your brain and leads to serotonin synthesis. (which acts only as a calming agent). This carb rich meal stimulates the pancreas to secrete insulin, this increase of tryptophan in your bloodstream makes seratonin synthesize and you feel sleepy. So I thinks it's a combination of the amount of food we eat and generally everyone doesn't eat beforehand, so they have extra room, for all the food!