"Trip-toe-fan" the thing that makes you tired at Thanksgiving

Everyone has experienced the post Thanksgiving dinner tiredness, but before listening to that crazy uncle tell you it’s from the tryptophan in the turkey read further down so come Christmas you can tell him how wrong he was.

First, a little science! Tryptophan is one of about 20 amino acids that are found in pretty much every type of meat or nut or protein, it is a building block for serotonin and melatonin, both of which are brain chemicals that regulate mood and sleep.

Surprisingly enough though, all the protien consumer on Thanksgiving day would actually make it harder for the tryptophan to reach the brain and actually make you tired, because your body has to deal with all 20 amino acids.

Turkey itself actually has relatively little tryptophan compared to other meats and cheeses, the true culprit of Thanksgiving tiredness actually comes from all the carbohydrates you eat, such as stuffing, potatoes and yams. When your body is trying to deal with all the carbs you have eaten it releases insulin, which coincidently helps get rid of amino acids, except for tryptophan.

Ultimately it is not just the turkey that gets you tired, it is the help of all the carbs you eat with it. Though there might a relation to eating multiple plates of food and getting tired, but that is for you to decide.

#Turkey #Thanksgiving #Food #tryptophan