The Poultry-Based Sleeping Pill?
You’ve probably heard that there is a natural sedative in turkey, an amino acid called tryptophan. But if you find yourself drifting off after dinner tomorrow, don’t blame it on that. Tryptophan does cause your body to produce serotonin, a chemical that, among other things, helps calm you down. But according to nutrition experts, the level of tryptophan in a typical serving of turkey is not nearly enough to make you fall asleep.
So what explains that post-meal drowsiness on Thanksgiving? Most likely it’s the large amount of carbohydrates you eat, along with any alcohol you may drink.
(Source: How Stuff Works)
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