Tryptophan Isn’t What Puts You Under on Thanksgiving. It’s the Carbs

Every Thanksgiving, many of us gather around the table to indulge in a feast of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. And every year, we blame our post-meal lethargy on the amino acid tryptophan found in turkey. But the truth is, it’s not the tryptophan at fault – it’s the high carbohydrate content of our Thanksgiving meal that leaves us feeling sleepy.

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that is a precursor to serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood and sleep. While it is true that turkey contains tryptophan, it is not present in high enough levels to cause drowsiness on its own. In fact, many other foods such as cheese and chicken contain even higher levels of tryptophan.

What really leads to that post-Thanksgiving food coma is the large amount of carbohydrates we consume during the meal. Foods like mashed potatoes, stuffing, and dinner rolls are high in carbohydrates, which trigger the release of insulin in our bodies. Insulin helps transport the amino acids present in turkey, including tryptophan, into our cells, leaving less tryptophan available to be converted into serotonin.

As a result, our bodies produce more serotonin and melatonin, hormones that regulate sleep and wakefulness, making us feel more lethargic and ready for a nap. So the next time you blame tryptophan for your post-Thanksgiving nap, remember that it’s really the carbs that are to blame.

In conclusion, while tryptophan may have gotten a bad rap as the Thanksgiving culprit, it’s the carbohydrates in our feast that truly put us under. So go ahead and enjoy your holiday meal guilt-free, knowing that it’s not the turkey but the carbs that are making you feel sleepy.