Does Turkey REALLY Make You Sleepy?

Thanksgiving is known for the big meal! Turkey, ham, beef – everything on the menu. Also included are stuffing and/or dressing, cake, a form of green beans and other carbohydrates. All delicious and everyone is expected to eat two plates before dessert. Then everyone waddles away from the table with droopy eyes. But does turkey really make you sleepy?

Over 46 million turkeys will be served on Thursday. And it turns out that pumpkin isn’t everyone’s favorite pie. Apple pie is the overwhelming favorite, followed by chocolate and pecan pie, leaving pumpkin pie at #4. It seems pumpkin is attracting attention because of tradition.

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For generations, the turkey has been the villain who needs a nap after the feast. Some avoid talking to difficult relatives, helping with cleanup and laundry, or just being a good guest. But it seems the bird has gotten a bad rap. Morgan Pfiffner, a researcher with a master’s degree in nutrition, tells the true story.

“Millions gather around the table for mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, creamed corn, cranberry sauce, and of course Turkey. Some of us who overindulge are often in a food coma after Thanksgiving and have read that “something” in the Turkey is the reason for our sleepiness,” shares Phiffner.

That something is a nutrient called tryptophan, but it’s not the only culprit. Tryptophan is one of the naturally occurring amino acids – the building blocks of proteins in our body. Turkey is a great source of this essential amino acid, but it’s not the only source – many meats and other proteins contain comparable amounts.

According to research, tryptophan is used by the human body to produce serotonin, one of the “feel-good hormones” that can calm and relax the body. However, we don’t consume nearly enough Turkey make a big impact during a holiday celebration.

So what’s the real reason you get sleepy on Thanksgiving? It’s not so much what you eat, but how much you eat.

Thanksgiving dinner is usually a large meal, high in carbohydrates, fat and protein. When this massive calorie intake reaches your intestines, a chemical called CCK (cholecystokinin) is released. CCK acts as a “fullness signal,” telling your brain that you have enough to eat (and stopping you from eating that third plate of food). But this increase in CCK has another effect: It makes you feel sleepy, perhaps as a response designed to help you relax and let your body focus on digestion.

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Of course, in some households there is wine or drinks on the table. All that CCK and alcohol can increase the need for a nap. Alcohol is considered a depressant and has a direct effect on the central nervous system. Once alcohol enters the bloodstream, it circulates to the brain, where it slows the firing of neurons. When the neuronal impulses decay normally, this can lead to relaxation, tiredness and sleepiness.

By the way…you can recreate Thanksgiving any time of the year. In 1953, a Swanson employee accidentally ordered 260 tons more turkey. The frozen turkeys were taking up space in 10 refrigerated cars when a vendor suggested preparing and packing the turkey and side dishes in compartmentalized aluminum trays. Swanson sold 5,000 TV dinners in 1953. The following year, 10 million were sold. Today you can cook one and celebrate Thanksgiving all year long.