What is the natural chemical in turkey that helps you fall asleep? (read details)?

Question

What is the natural chemical in turkey that helps you fall asleep and why did the FDA ban it in it's concentrated form at healthfood stores? I once heard you can still get it from vetinatian supply stores. How come animals can take it but humans can't?

Answer 1

The chemical is called tryptophan, an amino acid.

In turkey, tryptophan exists, but in the form of a protein, so it doesn't contribute as much to the drowsiness as the large meal.

Tryptophan is also present as part as a protein found in oats, bananas, dried dates, milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, meat, fish, poultry, sesame, chickpeas, and peanuts.


Most health-food stores sell a cheap metabolite of tryptophan called "5-HTP" or as a prescription drug (Tryptan). Several higher quality sources of L-Tryptophan do exist, and are sold in many of the largest health food stores nationwide. Several studies suggest tryptophan can effectively treat the fall/winter depression variant of seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Answer 2

Tryptophan is an essential Amino Acid. L-tryptophan, in substantial quantities, is a natural sedative. It is normally found in turkey meat, and many people believe it to be the cause of sleepiness common after a Thanksgiving feast. Actually, what makes you sleepy is the vast quantity of food and drink you consumed, which re-directs the blood from the brain to the digestive system.

L-tryptophan was a very popular sleeping aid in the United States until recently, and was also used for premenstrual syndrome and depression. It doesn't act on the brain unless you take it on an empty stomach with no protein present. The FDA removed it from the market in 1990 because of a sudden outbreak of eosinophilic-myalgia syndrome among people who had taken the supplement. About 5,000 people got sick and 27 died. Eosinophilic-myalgia is characterized by muscle pain, weakness, and joint pain. An investigation into the connection with L-tryptophan traced the problem to a contaminated batch of the supplement made by a Japanese company, Showa Denko KK. Nevertheless, the FDA did not relax its ban, reasoning that it's still not clear whether manufacturers can make a product that isn't toxic. However, L-tryptophan is available over the Internet.

Answer 3

According to popular belief, tryptophan in turkey meat causes drowsiness. Turkey does contain tryptophan, which does have a documented sleep-inducing effect as it is readily converted into serotonin by the body. However, tryptophan is effective only when taken on its own as a free amino acid. Tryptophan in turkey is found as part of a protein, and, in small enough amounts, this mechanism seems unlikely.

Answer 4

Tryptophan is the chemical in turkey's that makes you fall asleep. It was linked to an autoimmune disease but there are watered down versions of it available I believe. I don't know if you can get it from vetrenarian supply stores...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tryptophan

Answer 5

Triptophan.

I presume that in concentrated amounts it can cause problems other than just sleepiness. (The FDA has been requiring tighter rules regarding drugs--perhaps there are potential interactions with other medications...)

There are different regulatory bodies making rules for drugs for humans and those for veterinary purposes. Generally, things are easier to get for use in cattle and other animals. Many ranchers are expert enough to almost qualify as veterinarians in regards to the animals they raise.

Answer 6

L-tryptophan

Answer 7

It's tryptophan. They banned it for a while after a bad batch made some people sick and some died. You can get it now in various forms.

Answer 8

properly countless issues paintings for various human beings, yet a lot of human beings say they cant sleep with the aid of fact their minds are nonetheless concentrated on different issues like what got here approximately in the process the day or whats going to ensue interior the destiny. i take advantage of a million of two innovations to nod off. a million. if I even have nowhere to be the subsequent morning i in basic terms not sleep late and exhaust myself to the factor that im out earlier my head hits the pillow. 2. if I would desire to be up early i prove the lighting fixtures and lay in mattress listening to relaxing track till i nod off. the music "recycled air" via the postal provider is very relaxing to me wish that helps.

Answer 9

I believe you're refering to trytophan. It's also in milk. The FDA tends to ban all kinds of stuff unless it's paid off by a pharmacuetical company.

Answer 10

the supplment 5-HTP is an amino acid that is the intermediate step between tryptophan and serotonin. It helps with:
Depression
Obesity/ weight loss
Carbohydrate craving
Insomnia
Migraine/tension headaches
PMS
Fibromyalgia