It has to do with organic molecules
2006-11-21 07:20:24 · 7 answers · asked by Hawaiin B 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
It's actually a common misconception that Turkey makes you sleepy. It does contain Tryptophan, but not in the form of a free amino acid.
From wikipedia:
According to popular belief, tryptophan in turkey meat causes drowsiness[9]. 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[10].
A more-likely hypothesis is that the ingestion of large quantities of food, such as at a Thanksgiving feast, means that large quantities of both carbohydrates and branched-chain amino acids are consumed. Like carbohydrates, branched-chain amino acids require insulin to be transduced through the myocyte membranes, which, after a large meal, creates a competition among the amino acids and glucose for insulin, while simultaneously creating tryptophan's reduced competition with other amino acids for the Large Neutral Amino Acid Transporter protein for transduction across the blood-brain barrier.
2006-11-21 07:29:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Tryptophan
2006-11-21 19:23:52 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
-Specifically it has to do with a substance called tryptophan that's in turkey. It makes you sleepy. Of course, most people slow down a little after a big meal anyway. It helps digestion to relax
2006-11-21 07:23:46 · answer #3 · answered by AmigaJoe 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Amiga's right, its the tryptophan, but also just how much you eat. the body's energy is constantly being used by several processes, and when you eat a huge meal, most of your body's energy goes toward digestion to move it out again. therefore, you dont have much energy left for anything else, like keeping your eyes open
2006-11-21 07:29:01 · answer #4 · answered by fancypants 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
There is a chemical on the turkey that causes you to feel sleepy.
2006-11-21 07:53:15 · answer #5 · answered by ♥Petlover♥ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tryptophan is the key, though I don't know exactly how it works. I can't wait for turkey time though. I think it is an amino acid of some sort but don't quote me!
2006-11-21 07:28:00 · answer #6 · answered by Kronner 82 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
probably all that beer I had for breakfast
2006-11-21 07:43:28 · answer #7 · answered by Edgar 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋