2006-11-25 09:04:36 · 18 answers · asked by Brother 1 in Food & Drink ➔ Other - Food & Drink
Everyone's going to say it's tryptophan, but what it REALLY is, is the full tummies, the drone of the TV, and, mostly, the desire to appear to be asleep when it's time to clean the kitchen!
2006-11-25 09:08:23 · answer #1 · answered by silvercomet 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's not the turkey, but the itus. Yes, that's right. Food coma. Thanksgiving is all about the comfort foods, and when you eat as much as people do at the holiday meals, you're gonna get the itus and want to take a nap.
But if you were looking for something slightly more scientific: "Turkey meat contains a lot of an amino acid called L-tryptophan, which can make you sleepy... When we eat foods that contain L-tryptophan, this amino acid travels in the blood from the digestive system and later enters the brain. The brain then changes the L-tryptophan into another chemical called serotonin. Serotonin calms us down and helps us sleep."
Except you'd have to eat A LOT of turkey for it to affect you.
2006-11-25 17:10:41 · answer #2 · answered by songbird22 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For me a full belly always makes me sleepy and who doesn't get full at Thanksgiving? Then there is the wine with dinner.....more sleepy. Then the infamous tryptophan,which if it doesn't make one sleepy,it REALLY relaxes you. And finally, family,especially in laws.Boring,painful, and to be at all costs avoided. Only two ways to do this gracefully.Volunteer to clear the table and do 3000 dishes,or succumb to the sleepy. Don't mind me if I snore.
2006-11-25 17:27:59 · answer #3 · answered by Samuel B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont think it is the turkey, I think we tend to over eat and have a lot of acitivities around us on Thanksgiving so we do get tired and sleepy
2006-11-25 17:12:46 · answer #4 · answered by antiekmama 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Turkey does contain L-tryptophan, an essential amino acid with a documented sleep inducing effect. L-tryptophan is used in the body to produce the B-vitamin, niacin. Niacin, in turn, is used to produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter that exerts a calming effect and regulates sleep. However, L-tryptophan needs to be taken on an empty stomach and without any other amino acids or protein in order to make you drowsy."
But notice it states it must be taken on an empty stomach to make you sleepy
My opinion is that you have stuffed yourself into a foodfest stupor. All the blood is going to your stomach to digest this incredible glob of super-fat laden food, the house is very, very warm because the oven has been going since the night before.
Then, somewhere over the roar of the football game, that couch with those fluffy pillows starts calling your name.
*BAM* you are out like a light.
2006-11-25 17:11:50 · answer #5 · answered by maamu 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
because turkey contains trypotophan, a chemical that makes you sleepy
2006-11-25 17:06:45 · answer #6 · answered by mxzptlk 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there is some kind of chemical in turkey that cause you to be sleepy
2006-11-25 17:27:20 · answer #7 · answered by whyme_1924 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not the stuffing that goes into the turkey but the person who's stuffed that makes one sleepy
2006-11-25 17:06:35 · answer #8 · answered by Mary Smith 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It has the amino acid triptophan in it. That's a chemical that causes drowsiness. Sleepiness is also caused by eating all that food at one sitting.
2006-11-25 17:07:39 · answer #9 · answered by masha 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
turkey contains high levels of L-Tryptophane, a chemical which is sedating. This is why people fall asleep after thanksgiving dinner....
2006-11-25 17:10:56 · answer #10 · answered by Clarkie 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋