what chemical in turkeys makes people sleepy?

Answer 1

What your thinking of is Tryptophan, but, most likely that's not what makes us sleepy. What makes us sleepy is that we eat SO MUCH food on thanksgiving. Lots of foods high in calories, we like to rest while we digest that much. Cranberry sauce, cakes, pies, candied yams, those all have a lot of sugar too, first we feel a "sugar high" then when it "wears off" we feel the "low".

Answer 2

Thank you David H. Its because turkey is rich and most people overeat. Your body slows down to digest the large meal and blood is diverted to the GI tract, which makes you sleepy! L- tryptophan is present but only in small quantities. If you think about it is the only common sense answer, otherwise the government would have to place warning labels on turkey dinners telling you that eating turkey may be hazardous to your health and do not operate heavy machinery after eating this turkey

Answer 3

first guys right tryptophan, however placebo controlled doubled blind studies, basic real medical studies have found that this isn't relevant because a lot of food contains this same chemical and when tested, subjects were no more sleepy with turkey than with other meals, just some medical facts to go with your question

Answer 4

tryptophan

Answer 5

because its recipe includes alcohol