If you’re like most people, odds are you’ll be eating turkey at some point tomorrow. You’ve probably heard the old adage that eating excessive amounts of turkey leads to high levels of tryptophan in your body, which is why you often feel sleepy after that big meal. But is tryptophan really the cause of your grogginess? We explore the effects tryptophan and that Thanksgiving meal has on your body.
Tryptophan and Tiredness
Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that your body cannot produce, so it must be supplied by your diet. It acts as a building block for proteins, and turkey is one food that’s packed with tryptophan. It’s also common in foods such as cheese, yogurt, fish and eggs.
Tryptophan is an key amino acid in the production of niacin, a B vitamin that has many roles inside the body, like aiding in digestion, the formation of healthy skin and nerve development. It also plays a role in serotonin development and expression, a chemical in the brain that helps create feelings of well-being and relaxation. So you’re probably thinking, “I eat a bunch of turkey, the tryptophan leads to an influx of of serotonin in my brain, I feel relaxed and that leads to me falling asleep on the couch.”
That’s a decent line of thinking, and an influx of turkey certainly ensures you get your daily dose of tryptophan, but that doesn’t mean your levels of the amino acid are off the charts and you feel tired. That’s because although there are a number of these amino acids in the bloodstream, very few actually make their way across the blood-brain barrier because they are competing with a number of other amino acids to cross this pathway. In short, there’s not a much of a swing in the levels of serotonin levels in the brain after your Thanksgiving meal.
So Why Do I Feel Tired After Eating My Thanksgiving Meal?
So if tryptophan isn’t the culprit, why does Uncle Eddie always end up asleep in an armchair after that Thanksgiving meal? The real reason is typically because of the size of our Thanksgiving meal.
Thanksgiving is one day when many people tend to overeat, and that can lead to grogginess and a lethargic feeling for a number of reasons. When you eat a lot of food, your body has to use a lot of energy to digest that meal. Although you don’t really notice that this process is happening, your digestive system is working overtime to digest that feast, and you feel that in the form of a lack of outward energy. Similarly, when you’re feeling full, you’re less likely to be active, which is another way to stave off that tired feeling. Finally, when you add in the fact that many meals are washed down with an autumn ale or a glass of wine, a natural muscle relaxant and sedative, you have all the ingredients for a post-meal nap.
So when you’re indulging tomorrow, feel free to help yourself to turkey, but if you want to avoid that post-meal groggy feeling, don’t go back for seconds or thirds. We know that’s easier said than done, though!
