How does Thanksgiving dinner make you so sleepy?

Hook

Why and how does Thanksgiving dinner make you so sleepy? Most people blame the turkey. The story goes that it's packed with a chemical that knocks you out. The real answer is more interesting.

Trp

Turkey does contain tryptophan, an amino acid your body uses to make serotonin, and later melatonin, a hormone tied to sleep. But that's only the start of the story.

Same

Turkey doesn't have unusually much tryptophan. Chicken and beef have about as much, and sometimes more, and nobody blames a burger for a nap. So the turkey itself isn't the main culprit.

Compete

Tryptophan also has to compete with other amino acids to cross into the brain. A protein heavy meal brings plenty of competitors, so eating turkey alone doesn't flood your brain with it.

Meal

The bigger factor is the meal. Thanksgiving plates are huge, and full of carbs like stuffing, potatoes, rolls and pie. Big meals, especially rich ones, are linked to feeling drowsy afterward.

Alcohol

Add a glass or two of wine, and alcohol, a depressant, can make you feel even sleepier.

Day

Then there's the day itself. Travel, cooking, early mornings and late nights add up. Plenty of people show up to dinner already short on sleep.

Close

So it's not really the turkey. It's the giant meal, the drinks and the long day that make you want a nap. ThatsWhyHow.