 | John Yoder and his wife Joyce are owners of Yoder Meats, located in Yoder, KS. They are known for their custom butchering of hormone-free beef, pork and many other meats. They have been active in the meat processing business since 1965. You can contact them at (620) 465-3807, or toll free at (800) 952-MEAT(6328), or by e-mail at: yodermeatsinc@hotmail.com |
Food & Drink
2004-10-01 15:07:00
Does turkey make you sleepy
: Does eating turkey really make you sleepy?
ANSWER: If this isn't true, there's going to be a lot of people trying to explain the 'after feast' nap! A few years back the media released information concerning a compound in turkey breast that causes sleepiness. Turkey contains an amino acid called L-Tryptophan, a natural sleep aid that helps produce serotonin, which has a tranquilizing effect. Also, starchy foods, such as potatoes contain L-Tryptophan, which is an important building block of protein. Serotonin is a compound formed in the brain that plays a role in sleep production and relaxation. The media concluded, "An increase in dietary tryptophan might increase sleepiness."The amount of serotonin produced from the tryptophan consumed in an average three to four ounce serving of turkey is not enough to cause a significant increase in sleepiness. That lazy feeling is probably due to the tremendous amount of calories from carbohydrates (starch and sugar) found in the traditional holiday meal, meaning that the turkey is not alone in blame. Other foods that help trigger sleep due to tryptophan are milk (dairy is the main source), tuna fish, soybeans, eggs, cashews, bananas, pineapple, and the list goes on and on. Consuming a full-fledged Thanksgiving feast with all the trimmings and the giant-sized portions may also contribute to sleepiness. Overeating requires a lot of energy. Then, the digestion of all that food requires even more energy. Those who exercise dietary prudence will not experience extreme fatigue at meals-end. As for the rest of you, take a nap, but stop blaming the poor turkey.
