Does Turkey Really Make You Tired?

+ recipe for a sheet-pan Thanksgiving dinner

It just wouldn’t feel like Thanksgiving without the inevitable conversation—usually toward the end of the meal— about how turkey makes you drowsy. There is always someone who confidently chimes in that it’s because of the tryptophan. In this newsletter, I’d like to arm you with the truth, so you can be the one in-the-know to set the record straight at dinner next week. When you do, feel free to let those around the table know where you got this info—I’d love to welcome them as new subscribers :))

Don’t Blame the Turkey

Let’s clear this up once and for all— even though everyone feels like taking a nap after the Thanksgiving meal, it’s not the turkey that makes you tired. Yes, turkey contains tryptophan, an amino acid that produces a brain chemical called serotonin, known for making you feel relaxed and sleepy. But pork and chicken have about the same amount as turkey, and you don’t hear people complaining about passing out after a ham sandwich or chicken dinner.