Comments on: The Friday after Thanksgiving http://www.theduncansonline.com/elderstatesman/index.php/2009/11/26/the-friday-after-thanksgiving Afterwords on books, writing and columns Sun, 30 Oct 2011 04:07:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Duncan McQuagge http://www.theduncansonline.com/elderstatesman/index.php/2009/11/26/the-friday-after-thanksgiving/comment-page-1#comment-12708 Duncan McQuagge Fri, 12 Feb 2010 21:46:44 +0000 http://www.theduncansonline.com/elderstatesman/?p=293#comment-12708 "Sorry to say, that if you're looking for the sedative effect, it's unlikely you'll get it from eating meats like turkey. L-tryptophan doesn't act on the brain unless you take it on an empty stomach with no protein present. Additionally, the levels found in a turkey dinner are far, far too low to have such an effect. So, even though the mass media, CNN and Fox like to hype it and blame post holiday meal sleepiness on the turkey dinner... that's just a catchy sound-bite.. not the reality. The trypophan isn't to blame for the sudden drowsiness that hits right after the meal when the football games come on, and the dishes are waiting! It's more likely due to the combination of drinking alcohol and overeating - not just turkey, but also mashed potatoes, ham, creamed onions, cranberries, sweet potatoes, peas, stuffing (or dressing, if you prefer), carrots, bread, pies, and whipped cream, (and how many beers did you have???) - all of which have the effect of pulling the blood away from your brain to help your digestive tract do it's work, and the sugar/insulin effect." http://www.ehso.com/ehshome/FoodSafety/foodtryptophan.php “Sorry to say, that if you’re looking for the sedative effect, it’s unlikely you’ll get it from eating meats like turkey. L-tryptophan doesn’t act on the brain unless you take it on an empty stomach with no protein present. Additionally, the levels found in a turkey dinner are far, far too low to have such an effect. So, even though the mass media, CNN and Fox like to hype it and blame post holiday meal sleepiness on the turkey dinner… that’s just a catchy sound-bite.. not the reality. The trypophan isn’t to blame for the sudden drowsiness that hits right after the meal when the football games come on, and the dishes are waiting!

It’s more likely due to the combination of drinking alcohol and overeating – not just turkey, but also mashed potatoes, ham, creamed onions, cranberries, sweet potatoes, peas, stuffing (or dressing, if you prefer), carrots, bread, pies, and whipped cream, (and how many beers did you have???) – all of which have the effect of pulling the blood away from your brain to help your digestive tract do it’s work, and the sugar/insulin effect.”

http://www.ehso.com/ehshome/FoodSafety/foodtryptophan.php

]]>