It’s a tale as old as time: the tryptophan in your turkey always makes for a nice, post-Thanksgiving meal nap.
But, is it really the turkey that always makes us so sleepy?
According to Kat Lederle, a sleep therapist in the UK, there are factors that might be contributing on top of the turkey.
She told Bloomberg that the actual culprit might be the fact that on Thanksgiving, typically we just eat a very large meal.
Another factor, especially for the host, is being able to finally sit and relax after preparing such a massive feast. The stress of preparation up to the massive day can make one tired as well, “but the big factor is really sitting down eating lots of food,” Lederle says. “Not the tryptophan.”
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Lederle also pointed out that tons of other foods are high in tryptophan, including chicken breast, pork chops, tofu, milk, and squash, and that turkey isn’t even the highest source of it.
As for the best way to avoid that post-Thanksgiving coma? Lederle recommends just pacing yourself at the table. But make sure to save room for dessert!
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