Has anyone ever heard about turkey chemical sleep? It’s basically referring to the Thanksgiving belief that there is certain turkey sleep chemical that makes people asleep after they’re enjoying the festive Thanksgiving dinner. Also known as turkey sleep, most people believe that once people enjoy the delicious meal on Thanksgiving Day, they won’t be able to resist the temptation to close their eyes and doze off. Well, this superstition has been going on for quite some time, but there’re actually scientific reasons why turkey chemical sleep can happen to everyone.
Turkey Chemical Sleep: The Basic Setting
People believe that they won’t be able to prevent the turkey chemical sleep. Some people even believe that it’s the special Thanksgiving ‘curse’. Imagine this. People spend their Thanksgiving dinner by stuffing themselves with delish turkey specialty, cranberry juice, and other food accompaniment. After feeling relaxed and quite full, they get together in the living room to chat and just hang around. They intend to go home after they have finished their social gathering. But instead of heading home, they find themselves falling asleep right there on the couch. Before they know it, the turkey sleepy phenomenon has attacked them! The belief of turkey makes you sleepy are actually very silly. It’s not a Thanksgiving curse, but this phenomenon can happen depending on the person’s ability and body condition. Not everyone will be attacked by turkey chemical sleep, after all.
Turkey Chemical Sleep: Scientific Explanation
In the event of turkey chemical sleep, there’s no such thing as chemical in turkey that is able to put people into sleep. Turkey contains L-Tryptophan, an important amino acid that can’t be produced naturally by the body. It’s important to make niacin, a particular vitamin B that plays important role in serotonins, nerves, skin, and digestion. Serotonin is the chemical substance that can affect mood. It’s also responsible for relaxation, satisfaction, and happy feeling. Serotonin will be broken down into melatonin, a special hormone that can help the body controlling sleeping and waking cycle. When people have high level of serotonins, their mood is usually better. They’re happier and more relaxed. They can sleep better and they develop higher tolerance toward pain. That’s the explanation of the so called turkey chemical sleep.
Turkey Chemical Sleep: Is Turkey the Trigger?
Related to turkey chemical sleep, most people think that turkey somehow has high level of Tryptophan or there is certain sleep chemical in turkey. The fact points out, however, that the other poultry also contain L-Tryptophan. This substance can also be found in fish, eggs, yogurt, meat, and cheese. Tryptophan amino acid level in turkey is just the same as others. The level in chicken is even bigger than found in turkey. So what is the explanation of turkey being the main trigger of drowsiness? It’s not the turkey, but the overall combination of food consumption, mood, and body condition. The Tryptophan isn’t’ the only one to blame for sleepiness, but also the flooding of amino acids. When people consume lots of protein, naturally their body system will be flooded by amino acids. When it’s combined with high level of Tryptophan and carbohydrates, the mixcan provide fast access to the serotonin in the brain. That’s why drowsiness will result in immediate response when people consume loads of protein, carbs, and also turkey. Turkey chemical sleep isn’t the only one to blame for such sleepiness.
Turkey Chemical Sleep: Other Contributing Factors
There’re also other contributing factors in the turkey chemical sleep phenomenon. During Thanksgiving holidays, people feel more relaxed because they’re able to gather around with their loved ones. Their serotonin level is quite high. Moreover, they consume Tryptophan foods – also the Tryptophan turkey – that will complete the whole cycle. Besides, they mostly enjoy themselves by consuming cranberry juice that can contribute to the relaxed, drowsy atmosphere. So, those are things that are actually happening on the turkey chemical sleep attack.
