As Thanksgiving approaches, so do the myths about food and sleep — especially the idea that turkey, thanks to tryptophan, sends everyone into a post-feast siesta.

The truth is more nuanced.

While turkey does contain tryptophan, an amino acid involved in sleep regulation, the amount is no greater than in other common meats, and its effects are overshadowed when eaten alongside other amino acids and carbohydrates. If turkey were truly a sedative, we’d all be nodding off at lunchtime every time we bite into a turkey sandwich.

So why do we feel so sleepy after Thanksgiving dinner? The answer is less about chemistry and more about quantity. When we eat large, carbohydrate- heavy meals , often accompanied by alcohol, our bodies divert energy to digestion, leaving us feeling drowsy and fat

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