Does Turkey Really Make You Sleepy? The Thanksgiving Tryptophan Myth

Does Turkey Actually Make You Sleepy After Thanksgiving Dinner?

No, turkey does not make you sleepy. Turkey contains similar amounts of tryptophan as chicken, beef, and cheese - nothing special about its tryptophan content. The real culprit behind post-Thanksgiving fatigue is the massive consumption of high-glycemic carbohydrates like stuffing, mashed potatoes, and desserts that trigger dramatic blood sugar swings.

Dr. Kumar’s Take

This is one of the most persistent nutrition myths, and understanding the real science helps explain why holiday meals affect us so differently than regular dinners. The key insight is that tryptophan from turkey gets diluted by competing amino acids from other proteins, while the carbohydrate overload creates an insulin response that can drop blood sugar below baseline. It’s a perfect storm of overeating, not turkey’s fault.

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One Week of Sleep Restriction Reduces Insulin Sensitivity in Healthy Men

Can Just One Week of Poor Sleep Affect Your Blood Sugar Control?

Yes, and the speed is alarming. This controlled study found that restricting healthy men to just 4 hours of sleep per night for one week reduced their insulin sensitivity by 40% compared to normal sleep. Even more concerning, this dramatic metabolic change occurred in previously healthy individuals with no diabetes risk factors, demonstrating how quickly sleep loss can disrupt glucose regulation and push the body toward insulin resistance.

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