The Tryptophan effect

[AllenG]

Did anyone else notice driving home from Thanksgiving dinner that the roads were packed but there was no road rage to be found?

I think everyone was sedated from eating turkey. Most sedate traffic jam of the year.

 

[rithunder916]

i in fact did notice that. weird huh?

 

[oc_in_fw]

I couldn't tell, I was asleep

 

[Judge Dredd]

It appears to be a myth:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tryptophan#Turkey_meat_and_drowsiness

http://chemistry.about.com/od/holidaysseasons/a/tiredturkey.htm

http://www.snopes.com/food/ingredient/turkey.asp

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/prefrontal-nudity/201111/the-turkey-tryptophan-myth

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com...-about-thanksgiving-turkey-making-you-sleepy/

 

[commanderkeen]

Mythbusters did an episode on this. The sedation is very real. But comes from the amount of food and not tryptophan. Big meals tend to make people tired.

 

[mekler]

I'm not sure, my middle finger is still sore.. but then again I do live in California.

 

[JoshuaNY]

I was passed out on my parents couch, I'm pretty sure it was the whisky that did it.

 

[KipNoxzema]

I didn't notice because I was snoozing on the couch as a result of the tryptophan.