Hey Scholars,
Well I don't know about you but I had a wonderful Thanksgiving and I hope you all did too. But... I was aweful tired after eating all of that food. It has been a rumor that tryptophan is the culprit of my tiredness. For this weeks post tell me what kind of chemical is tryptophan and an article proving or disproving the rumor. Have a great Week
Mr. D
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Turkey does have the makings of a natural sedative in it, an amino acid called tryptophan. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid, meaning that the body can't manufacture it. The body has to get tryptophan and other essential amino acids from food. Tryptophan helps the body produce the B-vitamin niacin, which, in turn, helps the body produce serotonin, a remarkable chemical that acts as a calming agent in the brain and plays a key role in sleep. So you might think that if you eat a lot of turkey, your body would produce more serotonin and you would feel calm and want a nap.
http://www.howstuffworks.com/question519.htm
The chemical in Tryptophan is Serotonin. This is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for transmitting nerve impluses to the brain and induces sleep. Cases have shown the Tryptophan can cause depression and insomnia, but im important for biochemical balance of the brain and helps with sleep deprivation and also with those that have jet lag. Not only is Tryptophan in turkey but it also in things such as cottage cheese, milk, brown rice, peanuts, and soy products.
http://www.cocoonnutrition.org/catalog/page_tryptophan.php
Tryptophan is an amino acid. Its a normal part of the diet that we get from outside sources. The starting material is serotonin which calms us or makes us sleepy. It is also made up of many animal and plant proteins. You dont get the effect from eating turkey! Tryptophan doesnt act on the brian unless u take it on an empty stomach with NO protein. The levels in turkey are too low to have that great of an effect. The sleepiness is more likely due to overeating!
http://www.ehso.com/ehshome/FoodSafety/foodtryptophan.php#00What
Turkey does contain L-tryptophan which is an essential amino acid with an effect that could result in drowsiness, it is used in the body to produce the B-vitamin, niacin. L-tryptophan also can be metabolized into serotonin and melatonin which are neurotransmitters produce a calm feeling and regulates sleep. Although for this effect to ensue you would have to take a sole dose of L-tryptophan on an empty stomach, with no other proteins and amino acids. Since turkey and other foods at the table contain many different proteins, drowsiness does not result from the your turkey consumption. =]
forgot the link:
http://chemistry.about.com/od/holidaysseasons/a/tiredturkey.htm
Tryptophan is one of the 10 essential amino acids that the body uses to synthesize the proteins it needs. It's well-known for its role in the production of nervous system messengers, especially those related to relaxation, restfulness, and sleep.
tryptophan serves as a precursor for serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps the body regulate appetite, sleep patterns, and mood. Because of its ability to raise serotonin levels, tryptophan has been used therapeutically in the treatment of a variety of conditions, most notably insomnia, depression, and anxiety.
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=103
Tryptophan is one of 10 essential amino acids used by the body to synthesize necessary proteins. It has a role in the production of nervous system messagers, particularly those related to: relaxation, restfulness, and sleep.
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=103
Tryptophan is an essential amino acid found it turkey. It helps the body produce niacin which helps the body to produce serotonin. This chemical acts as a calming agent in the brain and plays a key role in sleep. However nutritionist say that the tryptophan found in turkey probably won't trigger the body to produce serotonin.
http://www.howstuffworks.com/question519.htm
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