But turkey contains this thing called tryptophan, we hear your first cousin twice removed arguing, and that makes you sleepy! Here's a fun fact for your cousin: so does plenty of other foods. In fact, turkey barely makes it into top ten of foods with the highest amount of tryptophan. Cheddar, soy beans, cod, sesame seeds and even pork chops contain proportionally more tryptophan than the fowl.
It's a fact that sleepiness engulfs even the best of us after a heavy festive meal but the tryptophan isn't to blame. It's the copious amounts of carbohydrates and alcohol, experts say.
Your body has to work harder to break down all the food and drink you've consumed during your three hour-long festive dinner and in order for it to concentrate, it needs you to to stay put. And what's a better way to get you glued to your seat than to make you fall asleep?