Overview
- Snopes reiterates that typical turkey portions do not deliver enough tryptophan to induce drowsiness, and the bird’s tryptophan content is similar to many other foods.
- Research shows sleep effects at roughly gram-level doses of purified L‑tryptophan, whereas experts note it would take about 20 servings of turkey to approach a common supplement dose.
- The Atlantic reports that popular alternatives such as carbohydrate-heavy sides or simple overeating have mixed or weak evidence as direct causes of post-meal sleepiness.
- A Columbia University researcher told The Atlantic that no one has actually tested whether Thanksgiving dinner makes people sleepier than usual.
- A sleep scientist writing in The Salt Lake Tribune recommends practical steps to preserve sleep quality, including finishing dinner several hours before bed, avoiding overfullness, taking a gentle walk, and limiting late caffeine and alcohol.