Does tryptophan really make you sleepy? For years people like to give credit to turkey for the sleepiness often following a massive Thanksgiving meal. Yet in reality, the turkey isn’t necessarily to blame!

Thanks to Time.com here is some more insight into the real cause for the Thanksgiving-itis:

Turkey contains the amino acid L-tryptophan, which produces sleep-promoting serotonin and melatonin. But turkey has about the same amount of tryptophan as other meats. It may even have a built-in secret weapon against sleepiness: an abundance of protein, which can regulate insulin levels and actually combat fatigue. So don’t blame the turkey for your tiredness; the heavy load of carbs that made up the rest of the meal are likely the culprits. Here’s what turkey really does to your body.

Information borrowed from Time.com