14. Why does turkey make you tired?
Contrary to popular belief, eating turkey isn't the main reason you feel sleepy after a Thanksgiving feast. Turkey contains the amino acid tryptophan, which forms the basis of brain chemicals that make people tired. Tryptophan is a component of the brain chemical serotonin, which gets converted into the well-known sleep-inducing hormone melatonin. Basically, any big meal containing tryptophan and lots of carbohydrates can trigger sleepiness — not just turkey. And on Thanksgiving, many other factors contribute to feelings of tiredness, such as drinking alcohol.