The turkey is closely associated with the american thanksgiving meal. it is an old tradition started by Abraham Lincoln in which the americans pay tribute to the native indians of the american continent for the help rendered by the natives to the english settlers who came to the continent to inhabit it. Wild turkeys were plentyful in the region. It was included in the menu among other other items such as ducks, quails and chicken. The big turkey gained in importance and is taken as a pivotal item of the tradition menu.
Source of Tryptophan
Turkey meat is a huge source of proteins. Proteins are made of amino acids. Tryptophan is one kind of amino acid that is of particular interest in the matter of reducing depression in humans. Compared to other types of poultry. turkey meat has less of this amino acid than of others. However, the large size of the bird as compared to other ducks and hens make up for the deficiency.
Production of Melatonin and Serotonin
Tryptophan which is a non polar, hydrophobic molecule is an essential amino acid that cannot be produced by the human body but has to be taken in through diet. It is important for the the production of the two brain related chemicals: melatonin and serotonin.
In the human beings these chemicals are generated from L -tryptophan which is sourced from protein catabolism of ingested poultry or turkey in this instance. It is metabolised in the liver where the by products are stored and taken to the brain for further processing when required to produce serotonin and melatonin.
L-tryptophan is hydroxylated to 5 hydroxytryptophan and then carboxylated to serotonin. The serotonin become the starting point for the production of melatonin. The serotonin combines with acetyl.CoA and form N acetyl serotonin which is ultimately converted to melatonin.
Let us understand the benefit of each of these chemicals.
Function of Serotonin
Serotonin is responsible for the mood. Less of this can create an aweful feeling and a sense of being let down and sad. Extreme imbalance of the chemical can cause bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, insomania. As most of the serotonin is bound to blood albumen, it cannot cross the blood brain barrier. So the pineal gland must produce it. Ageing, genetic disease, or congenital disorder cause the inefficient functioning of the pineal gland. Hence certain diseases related to the serotonin imbalance occur.
Function of Melatonin
Less stressful and anxious mind is a happy mind. Happy mind can cause a person to sleep easy. When the brain produces good amount of serotonin, it uplifts ones mood. The same serotonin undergoes further reactions to form melatonin which makes the person feel sleepy. Melatonin control the sleep wake cycle. Less of serotonin means less of melatonin and hence less of sleep. Melatonin is a sleep hormone. It is triggered during the night or in darkness by the pineal gland.
Melatonin and the Circadian Cycle
Melatonin is a very important hormone that keeps the body in the sync with the circadian cycle. In the morning due to the brighness of the light incident on the eyes, the melatonin gets reduced in quantity and that triggers wakefulness. After sunset due to the absence of light, the melatonin formation increases thus causing someone to feel tired and sleepy.
Feeling sleepy after eating turkey
A roasted turkey is not only tasty and make one feel nicely full but makes the connaisseur of the dish very jappy and very sleep afterwards due to the high dose of tryptophan in the meal. So find the best way to roast a turkey.
Medical advisory
Understanding these chemicals serotonin and melatonin is critical to ones mental and physical health. People suffering from any kind of disease due to chemical imbalance must consult a medical practitioner.
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