Look closely at the two pictures… do you see a small resemblance? Perhaps it is not a coincidence that the two dimensional molecular diagram of Tryptophan looks just a little bit like a turkey… Okay, so it’s really more the gluttonous amount of food that you eat (and perhaps the accompanying bit of alcohol) that has more to do with that after-feast sleepiness, but it’s fun to bring up alongside the turkey that amino acid we all love to blame for our post meal couch potatoesque lethargy.
Happy Thanksgiving To All!
The Science Attic 