November 25, 2020 Issue, Page 15 of 16

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November 18, 2020 15 Fact or fiction: Turkey makes you sleepy (Stillwater) When the last poultry. amount of serotonin we have bite of turkey is consumed “Tryptophan is an essen- in our brains,” Scott said. “The and the plates are cleared, the tial amino acid, which means serotonin gets metabolized next item on the Thanksgiv- it's a nutrient we cannot nor- into melatonin, and it’s the ing agenda is a nap. Because mally produce in our body,” turkey makes you sleepy, he said. “We have to get it melatonin that we think actu- right? from the foods we eat.” ally makes us drowsy.” Darren Scott, food scien- Along with turkey, FAPC, a part of OSU's tist at Oklahoma State Uni- ‘Tryptophan is found in foods Division of Agricultural Sciences versity’s Robert M. Kerr Food that are high in protein, such and Natural Resources, helps and Agricultural Products as red meat, chicken, fish, Center, debunks this myth. chocolate, soy, eggs, cheese, to discover, develop and deliver “It's not really the turkey milk, almonds, peanuts, and technical and business informa- that makes us sleepy,” Scott pumpkin and sesame seeds. tion that stimulates and supports said. “It's reputed to be the ‘Thanksgiving menus the growth of value-added food Tryptophan instead. There's contain a copious amount of and agricultural products and really not that much more foods high in sugars and car- processing in Oklahoma. Tryptophan in turkey than in bohydrates, which contribute other poultry.” to drowsiness, too, Scott said. CONTACT: Mandy Gross | Scott said there is approxi- “As we digest the turkey FAPC Communications Ser- mately a quarter of a gram of and the other carbohydrates, vices | 405-744-0442 | mandy. Tryptophan per 100 grams of we indirectly influence the [email protected] How to approach hosting Thanksgiving during the pandemic Much like the holidays that for those who are most likely ‘Thanksgiving gatherings can limit everyone's exposure to up temporary tables and have enjoy Thanksgiving dinner. preceded it in 2020, Thanks- to get seriously ill if they're scale the festivities back this the respiratory droplets that guests sit in every other seat + Stock up on hand soap giving figures to be different exposed to COVID-19, such year in an effort to keep ev- researchers say can spread the rather than next to one an- this year. An ongoing pan- as the elderly and people with eryone safe. Consider hosting virus when inhaled. If neces- other. Isolate the vulnerable and hand sanitizer. Hosts demic has changed the way underlying medical condi- a meal for immediate family sary, serve the meal earlier as much as possible while still should make sure hand soap much of the world lives their tions. members only, as the Environ- than you normally would so ensuring they can engage in and sanitizer is readily avail- lives, including how holidays The WHO and the CDC mental Protection Agency everyone can eat in midday conversation. are celebrated. continue to recommend so- notes that COVID-19 may when it's still warm outside. + Discourage guests from able throughout their homes. As the novel coronavirus cial distancing, which means spread more easily in indoor Hosts also can consider serv- attending if they feel sick. A When guests arrive, make COVID-19 spread across the ‘Thanksgiving in 2020 will be environments via airborne ing something more conve- list of COVID-19 symptoms sure everyone washes their globe beginning in the winter unlike any other. Families particles. Extended family nient than turkey, which takes can be found at www.cde.gov. of 2019-20, the World Health must make their own deci- members can visit each other along time to cook, and limit- In the days prior to Thanks- hands immediately, and en- Organization recommended sions about getting together over the long holiday weekend ing side dishes to one or two giving, hosts can share that courage guests to continue a host of behaviors designed this holiday season, but hosts to ensure everyone still sees items. list with guests via email or doing so throughout the day. to prevent the spread of the who intend to welcome guests each other, but keep such vis- - Assign seats. If the meal social media and discourage virus and protect those who into their homes this Thanks- its outdoors when possible. will be served indoors, then guests who are feeling ill on ‘Thanksgiving will be dif- are most vulnerable to it. The giving can take certain steps - Consider eating Thanks- hosts can assign seats to pro- or around the holiday from at- ferent in 2020. Hosts need to Centers for Disease Control to keep everyone as safe as giving dinner outside. If the tect those most vulnerable tending the festivities. If nec- adjust their normal Thanks- and Prevention also noted the possible. weather permits, consider eat- to serious illness from CO- essary, make a to-go plate for importance of keeping dis- + Scale back the guest list. ing Thanksgiving dinner out- VID-19. Instead of cramming ill relatives and drop it off at giving routines to ensure the tance from others, especially Families accustomed to large side this year. Doing so may everyone in at one table, set their homes so they can still safety of their guests. ; Happy Thanksgiving! American National Insurance Company Tyson Trout Ultimate Automotive Mobile Repair 5th and Main St. Hammon, OK & Diagnostics lic. 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