November 12, 2025 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Well, it is that time of year again. A time for getting together with family and friends for the annual ritual of gluttony – I mean Thanksgiving. Although the holiday is generally a festive occasion, some food-allergic individuals find Thanksgiving to be a time of the year where they are more concerned than usual. Individuals with food allergies are always concerned when eating at a restaurant or at someone’s house due to the fear of consuming food that causes them to have food allergy symptoms. On Thanksgiving, however, this fear is intensified because typically the food offered on Thanksgiving at someone’s home is usually made by many different people. Normally, when it is not Thanksgiving, the allergic individual can tell the host/hostess what food allergies they have, and the host/hostess will avoid serving that food or foods. On Thanksgiving however, since there are usually multiple people either preparing or cooking the meal, there is more of a chance that an allergic ingredient will be used simply because the person making the food either was not told about the food allergy, they forgot to avoid using it, or it was not communicated to them about the food allergy by the host/hostess. As a result, more mistakes may be made, and a person is more likely to eat food that he or she is allergic to than in other more intimate gatherings.
Common food allergens such as milk, egg, wheat, soy, peanuts, and tree nuts are often found around the Thanksgiving table. Gravy, used for turkey and mashed potatoes, frequently contains the food allergens dairy, soy, and/or wheat. Tree nuts (e.g., almonds) are frequently found on string beans and in some types of stuffing (e.g., chestnuts). Tree nuts and peanuts are common in many desserts such as brownies and pecan pie. Milk (i.e., dairy) and eggs are also used in many baked goods. Although pumpkin allergies are not common, pumpkin pie may contain a host of ingredients that may induce a food allergy in some sensitive individuals. It is significant to note that among various cultures, many families incorporate many ethnic foods in their celebrations. These foods may not be traditional, but they may increase the probability of other allergenic foods such as shellfish, fish, etc. to be the cause of an imminent food allergy. If a person has a serious food allergy, it is sensible for that individual to bring their own food, so they can avoid any potential allergic reaction from food.
Although having an allergy to turkey does exit, it is not a common food allergy. It is worth noting however that many people feel sleepy after consuming turkey, particularly on Thanksgiving when large amounts are typically eaten. The reason for the sleepiness may stem from the fact that turkey contains higher levels of the amino acid “L-tryptophan.” The amino acid L-tryptophan is an essential amino acid that has to be obtained from foods we eat since the body does not make L-tryptophan on its own. Amino acids are the precursors to proteins and it takes many amino acids to create a protein. Thus, amino acids are considered to be the “building blocks” of proteins. It is also important to mention that there are many other foods besides turkey that are rich in L-tryptophan. Some of these foods include oats, eggs, canned tuna, fish, legumes (e.g., soybeans, peanuts, lima beans), milk, cheese, yogurt, seeds (e.g., pumpkin, sunflower, sesame), bread, chocolate, and some fruits. It should be stated that turkey and chicken both have comparable amounts of L-tryptophan. Another thought-provoking fact is that the dark turkey meat has less of the amino acid L-tryptophan than the white turkey meat, but with chicken, it is the opposite, as there is less L-tryptophan in white chicken meat than dark chicken meat. After eating turkey, the L-tryptophan will enter one’s bloodstream from the digestive tract and travel to the brain where it gets converted to the chemical “serotonin.” It is the serotonin that is responsible for causing the sleepiness associated with eating turkey. It should also be pointed out that eating a high carbohydrate, high fat meal can also lead to sleepiness and fatigue about 1-2 hours after eating. Serotonin, however, is a chemical in the brain that plays a role in one’s mood, as well as pain intolerance. High serotonin levels are associated with elevated moods and a sense of relaxation. Serotonin may also increase one’s pain tolerance. In addition, L-tryptophan is thought to have a beneficial effect on learning, memory, and depression. Serotonin may also have useful effects on decreasing anxiety, premenstrual pain, and seasonal affective disorder although more research is needed to verify this. So, if you experience sleepiness at the Thanksgiving Day table, it may not be your in-laws at all, it may be the turkey! Likewise, if you are in a good mood and feel less depressed during Thanksgiving, it may be that you are happy to be with family, but it still could be the turkey!
The board certified allergists at Black & Kletz Allergy diagnose and treat both adult and pediatric patients. We have offices in Washington, DC, McLean, VA (Tysons Corner, VA), and Manassas, VA. All 3 of our offices have on-site parking. The Washington, DC and McLean, VA offices are Metro accessible and the McLean, VA office has a free shuttle that runs between our office and the Spring Hill metro station on the silver line. You may also click Request an Appointment and we will respond within 24 hours by the next business day. Black & Kletz Allergy has been a fixture in the greater Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland metropolitan community for over 50 years for our outstanding services for the diagnosis and treatment of allergic, asthmatic, and immunological conditions.
