Question: True or False: A sleep-inducing amino acid in turkey is the reason many people feel drowsy after Thanksgiving dinner.

Answer: False

While it's true that turkey does contain the amino acid tryptophan, a natural sedative, it's unlikely that the average Thanksgiving meal contains enough tryptophan to induce sleep. According to experts, you'd need to sit down to the table with a completely empty stomach and consume only the turkey to ingest enough tryptophan to put you to sleep. Also, many other foods, such as milk, chicken and beef contain tryptophan, but most people don't fall asleep immediately after consuming them.

So what causes the post-feast nap? It's the big meal of solid foods, consisting mainly of high-carbohydrates and fats, accompanied by a glass of wine.

But turkey does contain another amino acid worth noting: arginine. According to Harvard Health Publications, arginine is the raw material used by the body to make nitric oxide, a substance that relaxes and opens arteries.

Three other good-for-you foods on the Thanksgiving menu:

• Cranberries: a source of dozens of different antioxidants
• Sweet potatoes: packed with vitamin A, beta carotene, vitamin C, potassium and fiber
• Pumpkin (pre-pie): low in fat and calories, good source of potassium, vitamin A, beta carotene and vitamin C.

Of course, these foods lose much of their nutritional value when drowned in sugar, butter and marshmallows. If you're looking for heart-healthy variations of the traditional Thanksgiving favorites, check out these recipes from Harvard Health Publications.

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