Out of the 271 million turkeys raised in the United States this year, according to the US National Turkey Federation, a good number of them will be consumed on Thanksgiving. The first Thanksgiving was a moment for the Pilgrims to thank God for allowing them to kill enough game and grow sufficient crops to get through the winter. The idea of a Thanksgiving holiday did not begin until Sarah Hale, editor of Godey's Lady's Book and Magazine promoted it for 50 years and President Abraham Lincoln made it a public holiday in 1863. Contrary to popular belief, turkeys can soar for short bursts at up to 55 mph, but domestic turkeys tend to stay on the ground because they are too heavy to fly. Turkey meat contains a natural chemical called tryptophan, which we need to build proteins for our bodies and is related to the production of a hormone called serotonin, which helps us sleep. Which explains why people feel sleepier after a Thanksgiving meal compared to other meals, that and eating too many carbohydrates, from potatoes to pies. __
