Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.
Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Foundations of Science

    • Understanding Conditions
      • Autoimmune Diseases
      • Cancer
      • Cardiovascular & Metabolism
      • Rare Diseases
      • Infectious Diseases

    • Biology Basics
      • Genetics
      • Immune System

    • Science in the Everyday
  • Advancing Medical Research

    • Innovations
      • Drug Discovery
      • Clinical Trials
      • Our Scientists
      • Technology

    • Focus Areas
      • Covid-19
      • Immunology
      • Oncology
      • Vaccines
      • Cardiovascular & Metabolism
  • podcasts

Header top

  • About

Social

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Rss feed

Main navigation

  • Foundations of Science

    • Understanding Conditions
      • Autoimmune Diseases
      • Cancer
      • Cardiovascular & Metabolism
      • Rare Diseases
      • Infectious Diseases

    • Biology Basics
      • Genetics
      • Immune System

    • Science in the Everyday
  • Advancing Medical Research

    • Innovations
      • Drug Discovery
      • Clinical Trials
      • Our Scientists
      • Technology

    • Focus Areas
      • Covid-19
      • Immunology
      • Oncology
      • Vaccines
      • Cardiovascular & Metabolism
  • podcasts
Foundations of Science

Feasting on Science: Decoding Thanksgiving Dinner

BY BREAKTHROUGHS STAFFNov 21, 2017

Feasting on Science: Decoding Thanksgiving Dinner

Feasting on Science: Decoding Thanksgiving Dinner

 

Many traditional Thanksgiving dishes have a connection to science and medicine.

Thanksgiving is an occasion to appreciate family, friends and, most importantly, food. Many of us celebrate by indulging a little too much and perhaps dozing off on the couch.

This year, how about getting into the Thanksgiving spirit by taking a closer look at some of our favorite holiday staples and seeing what science tells us about them. From the yeast in the bread to the tryptophan in the turkey, there’s more to a Thanksgiving feast than initially meets the eye.

Tryptophan in the Turkey

It’s a myth often repeated this time of year: Turkey makes you sleepy because it’s packed with tryptophan. Like most misleading statements with long shelf lives, this one contains grains of scientific fact. It’s true that turkey contains tryptophan, and it’s also true the naturally occurring amino acid plays a role in the production of serotonin and melatonin, naturally occurring substances in the body that regulate sleep. (In fact, studies have shown that tryptophan supplements can be effective in treating sleep disorders.)

But tryptophan exists in most protein-based foods, not just turkey. (There’s as much of it in chicken and beef, for example, and even more in cheese and nuts.) What’s more: In all of these foods, tryptophan co-exists with other amino acids, which may dull its impact.

Thanksgiving-induced drowsiness is a very real phenomenon. But it’s not (solely) the turkey’s fault.

Beta carotene in Sweet Potatoes and Carrots

Carrots and sweet potatoes aren’t just delicious, they’re packed with beta carotene, the antioxidant pigment that gives vegetables their orange color. In addition to being vibrant, beta carotene is restorative. Once consumed, the body uses the antioxidant to make vitamin A, which plays a key role in keeping our eyes and immune system running smoothly. (There’s some truth to the rumor that eating carrots aids your vision: in low-light conditions, vitamin A helps the “rods” of the eye process light and send signals to the brain.) While you’ll still get a healthy dose of beta carotene from eating raw carrots, cooking them increases the amount of the antioxidant the body absorbs. So roast up, and enjoy!

Proanthocyanidins (PACs) in Cranberries

No matter your stance in the great cranberry sauce debate (jellied or whole berry?), keep in mind the scientific community has its own ongoing discussion regarding the tart berry. An extensive body of scientific research has been dedicated to understanding whether cranberries are effective in treating and preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs). And the evidence still remains mixed. What we do know: Cranberries contain plant phytochemicals called proanthocyanidins (PACS) that may help prevent bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall. A 2012 research review of more than a dozen clinical trials found that drinking cranberry juice or taking cranberry pills may prevent UTIs in certain groups, including women with recurrent UTIs and children. But another more recent study refuted this evidence, finding that cranberry pills were no more effective in preventing UTIs than a placebo pill. But cranberries still have many health benefits, namely a variety of antioxidants that benefit cardiovascular and immune health and are being studied for their anti-cancer properties.

Yeast in the Bread and Beer

When most of us think of yeast, we think of bread or beer. And for good reason — yeast is instrumental in the bread-making process and the brewing process. By converting the fermentable sugars in dough and grains into carbon dioxide and ethanol, it allows the bread to rise and the beer to bubble.

But the single-celled fungi’s usefulness extends far beyond baking and brewing. Yeast is also a good proxy for our own biology. (Cell division in yeast cells and human cells is regulated in a similar fashion, for example.) In the lab, yeast has enabled scientists do everything from identify cancer-causing mutations to study how illnesses spread throughout the body.

Fortified with these insights, perhaps you’ll be inspired to ponder the science behind your next Thanksgiving dinner, or just enable you to steer a heated conversation back onto the rails.

 

Tags
Science in the Everyday
Read More
COVID Diagnostics_Header.jpg
Understanding COVID-19 Testing Methods
Why — and How — Music Moves Us
Why — and How — Music Moves Us
Biologics vs Biosimilars: Understanding the differences
Biologics vs Biosimilars: Understanding the differences
liver_1200x627.jpg
A Rare Disease Halts a Navy Pilot’s Dreams, But Gives Him a New Mission as Patient Advocate
Show
Hide

Get the Latest Updates

pfizer logo

Footer menu

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us

Social

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Rss feed

Copyright © 2002-2020 Pfizer Inc. All rights reserved. This information-including product information-is intended only for residents of the United States. The products discussed herein may have different labeling in different countries.