Tryptophan - a precursor to melatonin, it is often blamed for the post prandial coma that many go into after a big turkey dinner. Never mind the 5000 kcals that was consumed during the meal. The supplement really doesn't help with sleeping. Interestingly, turkey isn't even in the top 10 or 20 of foods that contain tryptophan. The top five are:
1) Game meat (Elk): 746 mg of tryptophan
2) Seaweed (Spirulina): 736 mg of tryptophan
3) Spinach: 690 mg of tryptophan
4) Egg White: 673 mg of tryptophan
5) Soy protein: 630 mg of tryptophan
Supplements of L-tryptophan have been contaminated with a compound that has been associated with eosinophilia myalgia syndrome.
