A post is being widely shared on social media claiming that Indian Curd Rice is the only source of Tryptophan. Let us fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Curd Rice is the only source of Tryptophan.
Fact: Curd Rice is not the only source of Tryptophan. Actually, it is not rice, but curd which is a milk product that contains tryptophan. There are other sources of Tryptophan like Cheese, Chicken, Egg Whites, Milk, Nuts & Seeds, etc. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid which means it cannot be synthesized in the human body and must be supplied by one’s diet. Curd rice is not only a good source of Tryptophan but also has numerous health benefits. Hence, the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
Tryptophan and its sources:
Tryptophan is an essential amino acid, which means it essentially needs to come from one’s diet. It cannot be produced by the human body. There are many sources of Tryptophan like Curd, Cheese, Chicken, Egg Whites, Milk, Nuts & Seeds, etc. So, Curd Rice is not the only source of Tryptophan.
Uses of Tryptophan:
Tryptophan is vital for a wide variety of metabolic functions that affect one’s mood, cognition, and behaviour. The human body uses Tryptophan in the production of melatonin, which helps regulate sleep patterns, and serotonin, a mood stabilizer.
Importance of curd rice:
According to this article, to reap the benefits of Tryptophan for the brain is to combine complex carbohydrates with it. Curd contains Tryptophan and rice largely contains carbohydrates. Hence curd rice is of such importance. “The carb rich foods create production of insulin in the body that clears the competing amino acids from the bloodstream so that brain can take up tryptophan.” In absence of insulin, the brain prefers the competing amino acids, so eating Tryptophan rich foods without the carbs doesn’t have the same impact that curd rice has.
Curd rice is not only a good source of Tryptophan but also has numerous health benefits. Curd helps in keeping the gut healthy; which helps one’s body a lot in a tropical climate.
To sum it up, Curd Rice is not the only source of Tryptophan.
