By Elizabeth Jarrard, Dietetics Student, Sargent College

If you haven’t been perusing the counter of your local convenience store, you may have missed “Lazy Cakes” brownies. Yep, right next to the Red Bull Shots, and 5 Hour Energy, we can now find products that claim to do the exact opposite-“chill” everyone out. The NYTimes drew everyone’s attention to these Relaxation Snacks. The brownies, which are made with melatonin (and likely other questionable ingredients), are labeled “not for food use” so that they can be sold as a dietary supplement. Companies are hiding a synthetic ingredient-melatonin-in a baked treat, to make it “go down easier.” They warn “not for children”, and against operating heavy machinery while eating them. One thing they forgot to add is that if you are a young female taking birth control, there is a hormonal effect that can cause the body to store too much melatonin. And don’t get me started on the calorie, fat, sugar, and overall junk ingredients in the product.

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“It’s making it much more difficult for the consumer to recognize that they are taking a drug,” said Dr. Charles A. Czeisler, the chief of the division of sleep medicine at Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s
Hospital.“A hangover effect has been reported” with large doses, said Anna Rouse Dulaney, a toxicologist
with the Carolinas Poison Center.

Hiding drugs and supplements in food is not healthy. The brownies warn that they are not suitable for children and you should avoid operating heavy machinery. Yes, we live in a very caffeinated and on-the-go world. But what if we took a little bit of time to get a little good-old relaxation before trying to get a little shut eye? Turning off all electronic devices, dimming the lights and putting on some soothing music. This is definitely a better option than knocking yourself out with a “relaxation” brownie.

Would you buy a relaxation snack?