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Brownies have been known to be an enjoyable comfort food for ages. The Lazy Cakes Brownie was introduced to the market place about 6 months ago by HuffPost Foods. According to Cindy at VeggieSensations.com they have taken this comfort food a step too far Melatonin and Velarian Root in the Lazy Cakes recipe.
Melatonin is a natural hormone produced in our brain. Darkness influences the release of Melatonin in our brain. The United States allows the sale of Melatonin over the counter as a sleep aid and it is sold only as a prescription in Europe. There are 8 milligrams of Melatonin in each Lazy Cakes brownie. Ten milligrams would cause an adult to fall asleep very quickly. Doctors in Europe prescribe only .03 milligrams of Melatonin and U.S. doctors prescribe .32 milligrams to adults as a sleep aid. Lazy Caks contain 25 times more Melatonin per brownie than what is prescribed to adults as a sleep aid in the U. S. Because the U. S. does not regulate the dispensing of Melatonin and Velarian Root, HuffPost Foods can legally sell their brownies with Melatonin and Velarian Root in them.
How much Melatonin is too much ? Through clinical trails, it has been determined .3 - 5 milligrams is the recommended dose an adult should take as a sleep aid. Lazy Cakes have 8 milligrams per brownie. It is also believed the continued use of Melatonin can cause your body to require a larger dose to be effective. The body may shut down the natural production of melatonin causing the need for a larger dose of the supplement to get you to sleep.
Velarian Root is also used as a sleep aid for adults. Velarian Root can cause side effects such as headaches, upset stomach and you may feel drowsy for a period of time after waking up making driving a car dangerous.
Because there are no regulations in regards to the dispensing of Melatonin and Velarian Root in the U. S., these brownies are a danger to children. There have been known cases of small children falling asleep after eating only a bite or two of a Lazy Cakes as well as reports of children being taken to the hospital because they fell deeply asleep after eating a Lazy Cakes. The dangers of this is if a child eats too much it can put them in too deep of a sleep. Every child would love to have a brownie in their lunch box at school. But we can't have them sleeping after lunch.
There is a movement to have Lazy Cakes banned from Fall River and New Bedford, Massachusetts after the mayors of these two cities heard about a 2-year old child in Memphis, Tennessee fell asleep after eating a small amount of the brownie. HuffPost Foods have a disclaimer on their website and packaging stating Lazy Cakes are safe for adults and are not intended for children. These brownies were created as a dietary supplement for adults who live a stressful lifestyle. They are intended to help you wind down and relax after an energy drink fueled lifestyle and as with any product it is highly recommended that you read the labels before consuming them.
Today, with all the freedoms we have in the United States, we as adults and parents must step up to the responsibility of caring for all of our children. Do not allow small children to eat Lazy Cakes. Even as adults, we should not eat more than 1 at night.
According to Cindy at VeggieSensations.com, you should get your energy from fresh fruits and vegetables not energy drinks. Relax and end your day with your foods that naturally contain Melatonin in the amounts that best for you.
Some foods that contain Melatonin are oats, corn, rice, almonds, fennel seeds, lemon verbena, balm mint (the young part of the plant) and ginger. A ginger cookie made with oat flour and ginger would be delicious before going to bed. Foods that have Tryptophan will also aid in sleep. The brain uses Tryptophan to build neurotransmitters the body uses for relaxation. Tryptophan is known as the calming amino acid. Foods that are high in Tryptophan include milk products, soy products, proteins such as meat, fish, beans, lentils, peanuts, sesame seeds and sunflower seeds. Hummus with corn tortilla chips would also make a good late night snack if your are hungry. Apples, whole grain cereals with soy milk, tofu, oatmeal rains cookies and a peanut butter sandwich make a great bedtime snack.
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