HOUSTON – Sales of so-called relaxation drinks topped $150 million last year alone. But critics question whether you can really find relaxation in the soda aisle.
They're called Mini-Chill, Relax Zen and Drank. But do they work and are they safe?
Registered dietitian, Lauren Popeck, took a look at the claims.
"So what they're supposed to do is help you feel calm, relaxed, basically even help to reduce stress," Popeck said.
She said the relaxed feeling comes from a combination of ingredients often included in melatonin, L-theanine, camomile and calerian Root. They are all natural ingredients found in everything from herbal teas, seeds, nuts, fish and poultry.
But Popeck pointed out that the drinks are considered a dietary supplement and they are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.
"Because they're a dietary supplement and they're not getting that approval from the FDA, the manufacturers are not required to do testing on them for standardization, quality, or the amount of the ingredients in there," Popeck said.
Popeck said the labels might say all the right things, but what's in the bottle might not live up to the hype. She also pointed out that some of the drinks are packed with sugar.
"I definitely don't think they're going to make you sick, but I just don't think that it's really necessary to drink one of these at $2 to $3 for a bottle," Popeck said.
Your money is probably better spent on natural foods, she said.
"I would promote trying to eat a balanced diet and maybe trying some of these foods that have the same exact properties in them, and then you know what's in that food," Popeck said. "You're not getting chemicals or colors or sweeteners or extra calories."