Sun Alchemy
Cognitive Coffee
Created by: “Terrasoul Superfoods”
Reviewed by: “Mr.GravityReviews”
Background:
The “Sun Alchemy Cognitive Coffee” product is created and sold by “Terrasoul Superfoods” in an effort to quote the site “Nourish your body & your mind.” Dennis and Amy Botts are the co-founders of “Terrasoul Superfoods”, and they are a husband and wife team who started their business back in 2013. Their core values of this business is: Nutrient dense foods, quality, affordability, accessibility, and integrity. From what I have researched, they seem like quite the powerful dynamic duo! My wife and I own a photography business called “New Horizons” so I also respect that they do their business together.
From everything I read it really seem like Dennis and Amy really care more about quality ingredients and affordability for the average consumer which I also can respect because every sale brings them less of a profit margin. That means that even though they may not make as much money per sale, they want to produce products to appeal to every audience so that everyone can afford nutrient dense foods. They just seem to truly care. Side note: they are a “1% For the Planet” member so they donate 1% of all their sales to protect and preserve our planet. RESPECT!
Certifications:
Now ideologies and facts are two very different stories. Let’s see if Dennis and Amy actually practice what they preach. Before diving into the ingredients and daily values it seems like there’s a couple things to point out. “Terrasoul Superfoods” is SQF (Safe Quality Food) Level 2 certified which means they implement many risk assessment analyses on every product. The independently check every ingredient at their laboratories for heavy metals, purity, and contamination. For reference SQF Level 3 is the highest certification that you can achieve but Level 2 is a great certification to have as it is a food safety plan. Now with that out of the way, on to the facts and ingredients.
Facts List:
Calories: 72
Average Daily Value is 2000-3000 a day depending on anatomical structure.
Fun Fact: A Calorie is actually a unit of energy, or heat. Want to know more? Read This Article!
All right! So, 72 calories for one serving is pretty decent for a “Real food” product! I definitely wouldn’t want to drink this 5 times a day like some coffee addicts but really, 72 calories is awesome. They only downside really is the fact that it will potentially pull you out of a fasted state. The general consensus is anything above 50 calories will pull you out of a fasted state, but more research is required.
Total Fat: 6g
Average Daily Value is 20-35% of Total Calorie Intake.
Simple Math!
Fat=9 Calories/Gram
2000 Calorie Plan at 20% EX:
2000 X.2= 400 Calories
Which is 20% then
400/9 Calories=44 Grams of Fat.
Fat is the word everyone looks at and immediately makes the Squidward face from Spongebob. Fat is important! Trans fat is the artificially made fat to keep away from. Look for Partially hydrogenated on labels to spot trace amounts of Trans fat. Here are a few benefits of fat:
• Fat Intake is Important For The Brain
• Fat Intake Allows The Proper Absorption Of Vitamin A, D, K, And E
• Fat Adds flavor And Make Foods More Filling
• Supports Heart Health
Saturated Fat: 5g
Average Daily Value is 7% of Total Calorie Intake.
Simple Math!
Saturated Fat= 9 Calories/Gram
2000 Calorie Plan at 7% EX:
2000 X.07=140 Calories
Which is 7%, then
140/9 Calories=15.5 Grams of Sat. Fat.
This fat is likely coming from the MCT Oil ingredient. There are three types of Saturated fats: Short-Chain, Medium-Chain, and Long-Chain fatty acids. Long-Chain fatty acids are among the most common as well as having the least benefits. MCT Oil on the other hand is part of the Medium-Chain Triglyceride family (hence M.C.T.) and there are numerous proven benefits. Here are a few benefits:
• Reduces Appetite
• Improves Cholesterol Levels
• Enhances Performance and Endurance
• Improves Cognitive Functions
Sodium: 2mg
Average Daily Value is about 2g/day
Not so fun fact: Americans eat on the average over 3.4g of sodium a day which leads to increased blood pressure which creates extra stress on the heart, chance of heart disease, stomach cancer, and can even simply cause headaches!
Not much to really say here, but you would have to drink 1,000 cups of this to reach an average daily value so the amount here is very minuscule. Just remember that enough sodium is important for hydration because it’s the primary electrolyte that maintains your balance of water in and out of your cells! Instead, here are a few benefits to having a sufficient amount of sodium:
• Lowers Your Blood Pressure
• Lowers Your LDL (Bad) Cholesterol
• Regulates Water In Your Cells
• Supports Proper Muscle/Nerve Functions
Total Carbohydrate: 5g
Average Daily Value is about 45% of Total Calorie Intake.
Simple Math!
1 Carb= 4 Calories
2000 Calorie Plan at 45% EX.
2000 X .45= 900 Calories
900/4 Calories= 225G of Carbohydrates
Another killer word. People hate carbs! Carbs are fantastic for you, in fact not eating any carbohydrates at all can have some not so fun effects! Also, there are three kinds of Carbohydrates. There are Simple Carbohydrates, which are just simple sugars found in things like white sugar, lollipops, or even a healthier option of fruits! Then there are Complex Carbohydrates which are starches found in things like grain products like bread, rice, and pasta. Lastly, Fiber is the final carbohydrate. All three can be part of a healthy nutrition plan! If you are wanting to do the Keto Diet and want to stay in Ketosis you need to stay below 50g or 30g net of Carbohydrates in a day on average, you don’t have to have 0g. You can also minus Fiber from your Carbohydrates total count as your body can not digest it and it will not turn into sugar or glucose. Key benefits of Carbohydrates are:
• Provide Energy For The Body
• Keep You Feeling Full
• Help Recovery Of Gyclogen After Exercise
• Aids In Digestion
Dietary Fiber: 2g
Average Daily Value is 25-30g/Day.
As explained above. Benefits include:
Fun Note: Subtract Dietary Fiber from total Carbohydrates to accurately assess Carbohydrate intake.
• Normalized Bowel Movements
• Controls Blood Sugars
• Maintains Bowel Health
• Lowers Cholesterol
Sugar: 0g
Average Daily Value of 10% of Total Calorie Intake.
Simple Math!
1 Gram of Sugar= 4 Calories
2000 Calorie Plan at 10%
2000 X0.1= 200 Calories
200 Calories/4= 50g Sugar.
Not Applicable.
Protein: 1g
Average Daily Value is .36g/LB of body weight/day
Example: 150lb X .36= 54G Protein/day
1g of protein isn’t really going to affect your day in any shape or form. I will have to put this under the category of:
Not Applicable.
Ingredients List:
MCT Oil Powder:
MCT (Medium-Chain Triglycerides) are extracted typically from coconut oils since 50% of the fat in coconut oil stems from MCTs. There are many benefits from MCTs such as:
• Promotes Weight Loss By Feeling Full
• Immediate Source Of Energy
• Boost Endurance During Workouts
• Provides Ketones To The Brain
Freeze-Dried Arabica Coffee
• Enhances the production of BDNF. (Overall brain health/memory)
• Stimulates the brain and gives sharp focus.
• Improves memory retention and higher thinking
• May Promote Increased Self Confidence/Enhanced Mood
Coconut Milk Powder
• Also Promotes Weight Loss Due To MCTs
• Helps Support Your Immune System Due To Lauric Acid
• High Fat Low Carb
Lions Mane Mushroom Extract [Fruiting Body]
• First off, I am a firm believer that Lions Mane is an INCREDIBLE nootropic with a lot of the science community backing it.
• [Fruiting Body] offers a wider array of the mushrooms nutritional spectrum.
• Lions Mane Mushroom is the only mushroom that can support brain regeneration as well as enhancing cognition.
• It promotes nerve growth factor/growth of neurons in the brain.
• Lions Mane Mushrooms have a very synergistic effect with other nootropics.
Reishi Mushroom Extract [Fruiting Body]
• Supports Immune System With Beta-Glucans and Triterpenoids.
• Packed Full Of Antioxidants Which Neutralize Free Radicals.
• [Fruiting Body] offers a wider array of the mushrooms nutritional spectrum.
• Has Adaptogens Which Help Combat Stress.
• May Help with Supporting the Body’s Sleep Cycles.
Chaga Mushroom Extract [Fruiting Body]
• Nutrient Dense With a Variety Of Vitamins, Minerals.
• Full Of Antioxidants To Battle Free Radicals.
• Fights Inflammation By Regulating Cytokine.
• [Fruiting Body] offers a wider array of the mushrooms nutritional spectrum.
• Can Lower LDL (Bad) Cholesterol.
USDA Organic
On a side note, this product is USDA Organic certified, which is awesome because that means there have been no prohibited substances applied for 3 years prior to the harvest.
Label Accuracy:
“Cognitive Coffee” claims to give mental focus, cognitive support, natural energy, and immune support. I have to say, Dennis and Amy were very transparent with their label. Every single ingredient in this blend is wholesome and made with incredible attention to detail. You have:
• MCT Oil, Arabica Coffee, Lion’s Mane Mushrooms, for your Cognitive Health Support.
• Coconut Milk, Reishi Mushrooms, and Chaga Mushrooms for Immunity and Inflammatory Support
• Arabica Coffee, Carbohydrates, and MCT Oil to supercharge you with Natural Energy.
I would definitely say that is a win in my book.
Taste:
All right so now we have to address the elephant in the room. Let’s be real, mushroom coffee sounds disgusting. I for one despise the taste of mushrooms and think you are a crazy person if you put them on your pizza. Fight me. As I write this article I am actually drinking some right now. Here are my thoughts:
• It’s bitter. Not in a weird mushroom sort of way. It really just tastes like black coffee.
• It’s smooth. Once it’s mixed it goes down really easily in water.
• Pleasant. The smell is incredible and I would never guess there were mushrooms in it.
• Extra: It’s interesting, the coffee almost has a foam at the top after mixing that I absolutely love. It reminds me of a whip cream product on top. Tastes really good!
Overall: I really enjoy the taste of this! It taste a little less bitter than black coffee and it’s very smooth! It smells incredible and I love the foam at the top!
My Experience:
Honestly? I really love this product. I love that Dennis and Amy really care about the average consumer. They naturally source all of their ingredients and are very transparent. I definitely get an energy spike and feel extremely focused after I take it. Another thing I noticed big time is that it really suppresses my hunger! As for immunity support? There’s a lot of research supporting reishi and chaga mushrooms bolstering your defenses!
Like here!
Article on Reishi and Chaga Mushrooms.
Value:
At a face value of $12.45 for a 10 day supply I believe this is a steal! You get so many benefits from this coffee! If you drank it literally 30 days in a row, (which I don’t think even I could do that) you are only looking at $37.35/Month. The value is seriously one of the biggest wins in this review realistically. I have a monthly subscription on this product moving forwards.
Final Score:
Ingredients: 9.5/10
Label Accuracy: 10/10
Taste: 7/10
Experience:10/10
Value:10/10
Overall Score
9.5
MrGravityReviews 