Hot cocoa is getting a wellness rebrand. I say: Let treats be treats.

"Over the past month, I've heard more and more whispers of optimized hot cocoa. Online, influencers swear by nighttime hot cocoa from MoonBrew and Beam, containing magnesium, l-theonine, and reishi to promote deeper sleep. Brands like CocoaVia and Black Forest sell cocoa flavanol powder, a cocoa compound said to boost heart health. Just Ingredients' hot chocolate, meanwhile, boasts being sugar-free and includes collagen, ashwaganda, and lion's mane for "added benefits.""

""You're creating an experience out of your supplement," Jordan Glenn, the head of science at SuppCo, a supplement tracking company, told Business Insider. While drinking a multi-supplement concoction can feel like a fun solution to capsule fatigue, he said it doesn't necessarily make the most sense, from a health standpoint. Supplement-infused hot cocoa can be pricey - some breaking down to about $2 a cup - with lower-than-recommended doses of the supplements in question."

"I'll go even further and say: let holiday treats be holiday treats. Yes, it's always good to cut down on sugar, and yes, the average Swiss Miss hot chocolate contains a few emulsifiers I'd rather not think about. But in the grand scheme of your health, concrete research shows it's better to have the occasional sugar-bomb hot cocoa (mini marshmallows and all) than knock"

Optimized hot cocoa products combine cocoa with supplements like magnesium, l-theanine, reishi, cocoa flavanols, collagen, ashwagandha, and lion's mane to target sleep, heart, gut, and joint health. The beverage format appeals by creating a ritualistic experience compared with taking capsules. Many products contain low supplement doses and sell at premium prices, sometimes about $2 per cup. Experts note that multi-supplement concoctions may not deliver meaningful benefits. Reducing sugar and avoiding excessive additives is reasonable, but consistent lifestyle measures like regular exercise and balanced diet provide more substantial health and longevity benefits than costly, underdosed specialty hot cocoas.

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