Alice Mushrooms Nightcap Chocolate
Alice Mushrooms Nightcap is a 72% dark chocolate supplement made with reishi mushrooms, L-theanine, chamomile, magnesium, and zinc. It's designed to support relaxation and sleep without added melatonin.
Ingredients
Active Ingredients: Organic reishi mushroom extract, L-theanine, chamomile, magnesium malate, and zinc citrate.
Other Ingredients: Organic dark chocolate, coconut oil, and cocoa butter.
What I Like About It
Organic fruiting-body mushrooms: Alice uses the actual mushroom rather than mycelium grown on grain, which can contain leftover starch from the growing material.
72% organic dark chocolate: Made with organic cocoa ingredients and cane sugar.
Third-party testing: Alice reports testing its ingredients for safety and its mushrooms for potency.
No added melatonin: The formula uses a combination of botanicals, amino acids, and minerals instead.
A Closer Look at the Ingredients
Reishi Mushroom: Traditionally used for stress and immune support. It contains natural compounds being studied for their potential effects on relaxation and sleep, although human research is still limited.
L-Theanine: An amino acid found in tea that may help promote relaxation and improve certain aspects of sleep quality.
Chamomile: Contains apigenin, a natural plant compound that interacts with receptors in the brain involved in relaxation.
Magnesium Malate: Provides magnesium, an essential mineral involved in nerve function, muscle relaxation, and normal sleep processes.
Zinc Citrate: Provides zinc, which supports immune function and has also been studied for its relationship with sleep quality.
Things to Keep in Mind
Reishi may interact with blood-thinning medications and medications that suppress the immune system. Chamomile can cause allergic reactions in people sensitive to ragweed and related plants.
The amount of magnesium and zinc also matters, particularly if you're taking other supplements containing these minerals. Excess zinc can interfere with copper absorption, while supplemental magnesium may cause digestive upset.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding: There isn't enough safety information on this combination of ingredients during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Children: Intended for adults.
Allergens: Check the current packaging for coconut, soy, and shared-equipment allergen warnings.
About the Brand
Alice Mushrooms shares information about its mushroom sourcing and extraction process. The company reports using organically grown, fruiting-body mushrooms and a starch-free extraction method.
Although Alice states that its ingredients undergo third-party testing, I haven't verified batch-specific finished-product results for heavy metals, microbial contaminants, or active ingredient amounts.