Cocoa (Cacao) — Cognitive Fuel & Cardiovascular Support
Cocoa (Cacao) — Cognitive Fuel & Cardiovascular Support
Found in: Focus by Of The Gods
Cocoa (Theobroma cacao — literally "food of the gods") is one of the richest natural sources of flavanols, a class of polyphenolic compounds with potent antioxidant, cardiovascular, and neuroprotective properties. Beyond providing Focus with its rich chocolate taste, cocoa delivers meaningful cognitive and cardiometabolic benefits backed by a deep body of clinical evidence.†
Biochemical Profile & Mechanism of Action
- Flavanols (epicatechin & catechin): These polyphenols increase cerebral blood flow by stimulating endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), leading to vasodilation of cerebral blood vessels. Greater blood flow means more oxygen and glucose delivery to active brain regions
- Theobromine: A methylxanthine structurally related to caffeine but with a longer half-life and milder stimulatory effect. It provides a gentle, sustained energy lift without the sharp peak and crash of caffeine
- Phenylethylamine (PEA): A trace amine neuromodulator that promotes the release of dopamine and norepinephrine, contributing to improved mood and motivation
- Magnesium & iron content: Cocoa is one of the most magnesium-dense foods in nature, reinforcing the magnesium supplementation in Focus's Magnesium Glycinate
Research-Supported Benefits
- Cerebral blood flow: Acute cocoa flavanol intake (450 mg) significantly increased cerebral blood flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery as measured by transcranial Doppler, with effects peaking at 2 hours (Sorond et al., 2008).†
- Cognitive performance: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials concluded that acute and chronic cocoa flavanol consumption improves attention, processing speed, and working memory in healthy adults (Socci et al., 2017).†
- Mood enhancement: A randomized, double-blind study found that consumption of a high-polyphenol dark chocolate (500 mg polyphenols) significantly improved self-reported calmness and contentedness compared to a matched placebo (Pase et al., 2013).†
- Cardiovascular protection: The COSMOS trial (N=21,442) demonstrated that daily cocoa extract supplementation significantly reduced cardiovascular death in a large-scale randomized trial (Sesso et al., 2022).†
Why It's in Focus
Cocoa serves dual purposes in Focus: it provides the rich, natural chocolate flavor that makes the blend enjoyable to drink daily, while delivering flavanols that synergize with Lion's Mane (neural growth) and L-Tyrosine (neurotransmitter synthesis) by ensuring the brain receives the blood flow needed to utilize those compounds effectively.†
Scientific References
- Sorond, F. A., Lipsitz, L. A., Hollenberg, N. K., & Fisher, N. D. L. (2008). Cerebral blood flow response to flavanol-rich cocoa in healthy elderly humans. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 4(2), 433–440. doi:10.2147/NDT.S2310
- Socci, V., Tempesta, D., Desideri, G., De Gennaro, L., & Ferrara, M. (2017). Enhancing human cognition with cocoa flavonoids. Frontiers in Nutrition, 4, 19. doi:10.3389/fnut.2017.00019
- Pase, M. P., Scholey, A. B., Pipingas, A., Kras, M., Nolidin, K., Gibbs, A., Wesnes, K., & Stough, C. (2013). Cocoa polyphenols enhance positive mood states but not cognitive performance: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 27(5), 451–458. doi:10.1177/0269881112473791
- Sesso, H. D., Manson, J. E., Aragaki, A. K., et al. (2022). Effect of cocoa flavanol supplementation for the prevention of cardiovascular disease events: the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS) randomized clinical trial. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 115(6), 1490–1500. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqac055
† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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from 29 reviewsBeen a long time imbiber. Love the switch to monk fruit sweetened vs Axe-K….less sweet and better flavor. On its own, mixed with a little chai, or even in an Americano, Focus is my morning go-to to steer my morning in a productive, engaged direction
My partner and I live and die by this, really can't have our coffee without it anymore. My partner says his focus and memory have never been better after using this for a couple months and we don't get the coffee jitters/anxiety when we have this. Definitely can feel the difference from when we use it vs don't use it. Love love love!!
Finally, a mushroom based product where I know the how much I am getting from each major supplement. On top of that, this tastes great and fits into my morning routine. I'm glad they offered me a discount for the subscription plan!
This stuff tastes amazing. It tastes just like cocoa powder but also gives me a sense of alertness, but without the jitters that too much caffeine can give.I recommend adding it in milk (or water, both are great) to make a hot cocoa type drink.
Great product with amazing flavor and friendly customer service.
I started putting this supplement in my morning coffee and noticed a pretty big difference in how long I felt energy throughout the day as well as a pretty big reduction in anxiety. My coffee just isn't the same without it now.
I hate mushrooms. I had no idea it was made from mushrooms! I love this stuff! Gove it a try!
Tried this for the first time at a farmers market and it tasted so good as hot chocolate. Great way to incorporate mushrooms that have so many health benefits.
Ive been using it for two weeks now and with my daily busy schedule, this supplement is a way to go powder with all my favorite drinks in the morning! My daily cup of coffee/ hot chocolate and even added it in my protein shake.
While having a great taste, it also enhanced immune health to reducing stress to better mental clarity and focus!
Of the Gods made me feel great during my morning routine! The taste was amazing in my hot chocolate too! I’m hyped about this product!
Had this product at a Christmas market today and it was so so so yummy!! My husband and I both loved it. I found the effect quite calming and it reduced my headache. We met the founders and they were cool people! They know their stuff when it comes to science and ingredients. 10/10 brand, company and product. Would recommend!
I've been taking reishi mushrooms for years, and Of The Gods is by far the best tasting mushroom supplement I've ever tried. I love that they are transparent about the amount of each ingredient in the bottle, which really sets them apart. The quality and flavor are unmatched, and it's now my go-to choice for mushroom supplements!
My wife and I drink it every morning mixed into hot water.
I love this product! I tend to get bored of the same old morning drink and so I’m always on the lookout for products that taste delicious but are also healthy. I started drinking OTG almost a year ago and it’s absolutely delicious! I’m not a fan of synthetic flavoring but I find OTG to be very well balanced and temperate. When I add it to my coffee in the morning or my smoothies in the afternoon, I find the taste to be more complimentary than over-powering. OTG is also delicious on it own, which is great when I need a change. It’s similar to a healthy hot chocolate! SO good! It gives me a gentle boost in the morning to start my day. I would highly recommend this product for a healthy addition to your diet.
This supplement has a delicious creamy chocolatey flavor and is rich and smooth in taste. It really worked to stabilize my energy level. You didn't get that rush then crash that you get with coffee. A great way to start your morning!
Amazing taste & service
Been a long time imbiber. Love the switch to monk fruit sweetened vs Axe-K….less sweet and better flavor. On its own, mixed with a little chai, or even in an Americano, Focus is my morning go-to to steer my morning in a productive, engaged direction
My partner and I live and die by this, really can't have our coffee without it anymore. My partner says his focus and memory have never been better after using this for a couple months and we don't get the coffee jitters/anxiety when we have this. Definitely can feel the difference from when we use it vs don't use it. Love love love!!
Finally, a mushroom based product where I know the how much I am getting from each major supplement. On top of that, this tastes great and fits into my morning routine. I'm glad they offered me a discount for the subscription plan!