Sourse Dark-Chocolate Supplements Benefits and Review
Sarah Hyland's Sourse Chocolates Are Officially My Fave New Supplement
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Taking supplements in pill form isn't an easy task — after all, swallowing a big, bland-tasting capsule whole is not exactly an enjoyable experience. So, when I heard about new dark-chocolate-infused supplements called Sourse, I thought they might make taking my supplements a bit more tolerable.
I learned that Sourse is a wellness brand cofounded by actress Sarah Hyland. She joined the team as a cofounder and creative director in 2021 with hopes to "develop life-changing products that benefit everyone who tries them." She said in a press release, "I have poured my heart and soul into creating this sweet treat with wellness in mind."
Currently, there are five products you can pick from: Beauty Bites, which contain biotin for "stronger, longer hair and nails"; Energy Bites, which contain caffeine and L-theanine for "calm energy"; Glow Bites, which contain plant-based collagen for "hydrated smooth skin"; Hype Bites, which contain vitamin B12 for "energy, clarity, and focus"; and Mood Bites, which contain saffron and vitamin D for a "balanced mood." All of the bites are vegan and gluten free and contain a dark-chocolate centre blended with key ingredients.
Each ingredient has its own benefits (more on that below), and the dark-chocolate component also serves a function. Dark chocolate is derived from cocoa-tree seeds, which, according to family-medicine doctor Carrie Lam, MD, are one of the best sources of flavonoids and antioxidants. Dr. Lam tells POPSUGAR that flavonoids "aid in protecting your skin from UVB damage." Dana Ellis Hunnes, PhD, MPH, RD, senior dietitian at RR-UCLA Medical Centre, says that flavonoids in dark chocolate can help "arteries produce nitric oxide, which can help open up arteries and lower blood pressure."
Dr. Lam says "dark chocolate should be consumed in moderation" — but eating a few pieces at a time and savoring the flavour is an absolute must. The recommended serving for each bag of Sourse supplements is two pieces.
Considering all the benefits and product options, I of course said yes when the Sourse team asked me if I'd like to try the entire line of bites. Read on to learn what I thought of each product and how the supplements made me feel — both right away and after a couple of weeks.
Sourse Beauty Bites
The Beauty Bites ($34) are a hair, skin, and nails supplement formulated with 1,000 micrograms of biotin. What's so great about biotin, you ask? Well, "some people find that taking a biotin supplement helps them boost hair and nail growth," said registered dietitian Courtney Barth, RD, in a Cleveland Clinic post. For obvious reasons, I was excited to try it.
Within the first couple of days of taking the supplements, I didn't notice an immediate change in my nails or hair. But after taking this product every day for a couple of weeks, I noticed my nails started to grow without peeling at the top, which was a win in my book. So while, unfortunately, I didn't notice any significant changes to my skin or hair at the two-week mark, I totally still plan on finishing the bag since my nails seem to be reaping the benefits of these bites.
Sourse Energy Bites
Newer to Sourse's lineup are the Energy Bites ($34). These bites are meant to provide a balanced boost of energy, without the crash you sometimes feel after sugar or coffee. They contain 60 milligrams of caffeine from green tea and 100 milligrams of L-theanine, which is an amino acid found in tea leaves. According to the National Library of Medicine, L-theanine can help ease stress.
For me, just as they're marketed, I noticed the bites gave me the same energy of a morning cup of tea, but without the caffeine crash. (We love to see it.) And since taking them, I've personally found them to be a sugar-free way for me to ease into my day with more energy, instead of sluggishly logging onto my computer before work without any caffeine. Unfortunately, these bites didn't exactly give me all-day energy — I felt sluggish in the afternoon, even after taking them in the morning — but I'm going to keep eating them as a caffeine replacement.
Sourse Glow Bites
Next in the lineup are the collagen-powered Glow Bites ($34) containing 30 milligrams of the brand's trademarked "ceramosides phytoceramides." Ceramosides phytoceramides is a "gluten-free ceramides blend derived from wheat," the Sourse site states. "Ceramides are essentially the glue that holds skin cells together to keep the skin barrier healthy and intact," board-certified dermatologist DiAnne Davis, MD, FAAD, previously told POPSUGAR. "A healthy skin barrier, with the help of ceramides, helps to seal in moisture and keep out impurities."
I personally didn't notice an instant glow after taking these bites, but I definitely noticed that my skin looked more plump and lifted after taking Glow Bites every morning for two weeks. (Usually my face droops a little bit when I don't take collagen, so there was definitely a difference.) So even though I didn't see anything necessarily "miraculous" in my face, I'm still going to finish the bag because I enjoy chomping on a couple of dark chocolate bites.
Sourse Hype Bites
The Energy Bites are my favourite option for easing into the day, but Sourse's Hype Bites ($34) are great for whenever I needed an extra punch of energy. To compare the two, the Energy Bites gave me more of a build-up and sustained amount of energy (like driving down a highway), while these Hype Bites were more like getting launched into space. In other words, these were great for when I needed that slap-across-the-face energy kick, whereas the Energy Bites were great to sprinkle through the day in place of a cup of coffee or tea.
As for the reason for this energy boost? The 500 micrograms of vitamin B12 in the Hype Bites formula. According to the National Institute of Health, "If you don't consume enough vitamin B12, "you may feel tired or weak."
Sourse Mood Bites
Lastly are the Mood Bites ($34), which contain 30 milligrams of Saffron (aka Crocus sativus L.). Saffron has been widely used as a medicinal plant to promote human health, according to a study published by the National Library of Medicine. When I took them, I felt chill, but not quite sleepy. I typically took two toward the middle or end of my workday to help me transition out of my in-the-zone work-mode, and within a half hour, I felt more chill for several hours afterward. I could feel my shoulder tension ease up and (figuratively) feel my brain soften. Over the course of a couple weeks, I still felt the calming affects of these Bites like the first time I tried them.
