An interview with award-winning One Life Foods, the brand bringing you the latest in health supplement and food trends!

If One Life Foods is a new name to you, this blog will provide you with a comprehensive introduction to their excellence in the supplement industry. 

They are known for consistently being at the forefront of providing the best and most effective options available. Among their standout products is Shilajit, a supplement that has become a staple in the daily regimen of our CEO at VCA.

Keep reading to discover more about it and what makes this brand stand out from the rest...

To start, can you break down what this adaptogen is all about for those who might not be familiar with it.

Shilajit is a natural substance formed over time in the mountains. It’s the result of the slow decomposition of plants and microbial activity.  Its unique composition includes fulvic acid, humic acid, minerals, dibenzo-a-pyrones, and other organic compounds, which contribute to its health benefits, including hormone support.

Incredible! Could you also shed some light on the reasons it's referred to as the "Black gold" of Ayurveda and "The destroyer of weakness"?

The term Black gold refers to Shilajit’s scarcity and value - a legit, high quality product is like gold to come by! There is rumoured to be a particular grade of Shilajit so rare you would pay upwards of £30 per gram for it. Whilst some brands claim to have this “gold” grade (they definitely don’t), it’s literally impossible to get and so expensive, it’s just not worth attempting to retail on the UK market. Imagine paying £750 for a 25g jar! If a brand tells you they’ve got “Gold grade”, they are either naive or unscrupulous. 

Shilajit’s other nickname - the destroyer of weakness refers to its ability to strengthen the body’s systems and combat fatigue/weakness. This originates from its Sanskrit name in traditional Ayurvedic medicine, which is "Shilajatu”. 

How fascinating! So, given its amazing ability to strengthen the body's systems, what are some of the major benefits that individuals can look forward to when utilising this powerful supplement?

Benefits include:  Natural sexual performance enhancer for men and women. Helps to balance hormones. Increases testosterone in men. Powerful antioxidant. Antiviral properties. Increases energy and athletic performance. Supports collagen growth in skeletal muscle. Mild diuretic. Supports general health & wellbeing.  A little known benefit is that Shilajit is a potent bioenhancer, meaning it has the potential to increase the absorption and efficacy of whatever it is mixed with.

Impressive! And, on average, how long does it usually take for people to start noticing results after incorporating it into their routine?

There’s no definitive answer to this in my experience. Some individuals claim to feel the benefits almost straight away, others say it takes a week or so, and some say they didn’t realise it was benefiting them until they stopped taking it! I think it largely depends on how much your body needs it - I mean, that’s essentially how an adaptogen works - if there’s no real issues within, and homeostasis isn’t too far out of wack, then the positive increments may be negligible. But rest assured, it’s still working away in the background, and holding up the fort.

That makes a lot of sense! Your expertise is certainly evident and unquestionably boosts the reliability of your brand. On that note, how do you guys make sure that the Siberian Altai Shilajit in your product is of the highest quality and purity?

We’re extremely lucky to have direct connections with producers rather than just suppliers. This is paramount to quality. Obviously, there’s also a huge trust aspect, but we have great working relationships with the producers, particularly those in the Altai. We also make sure we test the product in two different third party, ISO certified labs - one lab tests for heavy metals, minerals, humic substances (fulvic and humic acid), and water content. The other lab tests for mycotoxins. We were the first brand to test to this level, and as far as I’m aware, we’re still the only one testing water content. This is an overlooked measurement of quality, but very important in my opinion. As water content is directly linked to the potential for the development of dangerous mycotoxins, it’s important to make sure it doesn’t exceed a certain level. Not to mention, a “watered” down product is obviously a poorer quality product. 

Wow, this level of dedication and meticulousness is 100% what makes One Life Foods such a reliable choice! Aside from all of the above, what else would you say sets your product apart from the other options available on the market?

Personally, I’ve taken Shilajit for around 10 years, and so I like to think I have some knowledge on the subject, which helps when dealing with any new producers. As a brand, we’ve sold Shilajit for 6 years - much longer than other brands, many of whom are still very much in their infancy.  

As an adjunct to this - I have OCD, and a penchant for the best, so I’m not prepared to settle for anything that almost makes the grade. It’s crazy because we are inundated weekly by emails from suppliers promising they have the best Shilajit, all promising the best prices/profit margins, but it doesn’t interest me. My experience in this area has given me a pretty decent BS detector, and that along with existing good relationships with producers, and rigorous testing, gives us a solid head start on quality. 

Undoubtedly! Now, with all of your extensive knowledge and experience, could you share some tips on how to use this supplement effectively and when is the best time to take it for optimal results?

This is probably the most asked customer question, so I’ll just copy and paste what we tell everyone: The best way is to take a pea sized amount on a knife and stick it to the inside of a cup of hot water, green tea or black coffee. Stick it just below the water line and leave there for a couple of minutes, so it softens and begins to dissolve. Then, using the knife, gently rub back and forth against the side of the cup until it completely dissolves. 

You’ll hear all kinds of BS about not using “metal” - people claiming wooden spoons are best, but that’s nonsense. This old wives tale comes from the idea that metals will leach into the hot water/drink. But obviously that’s not going to be the case with a stainless steel knife. Unless you’re dissolving your Shilajit into water with pH 15, in which case you’re drinking caustic soda!

I take my Shilajit once a day, first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. You could also take it before training - in a pre-workout, after training, even twice a day. 

Fantastic, thanks for clearing that up! Finally, for those who are considering adding this to their daily routine, could you explain the concept of cycling for those who might not be familiar with it?

Cycling is a way of preventing your body from becoming too accustomed to Shilajit (or any supplement), which may reduce its efficacy over time. By having alternating periods of taking Shilajit with periods of not taking it, you’ll stop this from happening. This is what we tell our customers:

“There are various opinions on how long you should cycle Shilajit. We advise this just because it gives your body a break, allowing it to function without the “crutch” of Shilajit. It also means your body won’t get too used to the nutrient profile, meaning adaptations and results will be more obvious than if you’re taking constantly. 

You could take it every day for months, and a long break may not be necessary. But it’s the best way in our opinion. We advise taking at least 3-4 weeks between cycles”.

Well, we can’t speak for everyone…but after this interview and witnessing the proficiency of this astute business owner, we're definitely going to heed their advice! 

If you're interested in purchasing this product or exploring more from the brand, feel free to click on the links we've provided below. 

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Thanks for reading,

VCA