I’m always curious about ways to optimise my self. We live in a polluted world, and completely fill ourselves with toxins no matter how much we may try to avoid them.
So when I came across a couple powerful supplements which promises clear-headedness, detox benefits, and reduced inflammation, I jumped in and decided to test three popular choices: NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine), Ashwagandha and CDG (Calcium D-Glucarate). Now I've taken these before (not CDG) but separately. And honestly, I didn't notice any difference. In fact, NAC made me sick. And so did Ashwagandha.
But I'm a stubborn fool and this time, I added to the stack with a commitment to pursue. Plus, I've been working solidly on my gut health with the Naked Pharmacy Gut Love Probiotic, so figured my body may have some more capacity to digest and assimilate these supplements without keeling over.
I committed to 21 days straight, pairing them with my usual stack (probiotics, D3, zinc - I take about 22 pills a day!). The results genuinely surprised me.
First, a bit of context:
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NAC is known for its role in boosting glutathione levels, helping detoxify your liver and combat oxidative stress
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CDG is famed for its ability to support liver detoxification by aiding the removal of excess hormones and toxins. Particularly useful for men to shift off the estrogen based fat
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Ashwagandha is an adaptogen known for reducing stress, improving mood, and balancing hormone levels - works well with detox routines.
Here’s exactly what I noticed:
Week 1: Right away, subtle changes. I noticed slightly clearer skin (I've suffered with bacne time to time, noticed a difference within a week) and a mental "lift" - not drastic, but a noticeable clarity that made daily tasks a bit smoother and had me skipping the need for a Starbucks first thing. I think this was the Ashwagandha.. Why did I try all 3 at the same time..
Week 2: The improvements became clearer. My usual afternoon brain fog faded, replaced by sustained mental sharpness. No more reliance on Coffee. In fact, I don't need it. I just have it because I like it now. Physically, I felt less inflamed and slimmer. Still aching really badly after workouts but I felt I could push myself harder.
Week 3: The detox benefits really kicked in - my energy levels stabilised throughout the day. I still procrastinate, and one or two days I do get really tired in the evening but that's work for you. My mood became consistently brighter, optimism easier to access. Less sudden drops in mood. And believe me there's a tonne of things that could throw the spanner - the ad spend on Lacona for one! My wife also commented on how I'm more calmer. Probably the balancing of any hormonal imbalance and removing toxins, letting my body function as it needs.
Did it work as promised?
This time, YES. NAC, CDG and Ashwagandha didn't radically transform my life overnight, but the steady, cumulative effects were undeniable.
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Clarity & Focus: Noticeably improved—particularly in week 2 onwards.
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Inflammation: Substantially reduced, feel slimmer, feel more agile.
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Skin & General Detox: Clear signs of improvement, visible from day 7 onwards.
I'm keeping these in my supplement stack on-going. I may cycle on/off from time to time. Maybe will continue for another 5-6 weeks before cycling off and assessing changes. Technically, I should still feel optimised during the off-cycle as we're eliminating toxins and balancing the hormones through liver support.
If you're curious, give it a shot. Twenty-one days isn't long, but it’s enough to notice meaningful changes.