Karandeep Khanna, 31, first heard of shilajit through friends. The nutrient-rich biomass found in mountain rocks is used in Ayurveda for its rejuvenating effects — most significantly, it is claimed to improve skin and bone health, and boost energy. Some of Khanna’s inner circle were consuming it as a dietary supplement, alongside ashwagandha. He, too, started taking both.
In the beginning, it gave him acne breakouts. But then he found another brand that seemed to click. “I felt sharper, more focused, and noticed my energy level rise,” he says. “Gymming felt a lot easier, and I was feeling overarching mental and physical benefits.” Since then, the Delhiite has tried a whole host of products: wheatgrass powder for metabolism, magnesium for better sleep. He’s careful to read up before each new experiment — which mainly involves collecting information online and consulting Reddit communities — but isn’t too worried about it. “Most of these are naturally-occurring substances, so they don’t have any major side effects. As long as you buy the products from a trusted brand, it’s usually okay,” he believes.
