So if you have purchased one or more of our products, or you have looked through our range and found yourself thinking “ Where do I even start” , or “Can I combine these products, and if so how do I go about combining various different options ?”

Then this Blog Post is for you 

Its going to be broken up into two sections

Section 1 : Product Specific Recommendations & Considerations

Section 2 : Combining Various Products

Section 1

I’m going to give an overview on how to approach each product below, but as I always tell anyone that asks, there is no ultimate right or wrong way, you might find a protocol or combination that works best for you, in which case always listen to yourself and your body. These are merely guidelines.

So lets get into it:

Xpanded Brain:

This Nootropic is best used for a purpose, so consume about an hour before an engaging task or before you need that extra boost in cognition, alternatively it’s a great way to stay focused throughout the afternoon without relying on stimulants, in which case we recommend taking it late morning/ Early Afternoon. 

Consume before a meal, or on an empty stomach for best results.  It’s also a good idea to not use this product every single day, so if for instance you are using it Monday-Friday, consider taking a break over the weekend. Just like exercise, too much of anything will slowly burn you out, so allow those brain receptors a period of rest so as to always ensure peak performance.

Prime Sleep: 

This one is straightforward, it can be used daily with no stress about dependence forming, and for best results with regards to sleep we recommend taking either before dinner, if you eat dinner late. Alternatively if you eat dinner early, then taking it about an hour before bed is a great choice as well.

Although these ingredients work well to assist with sleep, they  are highly beneficial for helping calm the nervous system and relax, regardless of time of day, so if you find yourself in need of a chill pill, and this is all you have around, then by all means take it whatever time of day suits you.

Apex Athlete:

Consume during the first half of the day, so as not to affect sleep at night.  This product can be consumed daily and can be combined with any other product that is taken in the morning.

If you exercise or workout, then consumption 45 min prior workout is a great idea, otherwise start the day with it, but wait at least 1 hour after waking before consumption.

Because this product contains Guarana, it does have caffeine in it, and any caffeine consumption should only take place after 60-90 mins of waking up.

Waiting 60-90 minutes after waking to consume caffeine is recommended because of the body's natural adenosine system. When you wake up, adenosine levels are lower, and your body is still transitioning from sleep. Consuming caffeine too early can interfere with this natural process, potentially diminishing caffeine's effectiveness and disrupting the natural wakefulness cycle. Allowing some time helps your body fully wake up and can enhance the stimulant effects of caffeine later on.

Consuming Tongkat Ali in the morning is often advised because it may help boost energy levels and enhance mood throughout the day. Taking it in the morning can also align with its potential effects on testosterone levels and athletic performance, maximizing benefits during daytime activities. Additionally, it may help avoid potential sleep disturbances that can occur if taken later in the day.

Black Gold (Shilajit)

I view Shilajit as “The Ultimate Multivitamin”, and so I recommend consuming it first thing in the morning with a big glass of water, it can be consumed immediately after waking and can be used daily. It can also be used in combination with any other product that is consumed in the morning.

Taking Shilajit first thing in the morning is advised because it can enhance energy levels, improve stamina, and support overall wellness throughout the day. Consuming it on an empty stomach promotes better absorption of its nutrients, including fulvic acid, which aids in nutrient transportation and detoxification. Additionally, Shilajit’s detox benefits can help clear toxins from the body, further optimizing its potential for cognitive function and vitality.

Master Zen :

This product goes well with a cup of coffee (If that’s your thing) as the interaction of L-theanine with caffeine is really great, it cancels out the negative “jitters” and anxiety that some people experience and allows for a more focused alert yet relaxed state.

Alternatively take it in the morning or early afternoon to promote stress relief and focus throughout the day. If you're using it for relaxation, it can also be effective in the evening

Consume with a light meal.

For best results, take the supplement consistently each day.  Product effectiveness improves with consecutive daily use.

Side Note : for Heightened Focus benefits specifically, Xpanded Brain will be a better choice, this product allows for improved focus aswell as stress relief, but may not provide as much benefits for focus specifically, as Xpanded Brain does.

Shroom Plex:

This is a “Mushroom Multivitamin”, and can be taken at any time of day, with or without food – anything goes 

A lot of people find that pairing this with Black Gold in the morning is a fantastic option and a sure way to supercharge your day !

As the Mycologist that I work with says : “The more the merrier” , so just make sure you are getting these incredible mushrooms in, whenever it suits you!

Kratom:

Best used for a purpose and NOT used every day for no reason.

If you are struggling with pain or inflammation, Kratom is your go to ! It is also fantastic for social events or when you need that extra boost in those feel good hormones.  I like to use Kratom as a replacement for alcohol at social occasions, as it really allows me to not have any social anxiety and it provides the right amount of social lubricant to any situation.  Best consumed before a meal or on an empty stomach, effects last about 6 hours.  Dosage varies, I would start with 2 capsules, but you can increase the dosage as you like. 

Disclaimer : Kratom is the only product we sell that has the potential for abuse, as it really is fantastic.  Because Kratom stimulates the Opiate receptors, it is advised to take breaks in between use so as not to form a dependance on the product.  Use Responsibly.

Microdose Range:

Before we delve into each product, Some general guidelines regarding these products to note:

The products effectiveness is improved when consumed on an empty stomach, or before a meal.  Besides the MicroStack, the other products dosage can be increased as desired, however the effect is heightened with increased consumption and so each persons tolerance will vary. 

With all of the Microdose options, following a protocol of ON/OFF days is recommended, for eg 4 Days On, followed by 3 Days Off.

Our main recommendation is that if you consume the product for 5 consecutive days, take atleast a 2 day consecutive break.

This allows the body to not build up a resistance to the unique ingredients, and also allows you to continually get the benefits out of the products.

If you take the products continually with no break, you might notice diminishing returns on the effectiveness of the product, so periodic breaks alleviates this problem.

For more comprehensive guidance and recommendations regarding microdosing protocols, we recommended simply googling for more info.  There is many schools of thought and advice out there, so we advise listening to your own intuition in terms of approaching your unique microdosing journey.

A lot of people have asked me why the recommendation to consume the microdose products on an empty stomach, so here’s how the process works and why it's optimized on an empty stomach:

 Psilocybin, the active compound in Psilocybe Cubensis Mushrooms, undergoes a conversion process in the body to become psilocin, which is responsible for the psychoactive effects.

Psilocybin to Psilocin Conversion

1. Ingestion: When psilocybin is consumed, it travels through the digestive system to the stomach.

2. Dephosphorylation: In the gut, psilocybin is dephosphorylated (a phosphate group is removed) by enzymes, particularly alkaline phosphatase. This converts psilocybin into psilocin, the compound that crosses the blood-brain barrier and interacts with serotonin receptors, primarily 5-HT2A, to produce the mental and emotional effects.

Why It's Optimized on an Empty Stomach

1. Faster Absorption: With no food in the stomach, psilocybin moves more quickly into the small intestine where absorption occurs. This speeds up the conversion into psilocin, leading to faster, more efficient effects.

2. Less Dilution of Enzymatic Activity: On an empty stomach, the enzymes responsible for breaking down psilocybin are less likely to be "distracted" by the digestion of food. This allows for more efficient conversion of psilocybin to psilocin, enhancing the bioavailability. 

3. Consistent Effects: Food, especially fats, can slow digestion and reduce the predictability of psilocybin’s effects. Taking it on an empty stomach reduces variability in absorption times, leading to a smoother, more controlled microdosing experience.

Note: This applies specifically to MicroAwareness, MicroBiome, and MicroStack – however we advise consuming the MicroEuphoria on an empty stomach aswell.

Ok now that we have covered that, lets delve into each product

MicroAwareness

For those looking for your “Standard Mushroom Microdose” , take one capsule in the morning, and wait at least 1 hour before consuming food or stimulants including caffeine.

If you want to consume later in the day that is not a problem at all, but try consume 3 hours after your last meal for best results.

Dosage can be increased as required.

Consideration : It is more effective to take 2 capsules at the same time, instead of 1 in the morning and 1 in the afternoon.

MicroBiome

Recommendation is the same as above, however dosage recommendation is 2 capsules.  For the added benefit of improved gut health, this is your microdose of choice as Turkey Tail is a fantastic prebiotic.

MicroStack

Only 1 Capsule Recommended as the Niacin flush intensity might be unpleasant with increased dosage, for stronger effect we recommend pairing either the MicroBiome or MicroAwareness with this product.

If you read this thinking "What is a niacin flush" , then please click on this link and watch this short 2 min video :

Niacin Flush Video

Also recommended on an empty stomach.

This product is an excellent option for those looking for improved brain health benefits, simply google “The Stamets Stack” protocol for more info on this combination of ingredients.

MicroEuphoria

1 Capsule recommended to start, 2 Capsules for a more potent anti-anxiety effect.  Also best consumed on an empty stomach.

This product works well for those who struggle with anxiety throughout the afternoon/evening, in which case we recommend consuming before lunch in order to provide relief throughout the second half of the day.

Many people find it beneficial to pair this product with one of the products mentioned above, in which case consumption of either MicroAwareness, MicroStack, or MicroBiome in the morning, followed by MicroEuphoria in the afternoon – is a powerful way to combat depression, anxiety etc throughout the whole day.

Magic Sceletium

This tincture is great to add into your day whenever you feel like it, it’s a great addition to any other product, and anything goes.  You can also dose yourself to whatever strength you would like, but increase dosage with caution so as not to overwhelm yourself.

We recommend 1ml to start with, keep in mouth for 10-20 seconds before swallowing.

It’s perfect to whip out during a busy afternoon when you are feeling a bit overwhelmed and just want to take that edge off.

Because it is also a Microdose Product, protocol Recommendations are as mentioned above, however because it is not a capsule,  it is not necessary to consume only on an empty stomach.

It is also a great “Top Up” for the capsule based products, if you want a slightly more enhanced effect, then add this tincture into your day.

CordyCactus

This MCT oil based tincture is great for those wanting to stay in ketosis, and for those who are looking for sustained energy with the Benefits of the Cactus Microdose and Cordyceps Mushroom combination.  The effect can sometimes be counterproductive if you need to focus and be alert, however if you want to flow through your day in a chilled state of mind, then this is what we would recommend.

Can be consumed in the morning alongside your coffee or on an empty stomach, and dosage can be increased as needed.

Section 2

Combining Products :

“Can I take X with Y ?” Is the question I most commonly get asked, and so in this section I’m going to try break down how I recommend combining products as simply as possible.

First Off, Broadly speaking, all of our products can be combined without any issues, however certain products and their effects might not ‘gel’ with you and your unique constitution, and so listening to your body when combining products is always my number one recommendation.

Also, taking every one of our products on the same day also might be a bit overkill and certain effects of products might not compliment each other.

Im going to go through each product and go through how and what I advise combining it with, aswell as what I don’t recommend.

If the combination that you are interested in is not mentioned below, consider it completely fine to combine it however you would like.

Black Gold:

Can be combined with ANYTHING ! As mentioned above, combining this with ShroomPlex is a popular option and many people have reported extra incredible benefits with this combination.  But like I mentioned, whatever else you plan on using for the day, don’t be afraid to add this Product into the mix, it can only benefit you.

ShroomPlex:

This also can be combined with any of our products with no restriction, taken with another product, or spaced out at a different time of day, anything goes.

PrimeSleep :

As this product is primarily recommended to be consumed in the evening, it generally isn’t ‘paired’ with any other product, however if you have used any of our other products throughout the day, there is no issue with still using this in the evening. And so it also can be consumed with no concern about interactions with other products.

Xpanded Brain:

There is definitely some considerations with this product, because it is a Nootropic and its effects are unique, we advise approaching combinations with the following considerations:

Combining with either Black Gold, ShroomPlex, Apex Athlete, Master Zen, Kratom – is not a problem at all.

However combining with any of the Microdose Products which provide there own unique effect, might work to counter act the desired effect of the Nootropic, however this is not always the case and many people find it perfectly fine to combine them.

What I would recommend is to use whatever microdose product you want to in the morning, and then use the Xpanded Brain in the afternoon, this allows you to start the day with the Microdose and then still allows you to make the most of your afternoon with that added Focus and Productivity that we sometimes need. 

Listen to your body and if you don’t enjoy combining this product with the others then rather don’t.

Apex Athlete:

This quite Simply, can be combined with any product, with no need to overthink anything.

MicroAwareness/MicroStack/MicroBiome/Magic Sceletium/CordyCactus/MicroEuphoria

Due to the nature of these products and the felt effects, it is also recommended to start off with individual use, before combing, as the effects can become quite heightened when combined, that being said, it is something that many people enjoy, and sometimes is really effective for those struggling with sever depression/anxiety etc.

A popular combination is to use either MicroAwareness, MicroStack, MicroBiome (or a combination of these in the morning) and then use the MicroEuphoria a few hours later. This carries you through the day nicely, that being said, the most optimal way to combine these products is person specific and through trial and error you will be able to find what works for you.

That pretty much wraps up this blog post, I hope it has been informative and if you still have a specific question, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly either via email on info@lifexpanded.co.za , or directly on WhatsApp on +27845555317

Have an awesome rest of your day!

Darryn