What My 105-Year-Old Grandmother Took for Decades — Now Reformulated with Biochemistry
After burnout forced a reset, I returned to my grandmother’s diet of traditional botanicals and wellness practices. Working with a UK Biochemist, we translated that generational wisdom into a modern formulation built for today’s demanding work lives.
The Turning Point in my Career and Wellbeing
For most of my career, I believed productivity came down to discipline and stamina.
I worked in Management Consulting, regularly pulling 18- to 20-hour days. I survived on five cups of coffee a day, powering through 3pm slumps, persistent brain fog, little sleep, and meals eaten at the desk.
Afternoon cakes, energy drinks, and painkillers became part of my daily routine. It got me through - until it didn’t.
Eventually, my body forced me to stop. I landed in A&E from overwork. My hand froze halfway through a client meetings. My week later, my body simply shut down. I guess that was my mind and body’s way of saying: enough.
An Old Answer I’d Overlooked
During my recovery, I reflected on something I’d always taken for granted: the wellbeing practices of my grandparents and father.
My grandmother turns 106 years old later this year. At her age, her memory and awareness are remarkable. My grandpa passed peacefully at 95 years old.
They relied on Traditional Chinese botanicals such as reishi mushrooms, ginseng, ginkgo.
I had never questioned it. But in that moment, I decided to try something different.
On a return trip to Singapore and Malaysia, my family stepped in.
My grandmother shared daily practices they lived by: balanced meals with Chinese herbs, herbal soups made with ginkgo and ginseng, acupressure, and meditation.
My father introduced ingredients he trusted through food and supplements: reishi cracked spores, ginseng tea, ginkgo extract, and Lion’s Mane mushroom.
I was skeptical, but I committed to taking these ingredients’ consistently for a month.
The Difference Was Immediate
Back at work, the shift was undeniable.
I felt clearer. Steadier. No more 3pm crashes. My thoughts flowed during presentations – no more mind going blank midway!
Brain fog? Non-existent, for the first time in a long time.
I was less reactive and less anxious. For the first time in years, I finally felt like I could show up fully — not just at work, but in life.
What My Grandmother Understood
My 105 year old grandmother never chased quick fixes. She nourished herself with powerful from natural, traditional ingredients.
Modern science is now catching up to this idea. Scientific research suggests that certain adaptogens can support the body’s resilience to stress by modulating stress responses.
Nootropics, nature's cognitive enhancers like Lion's Mane Mushroom, Ginkgo and even Ginseng - are believed to support mental clarity and focus.
Why Most Supplements Didn’t Work for Me
When I tried to replicate what worked for me in the UK, I ran into a problem.
Most products I found were either under-dosed, poorly absorbed, or fragmented across multiple bottles.
To get everything I needed: functional mushrooms, adaptogens, high-potency vitamins and minerals — I had to buy four or more separate products.
It was expensive, confusing, and frankly embarrassing when friends saw what looked like a mini pharmacy spread across my kitchen counter.
Some didn’t work at all – mostly Amazon purchases or generic multivitamins from high street stores. Others upset my stomach, likely due to synthetic fillers.
That’s when I asked myself:
What if I could combine my family’s traditional botanical wisdom with modern nutritional biochemistry, in one convenient system?
So I Created Nuwa
I spent nearly a year working with a top UK Biochemist who is also an Advisor to the UK Health Foods Manufacturers' Association (HFMA), to bring Nuwa Productivity Supplements to life.
We used science-backed ingredients, in dosages guided by my Biochemist – to meet the levels needed by people juggling full, demanding days. That’s why the formulation comes in 4 capsules — rather than following trends toward a “one miracle pill” solution.
Nuwa Productivity is a daily productivity supplement system designed for busy adults who value traditional wellbeing but don’t have time for long rituals or multiple bottles.
Each daily pack combines:
- Functional mushrooms, nootropics and adaptogens (like Lion’s Mane and Reishi Mushroom)
- Methylated Vitamin B and Magnesium in highly bioavailable forms
And the best part?
We pre-pack these four supplement capsules into one convenient, grab-and-go packs.
A Different Way to Think About Productivity
My Grandmother always believed that caring for the mind should start long before something breaks. And she role-modeled it through the way she lived.
Here’s what I’ve learnt: Productivity isn’t about willpower.
It’s about giving your mind and body the support it needs to stay clear, steady, and resilient over time - sustainably.
