We’re thrilled to introduce you to an ancient superfood that has been celebrated worldwide for its powerful strength-enhancing properties.
Shilajit, also known as mumijo, is a thick, sticky, tar-like substance found primarily at high altitudes in the Himalayas. It varies in color from white to dark brown and forms over centuries through the gradual decomposition of specific plants by microorganisms. Once purified, shilajit becomes a potent and safe dietary supplement that helps restore energy balance and may prevent various diseases.
Recent research has shown its potential in treating cognitive disorders linked to aging and enhancing cognitive function. The key component, fulvic acid, has been found to prevent tau protein aggregation, offering a promising direction for Alzheimer’s therapy. In summary, shilajit is a nutraceutical with proven health benefits.
Introduction
Shilajit, also known as salajit, shilajatu, mimie, or mummiyo in North India, is a blackish-brown powder or exudate found in high mountain rocks, especially in the Himalayan mountains between India and Nepal. It has also been discovered in other regions, including Russia, Tibet, Afghanistan, and the Andes mountains in northern Chile, where it is known as Andean Shilajit.
Ayurvedic medicine has recognized and utilized shilajit for centuries as a rejuvenating and anti-aging compound. In ancient Indian Ayurvedic medicine, shilajit is prized for its two key characteristics as a rasayana compound: increasing physical strength and promoting overall human health. Additionally, the health benefits of shilajit can vary depending on the region from which it is sourced.
Shilajit, a phytocomplex primarily made up of humic substances, has gained recognition for its potential health benefits. One of its key components, fulvic acid, is known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and memory-enhancing properties.
Recent studies have shown that fulvic acid may act as an anti-aggregation agent for tau protein in vitro, indicating its potential as a promising molecule for treating Alzheimer's disease.
Overall, shilajit and its main component, fulvic acid, present exciting opportunities for enhancing human health and could have significant therapeutic applications in the future.
Traditional Uses of Shilajit
Shilajit is a well-known component of Ayurvedic medicine, valued as a rasayana for its potential health benefits, including increased longevity, rejuvenation, and slowing the aging process. In Nepal and northern India, shilajit is traditionally consumed, with children often taking it mixed with milk for breakfast. The Sherpas, known for their strength and long lives, also include shilajit in their diet.
In our laboratory, we have found evidence of the high efficacy of the Andean form of shilajit in improving cognitive disorders and enhancing cognitive activity in humans. These findings further support shilajit’s potential as a natural supplement for promoting overall health and cognitive function.
Hippocampal cells were grown in Petri dishes in the presence of either 10 mg/mL Shilajit or the formulation of Brain Up-10 plus vitamins of the B complex. In the control, cells were grown in a culture medium without Shilajit or the formulation. Mean of 5 determinations (n = 5) (significance of differences with respect to control, **P < 0.001).
Fulvic acid, a key element of shilajit, shows promise in preventing tau protein self-aggregation, suggesting its potential in Alzheimer's disease prevention. Shilajit also boasts a long history of traditional use for a variety of conditions, including genitourinary disorders, jaundice, digestive issues, enlarged spleen, epilepsy, nervous disorders, chronic bronchitis, and anemia. Additionally, it has been used to treat kidney stones, edema, and hemorrhoids, act as an internal antiseptic, and reduce anorexia. In India, shilajit is known to enhance the effectiveness of other medications.
Rich in organic compounds, shilajit aids in transporting minerals to their cellular targets. High-quality shilajit is typically harvested from the high-altitude regions of the Himalayas, between 16,000 and 19,000 feet. This nutrient-dense substance contains over 85 minerals and has the potential to significantly benefit overall health and well-being. Here are 20 potential health benefits of shilajit that might inspire you to incorporate it into your daily routine.
Top 20 Benefits of Shilajit
1. Eases Chronic Fatigue
Chronic fatigue leads to extreme tiredness, lack of sleep, body pain, and poor cognition. It is often caused by unregulated Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis (HPA Axis) & malfunctioning mitochondria. According to a study, Shilajit can promote mitochondrial health and also help in regulating the HPA Axis and reduce fatigue symptoms by maintaining good cortisol levels and adrenal weight.
2. Helps with Alzheimer’s
The brains of people with Alzheimer’s show protein tangles (also known as tau fibrils) in scans. These protein tangles continue to get worse with time, and this is how the symptoms of Alzheimer’s progress with time. Shilajit can prevent or slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s by effectively reducing the size of proteins and detangling them.
3. Heart Health
Shilajit provides the human body with antioxidants and nutrients that might improve heart health. This natural supplement is rich in humic acid, which can lower blood fat and help in preventing major heart diseases and strokes. According to a study, humic acid effectively reduced bad cholesterol and fat in a rat’s blood while maintaining healthy levels of good cholesterol.
4. Boosts Testosterone Levels
Low testosterone levels may cause loss of hair, lack of sex drive, fatigue, loss of muscle mass, and an increase in body fat. According to a clinical study, which was conducted for 90 days, a daily intake of 250 mg Shilajit effectively boosted the levels of testosterone in male volunteers aged between 45 and 55.
5. Helps with Anemia
Shilajit can help with iron-deficiency anemia caused by a low-iron diet, blood loss, and body’s inability to absorb iron. In a study conducted on 18 rats divided into 3 groups of 6, researches medically induce anemia in groups 2 and 3. After 11 days, researchers gave 500 mg of Shilajit to the Group 3 rats. When the blood samples were taken from each group on day 21, researchers found higher hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red blood cells count in the 3rd group.
6. Boosts Male Fertility
Shilajit is considered to be one of the widely used supplements to increase male fertility. According to a study, more than 60% of infertile males who took Shilajit daily after meals for 90 days recorded an increase in total sperm count while more than 12% of candidates experienced an increase in sperm mobility.
7. Helps With Addictions
Shilajit comes packed with active compounds that may help with addictions. Shilajit can reduce the symptoms of withdrawal and curb addictive behavior by altering the levels of dopamine in the limbic system. However, more research is required to prove these claims.
8. Helps With Brain Injuries
Head injuries can result in damaged blood vessels and an increase in oxidative stress. Shilajit can help reduce brain damage by increasing blood flow and reducing the pressure in the brain. According to animal studies, Shilajit may also promote healthy brain recovery by increasing the levels of antioxidants.
9. Supports Gut Health
Since Shilajit is rich in antioxidants, it may reduce oxidative damage and inflammation-causing an upset stomach. According to a study, Fulvic acid found in Shilajit effectively reduced stomach acid and pepsin secretion in rats leading to a lower risk of stomach ulcers. Also, Benzoic Acid found in Shilajit has antibacterial properties that fight stomach bacteria to keep it healthy.
10. Improves Blood Flow
Fulvic Acid found in Shilajit can promote healthy blood flow in the body and allow the absorption of essential nutrients into the deep tissues. Fulvic Acid also acts as a detoxifier and may remove the harmful toxins settled in deep tissues of your body.
11. Eases the Inflammation
Higher neutrophils levels lead to damaged tissues and increased inflammation in the body. Humic Acid and Fulvic Acid found in Shilajit can effectively reduce inflammation and helps in lowering neutrophils. Shilajit is also rich in potassium humate that blocks the complement activation reducing the production of cytokines that are inflammatory substances found in cells.
12. Anti-aging Agent
Fulvic acid found in Shilajit possesses potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which provide protection against free radicals and control cellular damage. Therefore, the regular use of Shilajit can slow down the aging process and make you look younger while maintaining overall good health.
13. Provides Protection Against Radiation
Sometimes, your body gets exposed to radiation unintentionally, which may increase the oxidative stress in the body, causing significant damage to many organs. In addition to that, radiotherapy, which is used to treat certain cancers, can also damage many healthy tissues. Because of the presence of nutrients and antioxidants, Shilajit can prevent or reduce the damage caused by radiation and promote healthy cell survival.
14. Can Help With Memory
In Ayurveda, Shilajit has been described as a great memory enhancer that boosts focus & learning capabilities. According to a study conducted on rats, purified Shilajit increased learning and sharpened memory in old rats. On the other hand, if you consume impure or low-quality Shilajit, it can have a negative impact on your brain’s cognitive functions.
15. Helps With High Altitude Sickness
If you experience high-altitude sickness symptoms like pulmonary edema, insomnia, lethargy, body pain, or dementia, Shilajit can help. Shilajit comes packed with fulvic acid and 85+ other essential minerals, and therefore, it can help with body pain and boost energy. It may also boost the immune system and remove excess fluid from your body, thus, dealing with many high-altitude-related problems.
16. Helps With Insulin Production
The antioxidant properties of Shilajit can help in preventing Type-2 diabetes since it protects the beta cells in the pancreas responsible for insulin production. It can also help in preventing diabetes from progressing further. Hence, regular intake of Shilajit can significantly improve the condition of diabetics.
17. Helps With Seizures
According to a study conducted on rats, Shilajit was able to speed up the recovery of epileptic rats from a deadly seizure. In addition to that, higher dosages of Shilajit taken on regular intervals can delay the frequency of seizures and complications that come in the way. Therefore, Shilajit can be used for seizure recovery and epileptic treatments.
18. Works Great With Other Herbs
Shilajit has this wonderful ability to enhance the benefits of other herbs and nutrients benefitting the body in plenty of ways. Ayurveda regards Shilajit as “Yogavaha” which means it is a universal agent that can enhance the properties of other drugs.
Here are some herbs that can be used with Shilajit for enhanced effect:
- Sweet Acacia
- Charoli Nut
- Catechu
- Bala
- Myrobalan
- Asana
There are plenty of other herbs that can be combined with Shilajit for better results.
19. Reduces Stress & Anxiety
According to animal studies, Shilajit can help with stress and anxiety by increasing the dopamine levels in the limbic region, also known as, the emotional region of the brain. It can also help in reducing the detrimental effects on the mind with the help of its antioxidant properties and richness in many powerful nutrients. In a study conducted on rats, Shilajit effectively increased the levels of GABA in the brain, which is a calming neurotransmitter, which also explains its anti-seizure properties.
20. Boosts Other Antioxidants in the Body
According to a study, Shilajit can make your body’s antioxidant defense stronger, which may have a significant impact on your overall health. It blocks a cell’s death pathways and increases glutathione levels, which is a master antioxidant in your body responsible for the production of free radicals. Overall, Shilajit increases the antioxidant property of cells and stabilizes them.
How to Take Shilajit:
Shilajit is traditionally taken once daily by dissolving it in warm water, tea, or milk, ideally at a temperature up to 39°C. Use filtered, non-chlorinated water for the best results. Start with a dose about the size of a wheat grain, and gradually increase to the size of a pea. You can also add ghee (clarified butter), coconut butter, or honey to the mixture.
To prepare, break off a piece of shilajit the size of a wheat grain or pea and dissolve it in 200 ml of fluid. It will fully dissolve within a few minutes; stir well before consuming.
For therapeutic purposes, shilajit can be mixed with turmeric milk or fresh coconut juice. To support memory and promote pineal gland decalcification, combine it with fresh filtered water and either fresh or dried rosemary.
It is advised not to exceed a daily intake of 0.2 to 0.6 grams. After three weeks of use, take a one-week break before resuming.
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This Purified Premium Shilajit is carefully sourced from the Altai Mountains in Nepal, part of the Himalayan range, at elevations between 15,000-18,000 feet.