What is shilajit?
Shilajit, sometimes called "mineral pitch", or in northern India Salajit of mummiyo, is a sticky, tar-like substance found mainly in the rocks of the Himalayas, Tibetan and Altai Mountains, as well as northern Chile, where it is called “Andean-Shilajit”. It is formed as a result of the slow decomposition of plant material over a long period of time.
Shilajit has been used in the ancient Indian Ayurvedic medicinal system for decades. It is used to treat numerous conditions such as impotence and bone fractures. In Ayurveda it is believed that diseases are caused by a disturbance of the balance between body, mind, spirit and the environment. In general, the aim of Ayurvedic medicine is to cleanse the mind, body and soul. This can be achieved through herbal internal cleansing remedies along with various lifestyle changes, including dietary changes and involvement in physical activities. In the United States, Ayurveda is considered CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine).
Composition of Shilajit
Shilajit is composed of humic substances, which are naturally occurring organic compounds formed as a result of the decomposition of organic plant matter. However, fulvic acid (FA) makes up most of its contents. This actually makes Shilajit water soluble as Fulvic Acid is soluble in water under different pH conditions.
Numerous studies have demonstrated the antioxidant activity of Fulvic Acid. In fact, it is this antioxidant activity of Fulvic Acid that is believed to be responsible for most of the health benefits of Shilajit. In 2018, “Winkler and Ghost” published a review on the therapeutic potential of Fulvic Acid. They were able to convincingly review the existing literature and further confirm the antioxidant potential of Fulvic Acid. They reported that Fulvic Acid has the ability to sequester superoxide free radicals in our body. In case you didn't know, these free radicals are unstable atoms that can damage our body cells, causing disease and aging.
In addition to Fulvic Acid, this nutraceutical compound contains selenium, an essential trace element that is present in significant amounts. Selenium is involved in immune system function, enhanced cognition and improved fertility. Selenium deficiency can lead to infertility in men and women, fatigue, a weakened immune system, hair loss, mental fog and muscle weakness.
Other components of Shilajit include various minerals, plant and microbial metabolites, lipids, small peptides, amino acids, and phenolic glycosides.
The best forms of Shilajit
Shilajit comes in different forms depending on geographic location. The best quality is believed to come from the Altai and Himalayan regions. The mountains in these regions are impressively high and located at very high altitudes. Shilajit is collected at elevations as high as 4876 meters (16,000 ft) to as high as 5943 meters (19,500 ft). These substances collected at high altitudes are believed to be purer and more effective for therapeutic applications than substances collected at lower altitudes. Shilajit can occur at lower altitudes but will therefore be subject to more pollution. This results in a production process in which this contamination must be separated from the Shilajit. This process does not benefit the quality of the Shilajit.
Apart from the fact that Shilajit are collected at high altitudes in the Altai and Himalayas, the Altai and Himalayas are known for their rich cultural history in using Shilajit for medicinal applications. Particularly in the Himalayas, Shilajit has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries.
Interestingly, Shilajit can also be found in other high mountain regions of the world. There are reports of this compound in some parts of Europe, South Africa, Afghanistan, Chile and Australia. However, Shilajit from these parts of the world is not as readily available as those from the Altai and Himalayan region. Apart from a few locals who use them, there are also not as many traditional uses as those from the latter regions.
As unfortunate as it may sound, in Europe and America many manufacturers market Shilajit that has not undergone any purification or quality control. Many Shilajit on the market are of low quality, diluted or even chemically altered. It often happens that they are supplemented with harmful fillers and substances similar to them, such as Ozokerite. Some products labeled "Shilajit" don't even contain any Shilajit at all. In America, it is speculated that only 1% of items labeled Shilajit are actually the real commodity. As expected, counterfeits of this highly therapeutic substance exist, not only because of its rarity, but also because of its extensive medicinal uses in Ayurveda. It is the best-selling male virility supplement in Asia.
Research into the effect of Shilajit
As we have seen before, Shilajit is known all over the world for its healing properties. Its use dates back to the ancient Indian Ayurvedic system several thousand years ago. Today, most of the benefits to the human body are scientifically proven. The days of anecdotal claims are over. In the following paragraphs, we will take a look at the beneficial effects of Shilajit that have been researched and proven by scientific publications.
- Alzheimer's disease
This is a progressive neurological disorder that causes the human brain to shrink in size and eventually cause the cells to die. It is the most common cause of dementia - a condition characterized by a continuous decline in cognitive, social and behavioral skills. Alzheimer's disease is caused by an abnormal buildup of proteins such as amyloid and tau in the brain cells.
Interestingly, the research states that Shilajit may have a beneficial effect in slowing down the accumulation of tau proteins in the brain, which is the main cause of Alzheimer's disease. In 2012, a study was published in the International Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. The study evaluated Shilajit's property in improving cognitive impairment by serving as a cognitive stimulant in humans. It explicitly described how fulvic acid (the main moist component of Shilajit) may work to prevent tau protein aggregation, the buildup of which is responsible for brain cell loss.
While there is some evidence that Shilajit may slow Alzheimer's disease, more research is needed as the scientific evidence for this property is still very limited.
Do you want to know more about the effect of Shilajit on the cognitive ability of your brain? Then you can read more about this in our blog: "The incredible mental health benefits of Shilajit"
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Bladder cancer
In 2018, bladder cancer was the sixth most common cause of cancer in men and XNUMXth in women in the world. Shilajit is claimed by many to have great antioxidant properties.
In a specific study conducted as late as 2021, Shilajit showed promising results when tested against cancer cells of the bladder. It was shown to act selectively to cause the apoptosis or death of bladder cancer cells.
However, more research is needed to scientifically substantiate the effect of this property.
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Chronic Inflammatory Diseases and Diabetes
Chronic inflammatory diseases such as diabetes are becoming more common. According to DiabetesAtlas someone dies of diabetes every five seconds. That is a frightening statement! Existing treatment approaches are not effective enough to prevent all diabetes-related deaths and new and better therapeutic measures must be adopted to combat this threat. This led some researchers to a scientific study into possible alternative treatment methods for the disease, which was published in 2016 in the 'International Journal of Ayurveda and Pharma Research'.
This was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in which forty participants were randomly divided into two groups: one group received Shilajit (250 mg, two capsules twice a day) and the other group received a placebo for 12 weeks.
Endothelial function was evaluated using several parameters, such as reflectance index, augmentation index, subendocardial viability ratio, ankle-brachial index, pulse wave velocity, and systemic vascular resistance. lipid levels and biomarkers such as nitric oxide, MDA, glutathione and hsCRP were also evaluated.
After 12 weeks of treatment, a statistically significant improvement in endothelial function was observed in the Shilajit group, as well as improvements in other cardiovascular parameters and biomarker levels. No serious side effects were reported.
These results suggest that Shilajit may have a positive effect on endothelial function in diabetic patients, but further research with a larger number of participants is needed to confirm these findings.
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Infertility and Testosterone
Infertility affects countless people worldwide in their childbearing years. According to CDC Infertility is defined as being unable to conceive a baby after about a year (or longer) of unprotected sex. Low sperm count and poor motility are the main causes of infertility in men. In a study published in the First International Journal of Andrology, Shilajit extract was tested by oral administration on 60 patients experiencing infertility for 90 days. At the end of the experiment, 28 patients who completed the treatment showed improvement in sperm production, total sperm count and motility.
Another clinical study, conducted on individuals between 45-55 years of age, confirmed Shilajit's ability to improve overall sexual function. Subjects administered Shilajit twice daily for 90 consecutive days showed increased total testosterone, free testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEAS) compared to a placebo agent.
In men, testosterone regulates sex drive (libido), improves bone mass, muscle mass, and strength, and regulates sperm production. These studies seem to confirm the Ayurvedic use of Shilajit to increase sperm count and fight infertility.
If you are interested in how Shilajit Resin increases testosterone, we go into more detail on this topic in our blog: "How Does Shilajit Increase Testosterone?"
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Fatigue
In general, fatigue occurs when our body cells do not produce enough energy. In Ayurveda, Shilajit is seen as a compound with intense rejuvenating properties, which can provide the body cells with revitalizing energy in no time. Scientific research states that the fulvic acid present in Shilajit can improve physical performance and relieve fatigue by increasing the mitochondria's ability to produce energy. However, it is worth noting that this study was conducted on laboratory animals. Further clinical research might be needed to validate the claims.
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Aging
Here too, the main component of Shilajit, fulvic acid, is responsible. As a strong antioxidant, fulvic acid can fight free radicals present in our body, protecting against cell damage and significantly slowing down the aging process.
However, more research is needed to determine how fulvic acid scavenges and scavenges free radicals.
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Liver Cancer
Similar to the bladder, Shilajit appeared to inhibit the growth of liver cancer cells by inducing apoptosis (cell death) and inhibiting proliferation. However, more research needs to be done to demonstrate even more anti-cancer properties of this compound.
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Heart Health
Shilajit was found to have cardio-protective properties in a study conducted in laboratory animals. However, this study was only conducted on laboratory animals. It remains without any clinical evidence.
It is pertinent to bear in mind that Shilajit can lower blood pressure in some cases. Care should be taken not to allow it to be taken by anyone with active heart disease. Again, more research is needed to confirm the precise effect of Shilajit on heart health.
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Muscle mass
As we have seen before, research states that Shilajit can help increase overall testosterone levels in the human body, which is actively involved in building muscle mass and strength. The fulvic acid component of Shilajit is very beneficial for bodybuilders as it contains high levels of oxygen which can help reduce muscle soreness and respiratory distress during a workout routine. The research Shilajit: A Panacea for High Altitude Problems describes this in more detail. The same fulvic acid facilitates the absorption of minerals and other nutrients in the body, which is an essential aspect for bodybuilders as they need to feel energized and less fatigued all the time. For best results.
Side Effects of Shilajit
As good as this compound may be, consuming unregulated and unprocessed amounts can be harmful to our health. Raw, unprocessed Shilajit can contain a number of heavy metal ions, free radicals and other pollutants that can make us sick.
Shilajit is not monitored for purity and quality by the United States Food and Drug Administration. This is an important reason why there are many counterfeit products in the European and American market at the moment. It is therefore advisable to obtain Shilajit from a reliable supplier who manufactures or sells good quality pollution-free supplements/agents. Whether you buy the product online or in a store, make sure you buy the right product. As mentioned earlier, Shilajit from the Altai and Himalayas are the best forms you can get in the market. This is due to the unique fact that it originates from significantly higher altitudes.
Due to the scarcity of data in research guides, little is known about the side effects of short-term and long-term use of Shilajit. However, there are some potential issues worth mentioning:
- Shilajit can significantly increase the iron levels in our blood. People with high iron levels in the blood should therefore stay away from this nutrient.
- Pregnant women, nursing mothers and children should not take Shilajit in any form due to lack of scientific evidence.
- Since Shilajit can significantly lower blood sugar levels, patients with diabetes are advised to always monitor their blood sugar levels. In addition, we recommend that you always consult a doctor before you start Shilajit.
- We do not recommend people with existing heart conditions to take Shilajit.
Where can you buy Shilajit?
There are several providers of Shilajit. Because Shilajit is a rare product and only delivers good quality above 4876 meters in the Himalayas, there are a number of important points that you should pay attention to when buying from a supplier. Bee Apex Nutrition you are assured of pure Himalayan Shilajit Resin with approximately 70 percent 'Fulvic Acid' (the active substance). On the page quality guarantee you will find our test results of the Shilajit which is dirt free.
On our product page of Shilajit you immediately see that with one jar you have 100 days of stock!
Below are the main points to consider when buying Shilajit:
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Do not buy capsules
Capsules are processed and never have a high quality. During the processing process, important minerals are lost and the percentage of 'Fulvic Acid' is reduced.
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Only buy from a trusted beer
Because Shilajit is rare, difficult to harvest, expensive and only available in high quality in a certain area, there are many counterfeits on the market. Always buy from a party that has their products tested in an independent lab and publishes these test results on their website.
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Buy Pure Himalayan Shilajit Resin
Shilajit comes in various forms. Shilajit Resin in the Himalayas is the purest form you can buy. The active ingredient Fulvic Acid has the highest attainable percentage here of 60 to 70 percent.
How fast does Shilajit work?
We recommend taking 250mg to 500mg of Shilajit daily through a tea with honey. If you take 250mg to 500mg of Shilajit daily, you can notice the first effects within two weeks.
How do you use Shilajit?
Shilajit has a distinct taste. Personally, I do not find the taste of Shilajit unpleasant. But Shilajit tastes better when you add honey to your tea. Please note that the tea should not be warmer than 39 degrees!
However, there are people who experience the taste of Shilajit as dirty. That's why we've posted a video with a user guide below.
Shilajit User Manual
Closing
Shilajit is a sticky tar-like compound formed as a result of prolonged breakdown of plant material. Shilajit, which is mainly found in mountainous regions, consists mainly of fulvic acid and some trace elements. It is a compound with an extensive history of use in traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine, dating back hundreds of centuries.
Scientists are excited about the possible future applications of Shilajit in the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers state that Shilajit may improve cognitive function, Shilajit may have properties to fight liver and bladder cancer, Shilajit may reduce fatigue, fight infertility, fight inflammatory conditions and increase natural testosterone production.
Disclaimer:
The information provided in this article is based on third party research and sources. We have not conducted these studies ourselves and therefore cannot take responsibility for the accuracy, reliability or validity of the information.
In addition, we expressly state that the content of this article does not contain any health claims or guarantees. The information presented in this article are only findings and conclusions from third party studies and are for informational purposes only.
The information provided should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified health care professional before making any decisions based on the information in this article.