Shilajit has been a staple of ayurvedic medicine for at least 5000 years, and so, while it may be new to most of us, it has been studied extensively for well over a century for its variety of potential health benefits. This naturally occurring sticky resin comes from crevices between the rocks of high-altitude mountains, and it’s easily one of the most nutrient-dense plant substances in the world.
Shilajit has been touted for its many therapeutic uses over the years, so we want to compile a list of all of the known potential benefits of the substance to help provide you with a clear idea of what it may do for you. Remember, you don’t need to have a specific ailment to benefit from it – its impressive variety of trace minerals alone makes it a fantastic choice as a daily supplement for overall health.
TO BUY SHILAJIT PRODUCTS CLICK HERE
Where Do the Benefits of Shilajit Originate From?
Shilajit is a fascinating substance that results from nature hard at work. When its chemical composition was first analyzed, it was found to have a high level of humic acid. Humic acid results from the decomposition of plants, as microbes ingest and break down plant life, which ends up in the soil. Our soil naturally contains humic acid, and this gave scientists the realization that shilajit starts out from decomposing plants surrounding high-altitude mountainous areas.
When the humus-rich soil experiences rainfall, it makes its way down toward the crevices of mountains where it essentially becomes stuck. As this soil sits in these crevices over the course of millions of years, it takes on the mineral composition of the rocks, and undergoes an aging process that changes the structure of the soil itself. The result is a resin that is phenomenally high in nutrients, humic acid, and fulvic acid, leading to a dark, sticky resin that has one of the highest densities of nutrients in the natural world.
The benefits that we can derive from shilajit come from its fulvic and humic acids along with its trace minerals, many of which are extremely rare, yet play a major role in our overall health. Let’s take a look at these compounds more closely.
Fulvic and Humic Acids
Fulvic and humic acids are the result of beneficial microbes consuming dead plant life so that it may decompose. They bind to nutrients to enhance their bioavailability, making them more readily absorbed by the body, and possess immune-boosting properties as well as antioxidants.
Mineral Composition
Many people are at risk of mineral deficiency, as minerals play a vital role in many functions of our health. The astounding variety of minerals, including rare, trace minerals, found in shilajit can play an incredible role in improving our health, and the unique bioavailability of these minerals is the result of the fascinating process that allows shilajit to exist.
The fulvic and humic acid in shilajit enables these minerals to absorb into the body easily, so that we can maximize their benefits. These acids improve cell wall permeability, so that the minerals can enter the cells of the body efficiently.
As for the actual breakdown of minerals, they are as follows, in no particular order – more specifically, shilajit contains:
- Calcium
- Barium
- Benzoic acids
- Organic acids
- Alumina
- Albumen
- Cobalt
- Calcium
- Chromium
- Gold
- Lead
- Iron
- Copper
- Carbon
- Nickel
- Magnesium
- Manganese
- Silver
- Potassium
- Sulfur
- Sodium
- Bismuth
- Gallium
- Beryllium
- Zinc
- Tin
- Hippuric acid
- Titanium
- Molybdenum
- Phospholipids
- Plant resins and waxes
- Humic and fulvic acids
- Vanadium
- Silicone dioxide
- Hydro-oxidized amide peptide bonds
- Phosphoric anhydride
- Phenonlic and pregnane steroids
What are the More Specific Benefits of Shilajit?
Despite no FDA clearance yet, shilajit has been studied for thousands of years – more recently, through verified peer-reviewed studies via clinical trials – to establish a better understanding of how its properties provide us with certain benefits. Let’s take a look at the more specific medicinal uses of shilajit, based on research that has been accumulated over many years.
Immune-Boosting Properties
Shilajit has been found to improve immunity by supplying the body with a high concentration of nutrients that support immune function. Minerals play a vital role in immune system function, with zinc, copper, magnesium, iron, and selenium being particularly valuable. Deficiencies in these minerals can result in more frequent infections, as the immune system loses its ability to fight off disease.
Blood Sugar Regulation
Shilajit’s chemical compounds can balance blood sugar levels in the body, as a hypoglycemic agent. Shilajit helps break down the starch in glucose, which can prevent glucose from accumulating in the blood, all while regulating the production of insulin. Of course, this means that shilajit is worth exploring if you have or are prone to diabetes.
Cholesterol Regulation
Another function of shilajit is the regulation of cholesterol, which can aid in improved cardiovascular health. It prevents lipids from over-accumulating in the body while reducing cholesterol, which can support a healthier heart.
Kidney and Urinary Tract Support
There are a number of minerals in shilajit that play a role in promoting the health of the kidneys and urinary tract. In fact, shilajit is one of the earliest remedies for kidney stones, and can promote healthy excretion of waste through the kidneys, while improving overall urinary tract function, and potentially aiding in the prevention of urinary tract infections.
Detoxification
In ayurvedic medicine, shilajit is seen as an agent for detoxification, purifying the blood to reduce the level of toxins in the body. This particular potential benefit requires more research, as the term “detoxification” is quite generalized.
Bone Health
Many minerals in shilajit play a vital role in supporting the health of our bones. Besides that, it can reduce the risk of osteoporosis in women by increasing estrogen levels that are typically in decline after menopause, reducing bone density. Shilajit has been shown to improve bone density in people of all ages.
Improved Digestion and Nutrient Absorption
Shilajit’s fulvic and humic acids allow for improved absorption of nutrients, by enhancing cell permeability, while the minerals in the substance can boost digestive health. Besides that, shilajit is an anti-inflammatory, which can alleviate inflammatory symptoms of the digestive tract that cause a wide range of troubles like upset stomach, gas, bloating, constipation, and more. It may also suppress the growth of harmful intestinal bacteria like H. Pylori.
Reproductive Health Properties
One of the most ancient uses for shilajit is boosting libido, and this is believed to come from the sex hormone-boosting properties found within the chemical composition of the resin. We said earlier that shilajit may boost estrogen levels, and estrogen plays a key role in reproductive health and sexual function. It may also boost male sex hormones, to the extent of promoting male fertility. In particular, shilajit may increase testosterone levels in men.
The hormone-regulating effects of shilajit may improve menstrual periods, by balancing estrogen and progesterone levels throughout the monthly cycle. This may make periods more regular, while easing symptoms of PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome) like cramps, bloating, fatigue, irritability, low mood, brain fog, and general discomfort.
Promotes Longevity
The properties of shilajit have long been seen as longevity-enhancing, and the high concentration of antioxidants in the substance likely plays a role. Cultures that consumed shilajit religiously were seen, historically, to have better agility at an older age, and live longer as well. The high levels of fulvic and humic acids enable the body to defend itself against cellular damage through exposure to free radicals, which can reduce physical and mental signs of aging.
Cognitive Support
Shilajit’s fulvic acids contain antioxidants that play a direct role in the prevention and slowed progression of dementia, by improving cognitive health on a cellular level. Fulvic acid prevents tau proteins from building up in the brain, which causes cognitive decline by damaging nerve and brain cells. This means that shilajit can allow the brain to maintain its memory, focus, motivation, mood, and other cognitive functions as a person ages. This also has major implications for Alzheimer’s patients.
Protection Against Anemia
Anemia is the clinical term for iron deficiency, and this can lead to a host of health problems as iron is an essential nutrient for the body to function. Because of the high iron content in shilajit, it can prevent anemia in those who are otherwise low on iron. Keep in mind that those who are anemic should take iron supplements, whether in the form of shilajit or otherwise, under the guidance of a doctor, as a person can overdose on iron if they’re not careful.
Antiviral Properties
Shilajit may offer impressive antiviral properties due to its high level of minerals that directly fight against viruses, such as zinc, copper, and more. Taking shilajit on a daily basis may prevent a person from catching common viruses, while improving the body’s ability to fight viruses.
Relief from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a condition that has only been recognized recently, and its origins remain somewhat unknown. But, its effects can be disastrous on a person’s life, as it can get in the way of a person’s ability to function throughout the day. People who do struggle with the condition have found relief by taking shilajit on a daily basis. Shilajit can improve cellular function, which in turn boosts energy levels.
Help with Wound Healing
Shilajit may improve healing from wounds and the healing of ulcers like ulcerative colitis, mouth ulcers, and more. This comes from its ability to stimulate the growth of new cells that allow healing to take place faster.
Mood Effects
Shilajit has been known to have positive effects on mood. It’s reported to offer antidepressant qualities, as well as anxiolytic properties, likely from its classification as an adaptogen. Adaptogens are plants and fungus that improve the body’s ability to respond to stress, by regulating adrenal functions so that emotional distress is more easily tolerated by the nervous system. This can dramatically improve a person’s day-to-day mood and emotional state, making a person more resilient to the daily stresses of life.
The Benefits of Shilajit are Extensive!
Shilajit is a natural substance that ancient cultures have regarded highly for thousands of years, and now, science and technology have caught up in a way that has allowed us to better understand why it has been such a widely used therapeutic around the world for so long. Shilajit’s phenomenal benefits come from its unique compound composition, and the fascinating way in which this substance develops in nature, promoting the development of trace minerals, organic acids, and more.
If you’re interested in giving shilajit a try, there’s never been a better time. Shilajit live resin is available on the U.S. market, and it comes with lab reports from a third party, to verify its purity, safety, and authenticity. At Bounce Nutrition, you can find ultra-pure shilajit live resin that can easily be incorporated into your daily routine for maximum benefits.