Shilajit is a super powerful source of nutrients, organic acids, and other beneficial compounds, acting as a sticky, dark resin that is harvested between the layers of high-altitude mountain rocks. And, even though for 5000 years, shilajit has been used around the world to address all kinds of health ailments, it’s still quite new to the U.S. market on such a mainstream level.
While many people are beginning to learn about shilajit for the first time, let’s talk about something important, which is how to spot a fake shilajit product when you’re out shopping for it. fortunately, fakes are pretty easy to spot, if you know what to look for, and where to shop.
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Why Do Fake Shilajit Exists on the Marketplace?
Nobody wants to hear that fake shilajit products even exist in the first place, but as we all know, the natural wellness market is extremely profitable, and so shady business owners will always be around, trying to profit off of naïve customers. Companies can get away with faking shilajit, because it’s so new that most customers don’t have anything to compare it to.
Types of Fakes You Might Run into
There are a few different ways in which a shilajit product can be a fake. Here are the types of fakes that you’ll want to be on the lookout for.
- Knock-Off Products: A knock-off would be a product made by one company, designed to look exactly like the product made by a more popular company – like a fake iPhone or knockoff designer purse. What’s inside the formula is actually a low-quality product, or one that doesn’t even contain shilajit.
- Products that Contain Zero (or Almost Zero) Shilajit: There are also products that are advertised as shilajit products, but either contain no shilajit at all, or are made with so little an amount of shilajit that they can’t possibly give you the effects of the substance.
- Products Made with Harmful Ingredients: While these products aren’t technically a fake, you still want to vehemently avoid any formula that contains shilajit, but also contains dangerous ingredients that can harm your health, like certain additives known to be carcinogenic or dangerous to the liver.
Avoiding a Fake Shilajit Product: What You Need to Be on the Lookout For!
Like we mentioned, it is actually pretty easy to find out whether or not you’re looking at a fake product. So, here’s a quick checklist of things to pay attention to when you’re out shopping for shilajit.
#1: Check the Third-Party Lab Reports
It’s always critical that you read the third-party lab reports for a product before you buy it, as this is where you’ll find objective information about the product provided by a third-party, state-authorized testing facility.
The lab reports should always be easy to find on a manufacturer’s website. They will tell you just how much shilajit is in the formula, as well as the purity of the shilajit. Keep in mind that shilajit resin contains no ingredients but shilajit itself.
#2: Read the Shilajit Online Reviews
It’s important to read reviews of a brand’s products before buying from them, because that’s where you’ll be able to find out quickly whether or not customers are satisfied with the brand. And, consider searching for reviews on third-party platforms like Reddit and YouTube, just in case somehow, a company is faking their reviews on their website.
#3: Consider the Retailer You’re Buying it from
Ultimately, some types of retailers just aren’t trustworthy sources for shilajit. We recommend that you avoid buying shilajit in-person, because it’s easier for fake products to end up in local markets, where demand is lower, and the average store owner stocking these products doesn’t know any better.
Businesses like gas stations and convenience stores are not recommended for buying shilajit, since the owners of these businesses rarely take the time or have the incentive to ensure legitimacy.
#4: Read the Label Carefully
Before buying any product containing shilajit, thoroughly read the product’s label. Go through the list of ingredients to make sure that the product actually contains shilajit, and just look for potentially dangerous or unnecessary ingredients in the formula. Also, confirm that there aren’t spelling or grammar mistakes on the label, since that’s a sign that a company is not professional.
Can You Test Shilajit for Its Authenticity Yourself?
Yes, you can find out for yourself if a shilajit product is authentic after you’ve purchased it. You can even, to an extent, confirm its purity. Let’s get into more detail.
Spotting Fake Shilajit Resin
Shilajit resin is the most popular form, and the most potent. It’s a sticky black substance that has undergone minimal processing. It’s also the easiest to identify as a fake. Typically, fake resin will either be watered down, or contain artificial colors and thickening agents. It can also contain charcoal or coal, or even burnt sugar/honey.
Luckily, pure, authentic resin has properties that are very distinctive and easy to identify. Real shilajit resin will harden when it’s cold, and you can form it into a ball with your fingers. It should never harden into a solid. At room temperature, it’s sticky and viscous, without being watery. Also, when you place real shilajit resin into water, it should have a reddish tinge to it.
Identifying Fake Shilajit Powders, Capsules, and Liquids
It’s a lot harder to identify fake shilajit powders, capsules, and liquids, because their physical properties are far more generic than resin. They behave like their respective forms; without any real tests you can do like the ones above. One factor, again, is color. Diluted shilajit should have a reddish hue to it. Otherwise, you’ll have to read the ingredients carefully, and hope that you’re buying from a brand that you can trust.
Because of this, you have yet another reason to consider going with resin over other product types. Besides the fact that it’s more potent and effective, it’s far less likely to be faked in any way.
Spotting Himalayan vs. Other Forms of Shilajit
Himalayan shilajit is largely regarded as the best, as the high altitude of the Himalayas allows for the most potent product through the process of fermentation. Because of this, many people won’t settle for anything other than shilajit harvested from this specific mountain range. But, how can you be sure that you’re getting Himalayan shilajit, and not that of another region in the world?
The more fermented the shilajit is, the darker the color will be. Himalayan shilajit should be almost black, so that’s a key factor to look for. Again, this color can be faked, but now you know how to test for pure shilajit resin and avoid certain ingredients.
Testing Shilajit Products for Purity
Shilajit, once it’s harvested, undergoes an extensive water purification process that rids impurities. Because shilajit is water-soluble, this process is actually quite simple, and highly effective.
If you’re wondering how pure your shilajit is, you can simply dissolve it in water. It should not separate, and there should not be any kind of sediment at the bottom of the container. If there is, the purification process was not done properly.
Avoid Fake Shilajit by Buying from Bounce Nutrition
Bounce Nutrition offers pure, lab-tested shilajit resin, without any added ingredients. This is your best bet for avoiding fakes altogether. Instead of having to apply these tips to every shopping experience you have, you can simply know that you’re getting the real deal, and even read those reviews and lab reports to confirm that what you’re purchasing is 100% authentic.
Explore our shilajit today, and simply treat yourself to some of the highest-quality resin in the world.