What is Shilajit And What Are Its Benefits?

Science has certainly gone a long way when it comes to medicine. The diseases that used to kill millions of people years ago are now treated in a couple of days, and as a result, the mortality rates have been significantly lower. It has become much easier to find cures for ailments, and people’s quality of life has only gotten better as the years went by, and science is still moving forward, trying to come up with more answers. Yet, we don’t have all the answers, and sophisticated medicines aren’t always the answer. A lot of people still believe in the power of herbal and oriental medicine, and this is where shilajit comes in.

What is Shilajit?

Shilajit is one of the oldest herbal substances from Asia, and it was traditionally always found around India and Tibet, mostly in the Himalayas. It was a staple of the Indian Ayurvedic medicine for a very long time, and it is still actually used to this very day. Shilajit is considered a mineral pitch, and it is formed after a long process of plants and minerals breaking down in rocky areas over high mountains.

This sticky, black substance almost feels like tar, but the difference is that shilajit contains over 85 minerals and other elements that the human body needs, as well as the very important fulvic acid which helps the body absorb those elements. This is why this compound has been consumed in Asia as a dietary supplement for a very long time.

Shilajit is formed when rocks trap organic substances like plants for thousands or even millions of years in the mountainous regions of Tibet and India. Over that very long period of time, the extreme temperatures and pressure changes transform the organic materials into a mineral mass that comes out of the rocks, and that is shilajit.

What are its benefits?

A lot of different studies have been done and are still being conducted to find out just what the benefits of this mineral substance are. There have been several potential benefits to the human body identified in terms of different functions.

Improving neurological functions

Shilajit is good for your brain, or at least that’s what the studies are showing so far. The mineral substance has been shown to improve brain function, and it has even been proven to help with neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s disease. The problem with this particular disease is the fact that it causes memory loss and a massive deterioration in a person’s motor function, including behavior and thinking abilities.

But shilajit has been shown by some researchers to have the potential to help with slowing down the progression of this vicious disease. This is mostly because of fulvic acid, which is abundantly present in the compound, and this powerful antioxidant has the ability to improve a person’s cognitive function by inhibiting the growth of tau protein, which although important, can be very damaging to brain cells if accumulated.

So, the fulvic acid found in shilajit has the ability to reduce tau protein buildup, and it also can reduce inflammation, which would further help reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Research is still a bit young in this area, but the results so far are quite promising.

Slowing down aging

Nobody likes to get old. Looks and personal appearance aside, your bodily functions begin to deteriorate, and you can tell that your body is aging. Fortunately, shilajit has been shown to have the ability to slow this entire process down.

As mentioned earlier, this rich mineral contains fulvic acid, which is both an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. So, it will help slow down the aging process by fighting the free radicals in your body and reducing cellular damage, boosting your vitality and making you age at a much slower rate than you could’ve expected.

Increasing testosterone levels

It happens quite often that a man suffers from low testosterone levels, which can be quite problematic. Considering the fact that testosterone is the male sex hormone, suffering from low levels will lead to a low sex drive, weight gain, exhaustion, losing muscle mass, hair loss, and other serious problems. Where does shilajit fit into all this?

A study gave participants consistent daily dosage for months, and after the experiment was over, they all had higher testosterone levels, which resulted in a lot of improved bodily functions. It can definitely be a game-changer for men suffering from this problem, and the future will show just how effective shilajit can be in increasing male testosterone levels.

Anemia

You’ve probably heard this word mentioned quite often when a person is skinny or malnourished, but what exactly does it mean? Due to a variety of problems, like iron deficiency, anemia occurs, and it’s when the body doesn’t have enough healthy blood cells to carry oxygen to your entire muscle tissue. This results in feelings of weakness and exhaustion, not to mention headaches and irregular heartbeats, among others.

The minerals found inside shilajit as well as iron and humic acid have the ability to help treat iron deficiency and in turn anemia. It might just be what you need to get stronger and regulate the red blood cell production in your body.

Treating altitude sickness

Being around higher altitudes is definitely far from fun for a lot of people, and it results in several complications, including insomnia, dementia, pain all over the body, exhaustion, and in some cases even pulmonary edema. Altitude sickness happens because of a variety of different factors, including low pressure, high wind velocity, and cold weather.

Shilajit plays on this as it contains tens of minerals as well as fulvic and humic acids, which means it can boost your body’s immunity and cognitive functions by working as an antioxidant, not to mention increase your energy levels and act as an anti-inflammatory. These qualities have made it quite a potent remedy to complications arising from higher altitudes, and a lot of people are actually using it when they go to higher locations to avoid those problems.

Fighting fatigue

A lot of people suffer from chronic fatigue symptoms (CSF), which is miles worse than the exhaustion you feel at the end of a long day at work. This is a long term condition that makes a person extremely tired at all times, doing everyday chores like getting out of bed and going to work or school quite challenging. CSF has been shown to affect several bodily functions, most notably causing mitochondrial dysfunction, which is when your cells don’t produce enough energy to keep you going.

Some studies have shown that shilajit supplements can help with preventing mitochondrial dysfunction if given inconsistent dosages, which will help improve a person’s energy levels and boost their vitality, and a lot of people buy Shilajit for that particular reason. A few scholars believe that shilajit can help fight the symptoms of CFS and help patients restore some of their energy levels. It’s also a bit too soon to tell exactly what the final verdict is, but lab results have been solid this far.

Fighting cancers

Another very promising field of study on shilajit and its numerous benefits is its role in fighting certain cancer types. A study has concluded that the compound was able to help destroy cancerous cells in the liver, which is a huge deal considering the severity of liver cancer. Shilajit was also able to stop these cancer cells from multiplying, and it inhibited the spread of the disease. While more studies are needed in this particular area, it can be a very major breakthrough if the compound is shown to stop cancerous cells, because we are yet to find a cure for this specific disease.

Boosting fertility

While infertility is not uncommon among males, the medicine for this problem is still a bit behind and some even have serious side effects. Shilajit, on the other hand, is a safe supplement that can boost male fertility. A study showed that over 60 percent of patients who took shilajit two times a day for three months was found to have a significantly higher sperm count than before the experiment.

A percentage of those also showed increased sperm motility, which is a major factor in fertility and something every male hoping to procreate needs to have. Studies are still somewhat scarce in this direction, but the great thing is the fact that shilajit is safe, so males suffering from infertility problems don’t really have anything to lose by giving it a go and hoping for the best. It might just be the thing you need to have kids.

Improving heart health

Cardiac problems are one of the most common causes of mortality around the world, and it’s a condition a lot of people suffer from without even knowing it. Shilajit has been shown to have a hand in improving a person’s heart health, and it has some really positive effects on cardiac disorders.

Studies have shown that the compound has the ability to reduce the chances of sustaining heart problems in the future, and it also has the ability to reduce high blood pressure. This is also why you shouldn’t take shilajit if you have a heart condition, not before consulting with your physician to see if it can help you or not.

Promoting weight loss

Obesity is another one of the most serious problems that a lot of people still suffer from around the world, and it is not an easy one to fix. Excess weight has so many complications, from bone damage and muscle fatigue to heart problems. This is why it’s something that you need to address as soon as possible.

Shilajit can help you do that, as it has been shown to help the body adapt faster and better to workout routines, which means less fatigue while you’re working out and more strength as well as endurance as you exercise. You need to get moving, though, so that the shilajit would be of use. So, don’t just sit around and wait for it to fix your problems for you because it won’t.

How do I take shilajit?

Shilajit comes in powder as well as liquid form, and you need to follow instructions on how to use this supplement. You could dissolve it in water or milk if you want, and then you drink it one to three times a day. Generally speaking, the recommended dosage of shilajit is around 300 to 500 mg a day, so try to always stay within that range.

Does it have any side effects?

Research so far has shown that shilajit is a safe supplement for long term use, but it is not recommended that you take it raw or unprocessed, as it may contain elements that might harm you if consumed. Otherwise, it is mostly safe to use and has been a staple of medicine in Asia for centuries, but there are some potential side effects that you should know about.

As mentioned earlier, it helps lower blood pressure, so if you’re on high blood pressure medication, you need to be careful. The same applies to people suffering from heart conditions, to avoid any sudden drop in blood pressure. You should also avoid shilajit if you have sickle cell anemia, too much iron in your blood –– since it helps increase its levels anyway, and thalassemia.

On a different note, if you start developing a rash or feel dizzy after starting to use shilajit, you should stop using it because it might mean that you are allergic to this compound, but you should consult a doctor anyway to be sure. At the end of the day, shilajit is one of the most potent herbal supplements out there, with a lot of minerals and acids that your body could really use.

It definitely won’t cure your problems overnight, but it can help your body fight many of ailments and your health could significantly improve if you started using this substance. Research still has a long way to go before we know the full benefits of shilajit, but if the signs are of any indication, this substance has a remarkable potential to definitely help a lot of people.