What is Shilajit? And should I take it?

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Making sure your body is getting the proper nutrients is a vital part of living a healthy life.

Shilajit is an ancient medicinal herb that’s been used for thousands of years to treat pain and various illnesses. In more recent times, it has been found to have additional health benefits.

What Is Shilajit?

It’s important not to judge a book by its cover when it comes to Shilajit. This all-natural substance looks similar to tar. It’s typically dark brown in color but can also be found in black, light brown and even white.

Once organic material dies, it can sometimes mix with microbial metabolites along with various other minerals. It then ferments and is drawn out of the rocks by the sun. It’s mostly found between large cracks in the Himalayan mountains where it’s harvested and processed.

Now, this may not seem like something you would want to put in your body, but it’s jam-packed with nutrients, antioxidants, and minerals that can support your overall health. Fulvic acid is a main component of Shilajit which has several health benefits on its own, such as anti-aging properties.

Where Did it Come From?

The first mention of Shilajit comes from 3000-year-old Indian texts. It’s been used in traditional Indian medicine, called Ayurveda. The ancient Indians believed that it could cure diseases and treat pain.

What Are the Benefits?

Ok, so now that we’ve answered the question “what is Shilajit,” you may be asking “what are the benefits of Shilajit?” Because Shilajit is packed with several important nutrients, it has a variety of health benefits.

Listed below are some of the biggest health benefits of Shilajit.

It Has Anti-Aging Properties

Nobody likes getting older, and the wrinkles that accompany aging makes it all too obvious. Maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle can go a long way to fighting the symptoms of aging. However, Shilajit can take this one step further.

Fulvic acid can help your cell walls absorb minerals and slow the aging process. While fulvic acid can be found in many different sources, it’s been found to be better when gotten through Shilajit.

But the anti-aging benefits of Shilajit don’t stop there. Regularly including Shilajit in your diet can also help your cells regenerate, leading to more youthful skin and healthier organs.

It Supports Your Heart and Blood Health

Maintaining proper heart and blood health is vital to living a healthy lifestyle. In fact, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for just shy of a quarter of all deaths.

Another way Shilajit can keep your heart healthy is by regulating your heart rate. It also contains high amounts of iron which can prevent anemia and keep your blood healthy.

It Boosts Energy

Have you ever been feeling sluggish and tired mid-day? It can be hard to stay motivated and get your work done efficiently. However, Shilajit has been known to boost energy and revitalize the body.

You may remember learning that mitochondria are the “powerhouse of the cell” in your high school biology class. They work to create energy for your body by creating adenosine triphosphate out of oxygen and nutrients.

So, how does Shilajit play a role in all this? Well, it actually heightens the function of mitochondria throughout your body. This helps them work harder to produce more energy, and it can improve stamina over time.

It Helps Your Immune System

Everyone hates getting sick. It’s no fun to be laid up in bed for days at a time trying to get better. Shilajit can not only help prevent you from getting sick, but it can also help you get better faster.

One of the benefits of Shilajit is that it can help your immune system by maintaining an equilibrium in your body.

It Promotes a Healthy Metabolism

Losing weight can prove to be a constant struggle for some people, and it becomes increasingly difficult as we age. This is because the metabolism naturally begins to slow, making it harder for your body to lose weight.

A whopping 85 nutrients and minerals are found in Shilajit that can aid proper digestion. These nutrients and minerals are unique to Shilajit because they are in ionic form. This means that the body can easily absorb them.

Shilajit also has antioxidant properties which can help detoxify your body and, ultimately, improve digestion. This works best when taken with other foods rich in antioxidants, such as sweet potatoes, artichokes, and blueberries.

It Relieves Pain

Treating pain can be more difficult than you may think. People suffering from chronic pain often build up tolerances to pharmaceutical drugs. Not only will they have to take more drugs to remove their pain, but this can result in a dangerous addiction.

However, relieving pain is one of the original Shilajit uses. It works with your brain in a way that can dull pain, particularly in your jaw, mouth, and face.

While it may not be able to solve any chronic pain problems, it can be used with morphine. Not only will it assist in dulling the pain, but it actually helps prevent your body from building up a morphine tolerance to lessen the amount of medication you need to take. It can also help lessen withdrawal symptoms for those trying to break free of drug addiction.

It Helps Your Skeletal Health

Ensuring proper skeletal health is an important part of staying healthy, especially as you age. Many older adults suffer from arthritis, joint pain, and osteoporosis. These conditions can make it harder to get around and do daily tasks.

Nobody wants to give up their independence as they age. But many seniors find their joint and bone pain so severe that they are no longer able to cook, clean, or even care for themselves anymore.

Regularly taking Shilajit supplements can help improve your skeletal health and lower the risk of developing severe joint and bone pain at a later age. It has been shown to slow the process of osteoporosis, improve skeletal muscle function, and help skeletal muscles regenerate.

When taken with foods, like dairy, you’ll find that your bones will stay healthy longer.

It Helps Prevent Death from Brain Damage

Suffering brain damage can be extremely deadly. Even those who survive can be left with life-altering damage. Brain edema, intracranial pressure, and blood-brain barrier permeability are identified as the three main causes of death after brain damage.

Shilajit has been shown to have positive effects on these three areas. This means that Shilajit can actually help prevent brain damage-related deaths.

Studies have also shown that the high concentration of fulvic acid mixed with other vital nutrients present in Shilajit may make it a treatment option for Alzheimer’s patients.

It Helps Fight Against Cancer

Cancer finds it’s spot right below heart disease as the second larger killer in the United States. With so many people afflicted by this long and painful illness, many patients are willing to try anything to help fight their cancer.

While Shilajit is no substitution for radiation and other modern cancer treatments, it can be used with these treatments to help fight cancer.

Those suffering from lung, breast, ovarian, colon, and liver cancer may find Shilajit particularly helpful. It has actually been shown to be toxic to these types of cancers without being toxic to the rest of your body. It’s believed that the abundance of heavy metals, such as iron, is what makes it so powerful against the disease.

When going through cancer radiation treatment, your body may suffer a lot. Shilajit can also help protect certain areas of the body, such as the ovaries, from radiation damage.

It Can Help Manage Diabetes

Diabetes can be a life-long struggle for afflicted people. Constantly watching your diet and testing your blood sugar soon becomes an annoying, but vital part of your day.

While Shilajit can’t cure diabetes, it can help patients manage it. Shilajit has been proven to lower blood glucose and lipid profiles in diabetics. It’s actually the main ingredient in D-400 (also known as Diabecon or GlucoCare), a supplement designed to lower blood glucose levels and repair pancreas damage.

When taken with diabetes medicine, Shilajit can be extra effective in helping you manage your diabetes.

Are There Any Side Effects?

So, with all these benefits, there must be a catch, right? You may be wondering if Shilajit comes with a long list of side effects like those drug commercials on TV.

Well, one of the biggest benefits of Shilajit is that there aren’t really any side effects of the natural substance. But there are a few things you should watch out for.

Fake and Raw Shilajit

Do your research to make sure you’ve found real Shilajit. Some companies may add harmful additives which can cause allergic reactions or negative health consequences.

While purchasing raw Shilajit might sound like the best way to protect yourself against this, it’s actually something you want to avoid. Although it’s all-natural, raw Shilajit contains some harmful impurities. Instead, go for Shilajit that’s been processed by machine or by hand.

Iron Overdose

Iron is an important part of any diet. With 80% of the world’s population suffering from iron deficiency, you may have decided to take iron supplements.

This is a great way to increase brain and muscle function, regulate body temperature, help your immune system, and boost energy. However, too much iron in your body can be deadly.

Since Shilajit contains such high levels of iron, taking Shilajit with iron supplements can cause iron poisoning. This can cause life-threatening conditions such as liver failure, seizures, blood clotting abnormalities, and organ scarring.

How Much Should I Take?

Even if you purchased safe Shilajit and discontinued iron supplements, Shilajit should still be taken in safe doses. Taking too much Shilajit can result in various negative consequences.

Shilajit comes in three forms: powder, supplements, and resin. You should always follow the directions printed on the label to avoid overdosing. If you have any doubts, a doctor can help you decide how much you should take.

Small portions of Shilajit powder and resin are typically mixed into a glass of water and drank. We mix ours in plain, distilled water when we wake up in the morning (in a fasted state).

Your Guide to Shilajit

If you are looking for an all-natural supplement to help boost your mood, improve heart and blood health, relieve pain, and boost your immune system, then Shilajit can do wonders on your body. Those suffering from brain damage, Alzheimer’s, chronic pain, and drug addiction may also find Shilajit useful.

The most important thing to remember is the find real, processed Shilajit and to take it according to the directions to avoid overdoes.

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