Does eating tar sound like a good idea for your health? While asphalt should be avoided for obvious reasons, there is one form of natural tar called shilajit that has powerful advantages for your body. Strange as it may sound, this black, sticky substance is one of the most prized herbs in Ayurvedic medicine and has long been praised for its numerous health benefits. If you’re ready to explore an unconventional way to achieve full body health, trying shilajit may be right for you.
What is Shilajit?
Found predominately in the Himalayas, shilajit is a pale-brown or black organic material that consists of decomposed plants and animals that were pressed between layers of rock for thousands of years. Throughout the summer, this material seeps out from rocks in the mountain range and is collected by the people who prize it. Once cleaned of impurities, shilajit makes a brown-hued paste with a glossy surface that stays soft when slightly warmed. A pinch of the tar or powder easily dissolves in water, making it popular for adding into health tonics.
Throughout central Asia, shilajit has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. Built on the concept of keeping the body balanced through regulation of the three “doshas” this herbal remedy has been used to treat disorders that range from cardiovascular, immunological, neurological and more.
One reason why shilajit is so effective medicinally is that its high in fulvic acid, a compound prized for improving gut health and helping skin stay young and beautiful. Other vitamins and minerals are contained in the tar as well, making it a proven way to maintain full body health.
12 Health Benefits of Shilajit
The ability of shilajit to benefit many different systems in the body has made it prized as an adaptogen, or herbal remedy that naturally nourishes multiple parts of the body. Whether you are trying to treat a specific problem or simply want your body to function better overall, this natural tar is likely to help.
Some of the top benefits of taking shilajit are listed below
1. Promotes Testosterone Levels Naturally
Forget Viagra, shilajit might be the fertility solution that men are looking for! Studies have shown that sperm counts for men increased more than 60 percent in just 90 days after they were given shilajit twice a day. Even better, the men in the study had higher testosterone levels and an increased libido. For this reason, this “Indian Viargra” has long been used in Ayurvedic as a sexual enhancer.
2. Enhances Performance
Research has shown that shilajit acts at the cellular level to improve energy production in the mitochondria of cells. Better nourished cells lead to more alertness, faster recovery, and better endurance to finish tasks in front of you. Taking a daily serving for just a few weeks can boost your energy levels to unprecedented levels.
3. Protects the Heart
You only have one heart, so protecting it should always be a high priority. Shilajit has been shown through research to protect the heart against long-term damage, especially when it comes to regulating heart rates. By regulating blood sugar levels in your body, this supplement promotes the regeneration of pancreas cells in order to maintain healthy levels of glucose in order to keep diabetes in check. This powerful herb has also been found to treat anemia due to its high concentration of iron.
4. Supports Memory
Not only does shilajit help males function better sexually, it actually helps with brain power, too. Small molecules called dibenzo-alpha-pyrones help to prevent the breakdown of memory-forming brain chemicals, and studies have shown that the fulvic acid in it can help prevent you from developing Alzheimer’s disease.
5. Encourages Healthy Aging
No one looks forward to the effects of aging, but shilajit can keep you looking better for longer. Studies have shown that the antioxidants in it can work to prevent cellular damage, which is the leading cause of aging in your heart and skin. By keeping calcium in your bones with over 85 minerals in every serving of shilajit, you’ll help to keep your body strong for years to come.
6. Promotes Brain Health
Taking shilajit daily is good for your brain. Studies have shown that small servings may reduce the symptoms suffered after traumatic brain injuries like brain edemas and intracranial pressure. The powerful nutrients contained in it are also beneficial for treating Alzheimer’s disease and help the brain to show fewer signs of deterioration.
7. Regulates Hormones and Immune System
Regulating hormones is important for complete health, and consistent servings of shilajit can help you achieve that. By specifically targeting reproductive hormones, shilajit increases testosterone levels and sperm production in men, and increases the frequency of ovulation in women.
8. Alleviates Pain Response
Shilajit has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine as a way to reduce pain because of the way it interacts with the brain. Specifically, this herbal remedy is especially helpful for reducing pain in the face, mouth and jaws. Research has found that it reacts well with morphine and helps prevent tolerance for the drug from forming, which reduces the amount of morphine needed to be effective.
9. May Help Manage Diabetes
Because shilajit can help reduce blood glucose levels, it’s a smart supplement for people with diabetes to take, especially when combined with other natural forms of diabetic medicines.
10. Helps Prevent and Protect from Cancer
According to some studies, shilajit has been found to help prevent certain types of cancer, including breast, colon, ovarian and lung. Shilajit is also believed to be an effective treatment for protecting the body for exposure to dangerous amounts of radiation.
11. Fights Inflammation and Viruses
If you want to arm your body for fighting off inflammation, it’s a smart idea to start using shilajit. Research has found that it’s effective in reducing inflammation throughout the body, as well as preventing gastric ulcers from forming.
12. Aids in Breaking Addictions
Because of the way it interacts with other drugs, shilajit is highly effective in helping you break cycles of addiction. Not only does shilajit reduce the feeling of addiction, it also minimizes withdrawal symptoms, often better than medications do. Everything from opioids to alcohol can be affected by shilajit, making it a simple way to stop your addiction before it becomes a crisis.
Side Effects of Shilajit
When used correctly, shilajit is not connected with any negative side effects. However, it naturally has a high concentration of iron, so taking it with iron supplements can lead to excessive amounts of iron in the blood stream. Some people also find that they feel light lightheaded after taking it on an empty stomach. In other rare cases, this supplement has been known to raise blood pressure or worsen gout, but this is rarely an issue from high quality shilajit.
Unfortunately, low quality shilajit abounds on the market today. Many supplement companies cut their supply with cheaper material that can include fertilizer, toxic heavy metals and more. For this reason, it’s important to check your supplier carefully to ensure you only invest in high quality products.
Some people find that they have allergic reactions to shilajit, though this is highly uncommon. It’s important to start taking it in small doses so that you can get a sense of how it affects you before starting to take more. If shilajit leaves you feeling nauseous, dizzy or itchy, your body might not respond well to it and it’s best to stop taking it.
Ways to Take Shilajit
While you’re unlikely to find shilajit in the grocery store, there are plenty of places where you can easily purchase it online. The three forms that shilajit usually comes in are a powder, resin, and supplement. Knowing what type is best for you depends on your personal preference, so don’t be afraid to try out one or more varieties until you find what works for you!
1. Shilajit Powder
As one of the most common ways to purchase shilajit, shilajit powders are made from ground up shilajit that is often diluted with other, cheaper powders.
Because it is usually mixed with other powders, powdered shilajit tends to be weaker than other forms. Oftentimes extra fulvic acid is added, which helps boost its nutritional benefits. Not all brands of powdered shilajit are the same, and some contain less than 10% of the active ingredients, which significantly lessens its medicinal properties. Nonetheless, high quality powdered shilajit is an affordable, beneficial way to try out the benefits of shilajit for yourself.
The best way to consume powdered shilajit is to dissolve it in hot water, tea or warm milk before drinking. Traditionally, shilajit was taken with warm milk and honey to improve the taste. It’s also possible to simple dissolve the powder under your tongue, but many people find the taste too bitter to do so.
How much to take: A pea sized portion tends to be the right amount of powder to take, especially when consumed around three times a day. If your body responds well to this amount, you can begin to increase it.
2. Shilajit Resin
As shilajit in its pure form, shilajit resin is a thick, tar like substance that is minimally processed, making it the most potent form of this powerful herbal remedy around. The darker the color the more valuable the resin, and midnight-black shilajit tends to be expensive, though a little will go a long ways.
While shilajit resin is highly potent and powerfully medicinal, it can be very expensive and difficult to source. Many people also find it difficult to eat, as the thick tar tends to be sticky. Nonetheless, it is the most natural form to get it in and it tends to be a better value than powders and supplements.
The best way to take this resin is to dip the back end of a spoon into the resin and take out a tiny amount (usually less than a pea). This can be eaten just as it is or mixed into other foods to improve the overall taste. After taking the resin, your lips and teeth might be temporarily stained black, but this will disappear quickly.
How much to take: The recommended dose for this natural resin is usually less than 100 mg (half a pea), which is best taken first thing in the morning.
3. Shilajit Supplements
For those that can’t stomach shilajit as a powder or resin, taking it as a supplement is a smart idea. A wide variety of capsules are available that make taking a daily dose of it as simple as swallowing a pill.
While taking shilajit as a supplement is simple and tasteless, you sacrifice potency because you are taking a more processed version of the herb. Nonetheless, the benefits are still powerful enough that they are well worth taking.
To take shilajit as a supplement, simply swallow the recommended dosage every morning with your breakfast. Most people find that their bodies respond best to it when they take it with food.
How much to take: The potency depends on the amount of active ingredients in each capsule, so be sure to take an amount that provides you with at least 100 mg of shilajit a day.
Top 5 Best Shilajit Products
When you take herbal supplements, it’s important to ensure your body is getting nothing less than the best.
These five products are proven ways to get the shilajit your body craves, and overwhelmingly positive reviews provide proof that they really work as promised.
1. Pürblack Shilajit 15g Jar with Pürscale ?
You get nothing but the best with this top quality shilajit resin. Containing over 80 potent minerals and antioxidants, this blend of pure Himalayan shilajit will give your body what it needs to thrive. Best of all, Pürblack is committed to refunding all purchases you aren’t completely happy with.
2. Pure Himalayan Shilajit, 2 Month Supply ?
Harvested from high grade shilajit harvested from over 16,000 ft in the Himalayas, this resin is treated in the USA and purified to the highest standards, ensuring that it is compliant with all health codes.
3. Shilajit Powder 12:1 Extract 25g (100 Servings) ?
Your search for the perfect supplement powder ends here. This high-quality powder is produced from shilajit seeps that have been purified and powdered into this potent blend. Best of all, if you’re less than satisfied you can return it for a full refund, no questions asked.
4. Shilajit-Extract, 60 Veggie Caps ?
Looking for a high quality nutritional supplement? This product, made from shilajit fortified with extra fulvic acid, is exactly what you need. 60 vegetarian capsules are contained in every canister, ensuring you have a two-month supply of this potent herbal remedy.
5. Sunfood – Shilajit Extract Powder ?
Only the highest quality shilajit was used for making this powder, ensuring each serving consists only of ancient plant material harvested from the Himalayas. When you buy this herbal supplement powder from Sunfood, you are assured that each bit was meticulously harvested by hand at high altitudes to ensure that only the purest varieties wind up in their products. Each batch is low temperature dried and tested to ensure it’s completely free from pollutants and ready to improve your health.