Shilajit: The Magic Mountain Tar
Over the last year I’ve been hearing a lot of hype surrounding Shilajit. After listening to one of the podcast episodes on The Darin Olien Show where he and his guest talk about the benefits of this herbal remedy, I wanted to give it a try and do a deep dive into some research to make sure it’s effective and safe enough to use. If you haven’t heard of him, Darin Olien is an alternative medicine advocate and “health nut” who’s always searching for the ultimate nutrition and wellness routines and supplements. You might remember him from the show Down to Earth with Zac Efron. He’s also the author of the book Fatal Conveniences. He has a fully plant based diet and swears by using Shilajit for multiple reasons. The fact that people in the wellness field/community on both plant based diets and more ancestral carnivore diets (@mypropernutriton_ is a good example) have vouched for this mineral substance has definitely peaked my interest.
Ok, so what the heck is Shilajit?
It’s essentially a tar (also called mineral pitch) with a pale brown to brownish black colour (and not so great smell and taste) that’s found oozing at the top of extremely tall mountains such as the Himalayas and Hindukush ranges of the Indian subcontinent. It can be purchased in the form of powder, resin or solid. One of the main things people have been raving about is its ability to boost testosterone levels in men and improve their fertility. But it can be super beneficial for us ladies as well when it comes to bone density. It’s been used as an adaptogen and rejuvenator in some cultures for thousands of years and has become increasingly more popular in recent years in North America as it’s said to contain lots of important minerals that have been lost through the processing of food and water in the western world. Often times, the foods we’re choosing to eat, even if deemed “healthy” are actually majorly lacking in levels of these minerals. Minerals that we all need!
Other claims of Shilajits benefits include:
-speeding up the healing of tendon and muscle injuries,
-improving energy levels/treating chronic fatigue syndrome,
-strengthening bones (especially in women),
-promoting collagen production,
-improving mental focus and memory,
-treating iron deficiency anemia,
-slowing the progression of Alzheimers disease and general aging,
-potentially controlling appetite and cravings to reduce over-eating and supporting heart health.
Some recent studies (although to my knowledge only done on rats so far) have even shown that Shilajit can help protect against kidney damage, high-fat diet induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and possibly be beneficial in cancer treatments when combined with chemotherapy!
Some pretty interesting studies have been done on this stuff.
There have been lots of studies confirming a variety of the benefits of Shilajit. For example, one randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial done by Phytomedicine (a peer-reviewed journal) stated that “Daily supplementation with this Shilajit extract supports bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with osteopenia in part by attenuating the increased bone turnover, inflammation and oxidative stress that coincides with estrogen deficiency in this population at increased risk for osteoporosis and bone fractures.”
In simpler terms,
there was a visible benefit in older women with weakened bones after consuming Shilajit supplements for a certain period of time. This could be great news for older women who have lost bone strength, especially after menopause. It could also mean that it’s a worthwhile preventative measure for younger women before they get to that age! This being said, a lot more research should be done in the form of human trials, instead of animal trials to get the best and most accurate information.
How do we consume it?
It’s been said that Shilajit is best taken with healthy fats such as a spoonful of ghee or mixed into a cup of milk for the best absorption. It can also be taken in warm water, in the morning before eating, on an empty stomach. Dissolved in a pea sized amount 1-4 times a day is what most store-bought options recommend. I have been doing this only once a day, first thing in the morning, in powder form at about a quarter of a teaspoon mixed with a mug of warm water and chugged because as I said before, it does not taste good. The company that I purchase from and highly recommend is local to Vancouver island and offers all kinds of amazing products, called Alchemy Taste. They offer some of their products locally in places such as Lifestyle Markets, but you can also easily order their items online from anywhere in Canada. They have a wealth of knowledge and great options (such as black lava salt and sea moss to name just a few) that are all harvested sustainably. Click the link above to visit their site! Another company I have purchased Shilajit and other wellness products through is Harmonic Arts, which can be found in some health stores as well as ordered online. I am absolutely obsessed with their 5 mushroom blend cacao elixir.
Concerns/Risks:
One of the potential concerns of consuming large quantities of Shilajit is that it contains some of the toxic heavy metals as well as the beneficial ones. In most of the research though, the levels of reported metals in Shilajit were found to be lower than the permissible limits set by WHO and FDA, meaning it is likely safe to consume in the minimal amounts the products suggest. The fact that it also contains humic substances (which are known to chelate -or remove- heavy metals from the body) has shown in most studies that it likely does more good than harm. Shilajit contains detoxifying properties because of these humic substances. One study (although also done on rats) that was done by the Asian Pacific Journal Of Tropical Biomedicine concluded that “The result suggests that black shilajit, an Ayurvedic formulation, is safe for long term use as a dietary supplement for a number of disorders like iron deficiency anaemia.”
My Experience:
My personal opinion on my own experience so far with this mineral compound is that I have noticed a pretty substantial increase in my daily energy level and ability to focus. I plan to continue my morning routine with a cup of Shilajit followed by a cup of water with a Spirulina/Chorella powder blend and see what the results are in a couple more months. I can give everybody an email update then!
I recommend talking to a naturopath or physician before buying this Ayurvedic remedy to make sure it’s safe for you as an individual if you’re on any type of medication or have higher levels of iron in your blood (as it has a high mineral content). You should never consume raw or unprocessed Shilajit and should do your research before purchasing to ensure that what you’re getting is purified and safe. As with any natural supplement or drug, if you have any symptoms or side effects from using it, you should stop taking it immediately and consult your physician.