An old Himalayan substance called Shilajit has been used for centuries by the ancient Indians. Should you start including it into your diet? Today you will read all about it.
What is Shilajit? And what are the benefits?
The name Shilajit comes from the Sanskrit ‘Shilajatu’ which means ‘Rock-tar’. Not surprisingly, you can recognize Shilajit by its black, tar-like appearance and it originates from the Himalayan Rocks! It is to be believed that the cactus-like plant Euphorbia Royleana is one of the sources of Shilajit.
However, there is also a mythology about Shilajit. This mythology says that Shilajit comes from the friction of the celestial spheres during one of the Hindu Philosophy episodes called Samudra Manthana. During this episode the gods and demons started sweating while they were creating the Himalayan mountains and their sweat interacted with Divine Nectar. That interaction created Shilajit deposits over the mountain rocks. At least that is a very shortened explanation of the mythology.
But stories aside, Shilajit contains 80 different minerals and therefore you can imagine it has many benefits, so let’s discuss them!
Shilajit, as mentioned before, is found in the Himalayas, while climbing these mountains you could experience altitude sickness but do not worry, Shilajit could reduce altitude sickness symptoms! How convenient? To answer that immediately, it is not convenient. You should not consume raw Shilajit but more about that later.
Traditionally Shilajit is used to slow down aging and promote longevity, researchers believe it may have a positive effect on the prevention of cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately, there is not enough research completed to confirm this to be true.
Animal research shows that Shilajit has a positive impact on heart health. In one research, rats whom consumed Shilajit before cardiac injuries had less damage to the heart than rats who didn’t consume Shilajit.
Besides reducing heart damage, Shilajit could also help treating Anemia, more preciselyanemia with origin of iron deficiency. Symptoms of iron deficiency anemia are an irregular heartbeat, weakness and fatigue, headaches and cold hands/feet. Due to the high concentrations of iron and humic acid, Shilajit could be a cure. Please note, before taking this supplement, to get in touch with your doctor to check if it is the right option for you.
Shilajit may also be a helpful supplement for the obese people. Obesity takes a heavy toll on your muscles and bones, which could make obese people suffer more intensively after exercise, due to more intensive muscles microdamage. A study stated, that when taking a purified shilajit supplement, the body can respond better to exercises. This means less fatigue, more strength and that could lead to faster results regarding weight loss.
A final noteworthy benefit is the effect on certain cancer cells. Research shows that shilajit has an anti-cancer effect. Shilajit stops the cancer cells from multiplying and even helps to destruct liver cancer cells. More research has to be done, but so far Shilajit is very promising in stopping liver cancer.
Now you know some of the health benefits, but
Are there any side-effects of shilajit?
Unfortunately, yes. You can be allergic to Shilajit, when you notice any allergic reaction stop immediately taking this supplement. Furthermore, if you have too much iron in your blood due to sickle cell anemia or hemochromatosis, Shilajit could be dangerous. And lastly, do not eat shilajit raw! It could contain fungus, heavy metals or free radicals which could make you sick.
Which shilajit to choose then? Which shilajit is the best one?
Make sure you purchase purified Shilajit which is ready to use! For example, Shilajit from Hepatica!
How much Shilajit to take?
Important to know is to stick to the recommended doses, which is 300 to 500 mg per day. Also, consult your doctor before using Shilajit!
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Written by Sven Nicholson | Online Personal Trainer at www.healthychanges-pt.com
Sources used:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320318.php
https://www.healthline.com/health/shilajit#side-effects