Shilajit Benefits For Women
We bet you’ve heard about Shilajit being an energy booster for men.
But did you know this natural supplement can also be helpful for women? From preventing anemia to boosting weight loss and improving your skin health, it can do it all.
Now, we know that you’re intrigued to learn more about how Shilajit helps the female body, which is why we have taken the onus of walking you through its benefits. So, read on!
What Is Shilajit Afterall?
Contrary to popular beliefs, Shilajit isn’t a herb but a natural mineral deposit (or resin) found in the rocks of the Altai Mountains, located in East and Central Asia. However, it’s made from plant remains that have undergone slow decomposition under the pressure of the rock layers.
Appearance-wise, it comes in a dark, almost black color that’s similar to tar resin, and it has been used in Ayurvedic medicine practices for a long time. Moreover, it has been a go-to dietary supplement for Himalayan women for the past several centuries to improve their mental and physical health.
The term “Shilajit” itself literally translates to “the mountain conqueror and weakness destroyer” in Sanskrit.
Why Is Shilajit Beneficial?
It’s no secret that Shilajit has a host of essential nutrients like minerals, vitamins, humic acid, and, most importantly, fulvic acid [1]. The latter, in particular, is said to have numerous advantages, which is why many researchers and medical professionals are studying its immense health benefits for various health conditions in both men and women.
In fact, fulvic acid comes after DNA in terms of importance to sustaining human life and can promote the synthesis of various essential hormones. Additionally, it can improve your body’s nutrient absorption abilities, gut health, skin, and reduce inflammation from pain or other conditions.
It also contains humic acid [2], which serves the dual purpose of helping the body use vitamins and minerals more effectively and adequately hydrating the body, especially in combination with fulvic acid. Here, we should mention that the exact composition of Shilajit usually depends on the exact region it’s sourced from, with the primary beneficial nutrients including:
- Fatty acids
- Amino acids
- Ellagic acid
- Latex
- Triterpenes
- Polyphenols
- Albumin
Irrespective of the region, it acts as a rich source of many antioxidants, which can do wonders for your body’s immunity and hormonal imbalance. On that note, let us take you through the amazing benefits of Shilajit for women:
1. Increases Red Blood Cells
As you may already know, women are more prone to iron deficiency anemia, which is characterized by a deficiency of healthy red blood cells due to low iron levels in the body. It’s especially common in pregnant women and one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity rates across the globe. Not only that, but it can also affect the health of the unborn child.
Similarly, menstruating women may be at a greater risk of developing this condition due to the involuntary loss of blood. And in some cases, this may result in irregular menstrual cycles.
However, many studies [3] have shown that the right amount of Shilajit helps increase the red blood cell count and, in turn, hemoglobin levels in the female body. This can stabilize your blood levels and normalize the menstrual cycle.
2. Enhances Female Fertility
Although infertility can have various physical causes, the most common one includes irregular menstrual cycles. Furthermore, obese or overweight females may experience imbalances in the female reproductive hormones, which can affect their reproductive health. Whatever the reason, infertility can cause depression and poor mental health in women.
But Shilajit-related treatments can improve their reproductive health [4] by helping the reproductive organs receive more nutrients and oxygen-rich blood. Plus, it helps eliminate toxins, chemicals, and other harmful substances to boost uterine health.
Shilajit can also play a crucial role in breaking down unutilized fat while preventing the storage of unnecessary fat cells. Hence, you may try it as a part of your weight loss regime to see faster results but only after consulting a doctor.
3. Boosts Bone Health
The natural aging process affects various aspects of the body, including bone health. As for women (especially those who have experienced menopause), there may be a decline in the mineral density, which increases the risk of bone fractures.
In such cases, Shilajit can increase bone density (by twice the normal amount) by improving the flow of calcium, phosphate, and magnesium to the bones and the surrounding muscle tissues. As a result, the bones become stronger (and less brittle) to resist fractures.
Another very important benefit of Shilajit in relation to bone health is its ability to boost the production of enzymes and balance hormones that are directly responsible for the formation of new bones. Besides, the proper use of Shilajit can prevent the formation of bone-breaking cells (osteoclasts) while improving the number of osteoblast cells [5] that help with bone formation.
Additionally, it can speed up the healing process, especially after a bone fracture and reduce bone fragility. Hence, it’s a popular form of treatment among women of all age groups who have weaker bones.
4. Helps With Skin Health
It’s a common perception that skin health takes a turn for the worst with age, which isn’t completely true. Regular exposure to humidity, pollution, and stress can cause the skin to age prematurely by inducing free radicals, which can also damage the skin in the long run.
As stated above, Shilajit is rich in antioxidants [6], which have anti-aging properties to shield the skin from free radicals and other damages, slowing down the signs of premature aging, like:
- Wrinkles and fine lines
- Dark patches and spots
- Uneven skin tone
Furthermore, it can inhibit toxins and chemicals from entering the deeper layers of the skin to boost the overall appearance and quality of your skin.
5. Promotes A Healthy Immune System And Reduces Joint Pain
Oxidative stress in the body can boost the formation of free radicals. These are essentially a set of unsuitable and potentially dangerous molecules that can invite a host of serious diseases. However, consuming pure Shilajit can introduce beneficial antioxidants to boost your immunity system for a longer and healthier life.
An increased level of oxidative stress and free radicals are also commonplace for women who suffer from arthritis, joint pains, or any other type of prolonged body pain. On top of that, certain studies [7] have shown that women are at greater risk of developing arthritis during their later years.
However, the antioxidant properties of Shilajit can counter oxidative stress, reduce cellular damage from free radicals and bring in anti-inflammatory properties to provide relief. Besides, they can reduce or completely inhibit the activity of Proteinases, a notorious compound known to affect joint health.
Long story short, regulated amounts of Shilajit consumption can help treat joint pain as well as any associated swelling to give you better mobility.
6. Counters Stress
Like a lot of other conditions, women are considered more prone to mental stress, which can easily translate into physical symptoms like fatigue, reduced appetite, and irregular sleeping patterns.
But taking Shilajit can calm the mind to relieve stress, anxiety, and improve sleep, memory, and awareness. This is achieved by protecting the brain cells from free radicals and oxidative stress to reverse brain cell damage, which helps the body manage stress and anxiety.
Beyond that, it can successfully prevent the action of different stress hormones while promoting the production of “happy hormones” that help enhance mood, appetite, and the general feeling of well-being.
7. Prevents The Onset Of Early Alzheimer’s Disease
Menopause causes a natural drop in the estrogen level in the female body, which can put them at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. And the fulvic acid content in Shilajit can help reduce this chance.
As more fulvic acid enters your body, it inhibits the process of beta-amyloid plaques deposition between the brain cells and nerves. These plaques can otherwise kill healthy brain cells to facilitate the onset of the disease.
Aside from that, fulvic acid can act as a natural memory and cognition enhancer, which are the two most impaired functionalities in Alzheimer’s.
8. Increases Energy Levels
Decreased energy levels, lethargy, tiredness, or fatigue usually occur with a dip in the ATP (adenosine triphosphate) levels.
ATP is created through the conversion of nutrients (from food) and oxygen by mitochondria present in the cells, which is popularly known as their powerhouse. And consuming Shilajit can help the mitochondria function more effectively, thereby creating more ATS and more energy.
9. Helps Manage Diabetes
The high antioxidant properties of Shilajit can come in handy for managing diabetes by stabilizing blood glucose. Not only that, but it may also protect the pancreatic beta-cells from degeneration caused by free radicals. In hindsight, this can promote healthy levels of insulin to naturally counter high blood glucose levels, thereby helping with diabetes management.
Moreover, the prolonged consumption of Shilajit may help increase the production of these cells, which is another way to maintain and enhance proper insulin production. You can even take it in tandem with your standard diabetic medicines, provided it’s suggested by a doctor.
10. Promotes Heart Health
Shilajit promotes heart health by regulating your lipid profile, which, if unchecked, can cause various heart conditions and even strokes. Aside from inhibiting the cholesterol synthesis process to prevent the accumulation of cholesterol and triglycerides, it can enhance the levels of HDL or the “good cholesterol” to keep your heart fully functional and free from diseases.
The other benefits of Shilajit include:
- Heavy metal detoxification
- Regeneration of brain cells
- Balancing electrolytes and fluids
- Supporting impulses and nerve signals
- Treating UTI (urinary tract infection)
- Relieving premenstrual syndrome
- Improving sexual health and genital health with increased blood flow
- Reversing hair loss
How To Consume Shilajit?
Although you will find numerous Shilajit capsules and powders on the market, we’d strongly recommend against purchasing them, as they are contaminated with chemicals and fillers. You should only search for raw or unprocessed Shilajit that comes in its natural tar-like form that’s fit for human consumption.
It’s also a good idea to test the purity of any Shilajit termed as “pure,” and there are a few ways to do that.
One of the easiest things to do is expose it to different temperatures. Since Shilajit reacts differently to different temperatures, it will have a sticky texture in high temperatures and a hard, rock-like texture in colder temperatures.
Other than that, take a little Shilajit and put it in a glass of water. If it’s pure, it will dissolve readily and turn the water reddish black or dark black. On the other hand, impure Shilajit will make the water look and taste sandy.
You can replace the water with alcohol and wait for it to form clots. If it doesn’t, then the sample is impure. Some people also prefer conducting the fire test. Pure Shilajit doesn’t burn but forms bubbles and turns into ash upon being heated, whereas impure Shilajit will catch fire immediately.
Once you’re assured about the purity factor, it’s time to decide on the dosage. And like with other natural supplements, the right dosage will depend on various factors, like your body weight, metabolism rate, body chemistry, etc.
As a starting point, consume no more than 100mg of Shilajit once a day for a few days before increasing its frequency to 2 or 3 times a day. Once you feel comfortable with the effects, consider increasing the amount until you experience the desired benefits.
Are There Any Side Effects Of Consuming Shilajit?
Shilajit, when consumed in the purest form, doesn’t generally cause any severe side effects, which makes it a safe supplement for both men and women. Some people may experience temporary symptoms like digestive and sleep problems if the dose becomes too high.
However, raw Shilajit can contain harmful metals and fungus, which may impact your overall health.
Aside from that, it can aggravate certain health conditions. For instance, excess Shilajit consumption can lead to increased iron levels, especially in people with hemochromatosis (high iron levels), causing heart or liver disease.
Furthermore, it can boost the production of uric acid to worsen gout arthritis and cause a sudden increase in testosterone production. This can manifest in females through increased facial hair, body hair, acne, balding, mood swings, etc.
And keep in mind that pregnant women, breastfeeding females, and children shouldn’t consume Shilajit in any situation.
Conclusion
Given Shilajit has so many benefits, it doesn’t come as a surprise that it’s truly a gift of nature for women’s health!
But keep in mind that you have to be patient to see the desired results, as it can take anywhere between a couple of days and weeks for this natural supplement to work. And we’d strongly recommend seeking medical advice to determine the right dose for you, especially if you’re on other medications.
Likewise, discontinue using Shilajit if the above-mentioned side effects persist for a few days and consult a doctor at the earliest.
See you next time. Take care!
References:
[1]- https://healthyfocus.org/benefits-fulvic-acid/
[2]- https://www.benefitsofhumicacid.com/
[3]- https://www.trueaeon.com/studies-show-that-fulvic-acid-rich-shilajit-can-alleviate-anemia/
[4]- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16698205/
[5]- https://pediaa.com/difference-between-osteoblast-and-osteoclast/
[6]- https://edumanias.com/health/how-is-shilajit-used-in-skin-treatments/
[7] – https://www.hss.edu/conditions_why-women-higher-risk-getting-arthritis.asp