Healthy Edge Magazine JAN2025 Akin's

BY MARY ANN O’DELL, MS, RDN

what is shilajit?

It’s the viral black goo seen all over tiktok, promoted for energy and stamina. This is shilajit, pronounced Shee-luh-jeet. Shilajit is a Sanskrit word meaning “Conqueror of mountains and destroyer of weakness,” alluding to its therapeutic properties.

Shilajit is a dark, sticky compound found on, or oozing from, the rocks of the Himalayas, developed over time from the slow decomposition of plants. It has been a part of traditional Ayurvedic medicine for centuries, used for healing and digestive, cardiovascular, and nervous system support. It is rich in minerals and fulvic acid.

It’s understandable how shilajit, with its high mineral content, can positively impact energy production, facilitating energy release from food, nerve transmission, and muscle contraction. Studies have shown shilajit may help increase iron levels, potentially helping with iron deficiency anemia. Along with minerals, shilajit is rich in fulvic acid, a compound that forms when microorganisms in soil break down plants over extended periods of time. Fulvic acid plays a role in collagen production, which may in turn positively affect skin health and gut health. It may also support brain health, reduce inflammation, and support an overall balance of minerals in the body. People using shilajit report better energy levels and less fatigue.

While research on this interesting natural compound is young, the potential for this Himalayan superfood seems promising.