Fulvic acid has recently gained popularity as a dietary supplement due to its ample health benefits. It is a humic substance found in soil and produced by microorganisms. Fulvic acid has been in use since Ayurvedic times but not in its extracted form.
Shilajit which is black tar-like substances is known for its several health-boosting properties like immunity enhancing, fighting inflammation, enhancing physical strength, antioxidant, anti-hypertensive and diuretic effects. Shilajit contains approximately 15-20% fulvic acid which accounts for its medicinal properties. Traditionally Shilajit has been used to treat and prevent certain illnesses. But nowadays, fulvic acid is also commercially available as a supplement in the form of powder or capsules to enjoy the health benefits.
Some of the reasons why fulvic acid is considered good for health are -
Fight inflammation - Fulvic acid has excellent anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have shown that it can minimise the level of inflammatory markers like tumour necrosis factor (TNF) in the body. Due to its anti-allergy effect, fulvic acid can also be used by people with asthma, eczema and allergies. This in turn supports our immune health and boosts it naturally.Antioxidant - Increased inflammation in the body has been associated with oxidative stress. Increased oxidative stress can damage our healthy tissues, increase the risk of cancer and tumour formation. Studies have shown that fulvic acid can fight oxidative stress due to its strong antioxidant effect.Promote gut health - Fulvic acid keeps our gut healthy by promoting the gut microbiome, maintaining intestinal microbial balance and augment nutrients absorption. Its potential to enhance the utilisation of nutrients in the body is primarily because of the incrementation in the release of enzymes like protease, lysozyme and phosphatase. Strong gut health means less likely to suffer from inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS), leaky gut and ulcerative colitis.Protect brain function - Studies indicate that fulvic acid has the ability to improve cognitive functioning and diminish the probability of neurological-decline related disorders like Alzheimer and Parkinson’s disease. Prevent diabetes - Increased inflammation and oxidative stress in the body are also underlying causes of diabetes. Hence, fulvic acid is beneficial for preventing diabetes. In addition, studies also support fulvic acid to improve insulin sensitivity and decrease its resistance.
To sum up, fulvic acid is a natural health product linked with numerous benefits. It makes us strong internally by fighting oxidative stress, inflammation and cancer. People also use it to boost muscle strength, keep blood cholesterol levels in control, boost testosterone and relieve altitude sickness. Although, there has not been any recommended dosage of shilajit and fulvic acid it is better to consume post the recommendation of doctor under prescribed dosage, to relish the health benefits.
REFERENCES
- Winkler, J., & Ghosh, S. (2018). Therapeutic Potential of Fulvic Acid in Chronic Inflammatory Diseases and Diabetes. Journal of diabetes research, 2018, 5391014. https://doi.org/
- Jason M. Kowalski and Brian Bennett. (n.d.).Fulvic Acid/Mineral Supplements: Science or Snake Oil?http://www.umich.edu/
- Zhang XF, Yang G, Dong Y, et al. Studies on the binding of fulvic acid with transferrin by spectroscopic analysis. Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy. 2015 Feb;137:1280-1285. DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2014.09.010.