The Benefits Of Himalayan Shilajit For Horses
First, Some Science Talk
A 2016 study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food found that in human subjects who were administered shilajit, there was a significant up-regulation of genes including collagen (types I, II, III, V, VI, XIV), elastin, fibrillin and fibronectin. The conclusion: “Oral supplementation of shilajit in human subjects resulted in skeletal muscle adaptation through up-regulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) genes that control muscle mechanotransduction properties, elasticity, repair, and regeneration.” ( JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL FOOD, J Med Food19 (7) 2016, 701–709, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., and Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition)
Previous research concluded that “shilajit promotes osteoblast survival due to its effects on altering the balance between pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic proteins. In addition, in vivo studies revealed that shilajit enhanced cartilage formation…” (Proquest Dissertations Publishing, 2013)
Main Benefits For Horses
- For high-performance horses, energy isn’t just the “go button”; it is the muscles operating efficiently. It is the ability of the horse to do more, and to be able to recover quickly from strenuous athletic endeavors. It is the reduction of muscle fatigue and lactic acid burn. These are the benefits of Himalayan Shilajit for performance.
- For the horses who, energy-wise, are more like diesel trucks than Ferraris, Shilajit increases the source of energy in the body. Shilajit helps the mitochondria to utilize fats and glucose, which translates into more impulsion for the horse.
- For the metabolics or easy keepers, the actions of Himalayan Shilajit on cellular metabolism help to burn more fat for energy. We know that metabolic imbalances are related to oxidative stress, and Himalayan Shilajit helps reduce oxidative stress and inflammation through its partnership with CoQ10.
- For horses recovering from tendon or ligament injuries, and horses recuperating from muscle strain or stress, Shilajit is an important support food that protects the mitochondria so that healing can be accelerated. Himalayan Shilajit’s ability to reduce oxidative stress by its synergistic role with CoQ10 in turn helps to reduce cellular inflammation. Shilajit’s ability to increase ECM genes (particularly collagen) is particularly important for healing and repair of connective tissues.
Bone remodeling is an ongoing process in humans and horses. It is triggered by a need for calcium in the extracellular fluid and it also occurs in response to mechanical stresses on the bone. The osteoclasts break down old bone to make room for the new bone, which is formed by osteoblasts. Shilajit supports the osteoblasts and new bone formation, helping avoid a situation where osteoclast breakdown of bone occurs faster than the osteoblasts can rebuild it.
No drug interactions have been noted for Shilajit, and in fact some studies indicate that certain human drugs such as metformin are enhanced by Shilajit.
How Fast Does It Work?
Generally, human or not, it takes several weeks of taking Himalayan Shilajit before you see a difference in your energy levels but some horses respond very quickly, within days. Shilajit takes time to support the mitochondria, and often the more low-functioning the mitochondria are, the more time it takes to see a difference in your horse.
Be Weary Of Frauds
The interest in Shilajit supplementation has grown considerably in the last few years, which unfortunately has created a market for varying grades of Shilajit. Some Shilajit supplements contain counterfeit fillers with less than 10% fulvic acids. Our pure Himalayan Shilajit is classified as Gold grade and is collected at altitudes between 16,000 and 18,000 feet.
