Because of nutrient depletion in soil, fulvic acid is getting a lot of attention as a supplement for improving health. There are various capsules, powders and even drinks available containing fulvic acid and all claimining a huge range of benefits. Here’s what the science actually says about fulvic acid benefits and whether it’s worth the hype.
What Is Fulvic Acid?
Fulvic acid is the name for a complex chemical compound which is made when microorganisms break down plant material and combine with minerals. It takes a very long time – sometimes centuries – for these microbes to create fulvic acid.
While fulvic acid health supplements are fairly new, fulvic acid has long been used in agricultural. Farmers apply it to their land to make up for depleted nutrients in soil. There is also a lot of interest in using fulvic acid in animal feed to improve growth, increase immunity and decrease reliance on antibiotics. All in all, fulvic acid is a very useful natural substance and the interest in it is growing rapidly.
Where Does Fulvic Acid Come From?
Fulvic acid is mostly found in subsoil. However, it can also be found in mud, sand and rocks. Shilajit, a sticky substance found on rocks in high elevations, is famously high in fulvic acid. Plants also contain fulvic acid because they absorb it from soil as they grow. Because fulvic acid is water-soluble, it is also found in wild water sources like streams, lakes and springs. See these best natural sources of fulvic acid
There is no standard chemical formula for fulvic acid; it will vary depending on where it was sourced. For example, fulvic acid from the high Andres Mountains will be different than fulvic acid from soil in the Kansas plains.
Benefits of Fulvic Acid
There have been a lot of studies which look at the benefits of fulvic acid for crops, such as how it improves plant growth when added to soil. There are also many studies looking at how fulvic acid benefits animals used for food, such as how farmed fish and chickens are healthier when they get fulvic acid supplements or how pork meat is less fatty when fed fulvic acid.
Unfortunately, there haven’t been nearly as many studies which look at the benefits of fulvic acid for humans. Here is what the research currently says.
1. Bioavailable Nutrition
Fulvic acid contains more than 70 different types of minerals which the body needs, as well as phytochemicals, vitamins, peptides and other important nutrients. These nutrients are highly bioavailable, meaning the body absorbs them easily.
The fulvic acid nutrients are also in ionic form, which means that they have positive electrical charges. They will bind with other nutrients, act as a “carrier molecule”, and improve their absorption.
This benefit is supported by numerous animal studies which show how fulvic acid improves health indicators and promotes healthy growth. It is particularly good for treating anemia as fulvic acid not only contains iron but also helps the body absorb iron into bone marrow cells.
2. Reduces Inflammation
One of the most notable benefits of fulvic acid is that it reduces inflammation. It helps treat chronic inflammatory diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma, colitis and eczema.
It works on several fronts. Firstly, fulvic acid is a strong antioxidant and can prevent the oxidative damge which causes inflammation. Fulvic acid also works by reducing the amount of pro-inflammatory chemicals released from cells as well as regulating the body’s inflammatory response.
3. Alzheimer’s Disease
Various studies show that taking fulvic acid can reduce Alzheimer’s disease symptoms. It is thought to work by acting as an antioxidant and protecting brain tissue from oxidative damage. Studies also show that fulvic acid may interfere with the buildup of certain proteins in the brain tissue which are linked to Alzheimer’s. Fulvic acid might not be able to reverse Alzheimer’s disease, but studies show it could help prevent the disease as well as stabilize patients so they don’t get worse.
4. GI Health
Fulvic acid has varioius benefits for the gastrointestinal tract. These include treating ulcers, diarrhea and stress-related GI damage. Studies show it works by increasing the strength of the epithelium and connective tissues of the stomach and improves GI mucosa. It also helps balance gut bacteria so you have more “healthy” bacteria and less “bad” bacteria.
We now know that many health issues – ranging from heart disease to psoriasis – are linked to gut health. By taking fulvic acid to improve gut health, you could indirectly benefit other parts of your body.
5. Weight Loss
A lot of people take shilijat or fulvic acid for weight loss. There is limited evidence that it helps overall weight loss, but studies do show it helps reduce the amount of fat accumulated in the body. One study with pigs found that pigs supplements with fulvic acid had less fat tissue. They also had higher levels of leptin, the hormone which helps inhibits hunger.
6. Reduce Stress
Fulvic acid is a potent antioxidant and can help block the negative effects of stress on the body. But one study found that it could help prevent stress completely.
When exposed to a stressor, fish given fulvic acid had lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels than fish not given fulvic acid. Combined with the antioxidant benefits, fulvic acid could protect the body from the side effects of stress.
7. Skin and Hair
Because it improves overall nutrition, fulvic acid can improve skin and hair appearance. For example, one study found that rats taking fulvic acid supplements had improved fur appearance.
When applied topically to the skin, fulvic acid can also help treat skin conditions. It acts as a natural antibacterial to treat infections. The anti-inflammatory qualities of fulvic acid can also help treat inflammatory skin conditions like eczema.
8. Boosts Testosterone Levels and Fertility in Males
One interesting benefit of fulvic acid is that it can increase testosterone levels. There have been numerous animal studies on this topic, such as this study which found that male goats given fulvic acid had higher testosterone, sexual desire and semen quality.
There have also been human studies showing these benefits, like this study which found that shilijat increased sperm count in infertile males and this study which found shilijat increased testosterone levels in healthy males.
9. Regulates Immunity
Research on fulvic acid and immunity is very interesting. It shows that fulvic acid can both increase and decrease immune response. For example, research shows that it will boost immune response during bacterial infections. However, it also down-regulates immunity – such as lowering inflammation associated with heart disease.
10. Heavy Metal Detox
One common use of fulvic acid is to detox the body. There is very limited information on this benefit. However, one study did look at fish with high levels of heavy metals in their bodies. The study found that supplementing the fish with fulvic acid reduced the amount of lead and cadium accumulation in them.
11. Other Potential Benefits
While there isn’t as much research into these benefits, fulvic acid might also help:
- Increase energy
- Lower cholesterol
- Increase muscle
- Improve memory and cognitive function
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