Looking for the best shilajit supplements? Here is what you need to know about how shilajit supplements are made, shilajit types, Himalayan vs. Russian shilajit, and the best brands of real shilajit for your money.
Not sure what shilajit is? Read this post about Shilajit Health Benefits
Quick Picks:
- Best Overall: Pure Himalayan Shilajit Resin
- Best Value: Siberian Treasure Shilajit
- Best Capsules: Banyan Botanicals Shilajit
How Shilajit Supplements Are Made
In nature, shilajit often looks like a hard blackish-brown rock. In hot weather, the shilajit softens into a sticky resin. This is what collectors often find oozing out of rocks.
After gathering shilajit, it is cold-filtered to remove impurities and sun dried. Depending on how much the shilajit is dried, it can be liquid, sticky or hard. In fact, if you let a jar of liquid or sticky shilajit sit for long enough, it will get rock hard as the moisture evaporates from it.
Sometimes shilajit liquid is freeze-dried to create a powder. This is different than “standardized shilajit,” which is also a powder, but has gone through additional processing.
Standardized Shilajit
Standardized shilajit has gone through an additional level of processing than other types of shilajit. A solvent is used to extract certain compounds in the shilajit. The extracted substances are usually spray-dried to produce a powder.
The benefits of using standardizd shilajit is that it does not contain impurities (such as heavy metals) and has a high level of healthy compounds (such as fulvic acid). You are guaranteed to get the listed ingredients with standardized shilajit. However, the downside is that the processing may reduce the levels of certain nutrients. For this reason, most people prefer filtered shilajit which is less-processed. (1)
Types of Shilajit Supplements
Shilajit supplements can be a liquid, sticky resin, hard rock or a powder.
Liquid Shilajit
This is filtered shilajit which hasn’t been dried. Because of this, it has the least concentration of healthy compounds. It is usually measured with an eye dropper. It can be taken directly or mixed with a beverage.
- Least concentrated
- Not good for travel
- Good for topical use
Shilajit Resin
This shilajit has been dried to remove moisture and thus is more concentrated than liquid shilajit. It is slightly runny and has the consistency of honey. It usually comes in a jar and is scooped out with a spoon. You can dissolve it in warm beverages or just eat a small piece of it. Because it’s so viscous, it is hard to measure the shilajit precisely. It’s also a bit messy and not ideal for on-the-go.
- About 7-15% moisture
- Medium concentration
- Okay for travel
- To take, dissolve in liquid or eat it
Solid/Sticky Shilajit
This is shilajit which has had most of the moisture removed from it. Because it contains very little moisture (only about 3-6%), it is the most concentrated form of shilajit. It will cost more than other forms of shilajit because you are getting more product per weight. Hard shilajit isn’t messy but it is hard to break off a piece to use. You’ll find it tricky to get an exact dosage.
- Medium processed
- Most concentrated form
- Not messy
- Take by swallowing
*Shilajit tablets or “drops” are just solid shilajit which has been shaped. This makes it much easier to take and get an exact dosage.
Shilajit Powder
Shilajit powder is usually made by freeze-drying, a process which removes all of the water. Because there is no moisture, the nutritious compounds are very highly concentrated. Freeze-drying generally does a good job of preserving nutrients. However, some people still look at it as a more highly-processed form of shilajit.
- Usually freeze-dried
- Very concentrated
- Not messy
- To take, dissolve in liquid
- Good for travel
Which Form of Shilajit Is Best?
All forms of shilajit provide health benefits. However, shilajit resin is generally considered the best type of shilajit because it is the easiest to use yet still contains concentrated nutritious compounds. It is also minimally processed so live nutrients aren’t destroyed by heat. In terms of convience, shilajit soft tablets are considered best.
Himalayan vs. Russian Shilajit
Shilajit has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine, which originates in India. Because of this, shilajit from the Himalayan Mountains (near India) is often considered “real shilajit.” However, shilajit is also found in many other parts of the world including: Russia, Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, and Mongolia. (2)
The composition of shilajit can vary depending on where it was formed. However, samples of shilajit from around the world have similar compounds. So, in terms of medicinal benefits, it doesn’t really matter where the shilajit comes from. Despite this, Himalayan shilajit is often touted as “real shilajit” and costs much more than shilajit from other countries. (3, 4)
Image credits:
“Day 2 – Water Falls,..from where” by pradeep_kumbhashi
“Shilajit, Mohave Lava Tube, 2018.04.01” by Vahe Martirosyan
Altai Mumijo Dissolved in Water by SnarkleBadger