Humic and fulvic acids can be uniquely powerful dietary supplements. However, their ability to support natural health and wellness lies in the source material. Therefore, it’s important to look at the formation timeline, location, and source material to get a comprehensive view of the quality of each product.
Humic and Fulvic
To better appreciate the information that follows, we should first have an understanding of what humic and fulvic is. Humic and fulvic acids are a direct result of the gradual decomposition of plants by friendly soil microorganisms like bacteria and fungi. As they develop over centuries, new soil layers bury these substances deep underground to form the deposits we now use.
Formation Timeline
Humic and Fulvic deposits can be found all over the world with varying degrees of purity, concentration, and mineral composition. But, one of the most important factors in creating a high-quality deposit is the organic material it comes from. Since it takes millions of years for these deposits to develop, we must look at the evolution of plant species and the types of plants that were present in these locations just prior to the deposit formation.
For example, during the cretaceous period, jungle-like vegetation was abundant, dense, and remarkably large with root systems. Thus plants were able to benefit from previously formed mineral layers deep underground and did not have to rely on topsoil for their nutrients. Additionally, the cretaceous period also witnessed an explosion of species diversity like never before.
As time went on, the expansive cretaceous jungles gave way to smaller forested areas and vast grasslands. As a result, the exceptionally rich jungle soils were buried where the shallow root systems of these new plants couldn’t reach. Overtime, these soils developed into raw humates and coal deposits abundant in minerals and humic and fulvic acids.
Deposit Location
Some locations had unique conditions that contributed to the creation of exceptional raw humate deposits. One such location is the present-day Northwest corner of New Mexico. This area, known as the Fruitland Formation, was a lush estuary during the cretaceous period. This period and location saw bountiful diversity in both land and marine vegetation. As a result, a remarkable source of humic and fulvic acids with an unmatched mineral profile developed.
Other locations around the world have had their own challenges with producing high-quality humic and fulvic deposits. Some locations, such as the Himalayas, have suffered sparse vegetation with minimal variety resulting in shilajit deposits made from only a handful of plants and a few mold species. For this reason, shilajit often lacks the extensive assortment of minerals needed for optimal health.
Source Material
Humic and fulvic acid supplements are commonly sourced from raw humates, shale and coal, or shilajit. All of which affect the purity, potency, and mineral profile of the final product.
Shilajit
Shilajit, found only in the Himalayas, is a common supplement sold based on the benefits of its fulvic acid content. However, the concentration of fulvic acid in shilajit varies greatly with some being as low as 3%. Many manufacturers will use misleading claims with concentrations as high as 50%-60%, but what they often leave out is that this percentage includes all organic matter – humic acids, fulvic acids, minerals, phytonutrients, and amino acids. That means, unless a manufacturer can provide a third-party analysis, you never really know how much fulvic you’re getting. In truth, shilajit receives a lot of criticism for having purity issues because it is crude and unprocessed. In fact, consumer warnings persist about impure shilajit because it may contain fungal mycotoxins and heavy metals.
Shale and Coal
Shale and coal are hard, compact rocks formed from heat and pressure and now found deep below the Earth’s surface. Like other sources, it originally comes from rich organic matter which contributes to its exceptionally high concentration of humic and fulvic acids. However, the density of this raw material means manufacturers can only isolate these acids through chemical extraction. Thus, coal-based humic and fulvic acids come with a high risk of chemical contamination, damaged molecules, and the loss of valuable minerals. Additionally, shale and coal derived humic and fulvic is known to have more carbon and less oxygen since it’s advanced so far down the carbon cycle.
Raw Humates
Unlike the previously mentioned sources, raw humate deposits are incredibly rich in humic and fulvic acids. They boast an impressive array of ionic minerals and have elevated levels of oxygen because they closer to the surface. Moreover, extracting humic and fulvic from raw humate uses simple mechanical grinding and pure water extraction methods. Thus protecting the delicate molecules and naturally-occurring ionic minerals. The result is an exceptionally pure, highly energized, and remarkably concentrated final product.
Making an Educated Choice
Now that you know what to look for, you can easily weed out the potentially harmful and inferior humic and fulvic products. A high-quality supplement should be safe, powerful, and affordable.
Mother Earth Labs has spent 18 years researching and manufacturing Humic & Fulvic with the goal of providing the absolute best product at an affordable price. That’s why we make our Humic & Fulvic and Fulvic 400X products from the Fruitland Formation’s exquisite cretaceous raw humates. Through safe and protective water extraction methods, our raw materials come out highly concentrated, energized, and pure. Further, our 3rd-party testing ensures each batch is free of heavy metals and chemical contaminants.
By adding just one of these two products to your daily routine, you can supercharge the nutritional value of your diet and improve the effectiveness of any other supplement.
