• Introduction
  • Benefits
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Milk thistle illustration

Milk Thistle possesses potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help manage liver disorders by protecting it against the effect of toxins. It acts as a powerful detoxifier by removing the harmful toxins from the body, which are processed through the liver and helps to rebuild the liver cells. Milk thistle is effective at naturally reversing toxicity in the body, including the harmful effects of alcohol consumption, pesticides in our food supply, heavy metals in our water supply and pollution in the air that we breathe.

The active ingredients in milk thistle are a group of plant compounds collectively known as ‘Silymarin’. It is often used to refer milk thistle interchangeably. Silymarin helps stimulate the enzyme formation, increases the bile production, decreases inflammation, and soothes the mucous membranes.

What are the synonyms of Milk Thistle?

Milk Thistle is also knowns as Artichaut Sauvage, Blessed Milk Thistle, Cardo Lechoso, Lady’s Thistle, Lait de Notre-Dame, Legalon, Marian Thistle, Mariendistel, Holy Thistle, Mary Thistle, Our Lady’s Thistle, Shui Fei Ji, Silibinin, Silybe de Marie, Silybin, Silybum, Silybum marianum, Silymarin, Silymarine, St. Mary Thistle, St. Marys Thistle.

Benefits of Milk Thistle

1. Manages Liver Diseases

Liver disease is caused mainly by excessive intake of alcohol. Milk Thistle Extract creates a detoxifying effect and is effective for treating alcohol-related liver disease. Still, it may not prevent you from getting these conditions, especially if you have an unhealthy lifestyle.

2. Prevents Liver Cirrhosis (symptoms)

Cirrhosis is a chronic liver condition that develops due to the formation of a scar tissue in the liver, which replaces the normal, healthy hepatic tissues. The common causes of this condition are chronic alcoholism and prolonged exposure to toxins. Milk Thistle helps to treat cirrhosis by acting as an anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective agent. It relieves the symptoms of this disease and prevents its progression.

3. Regulates High Cholesterol

Milk thistle helps lower inflammation and prevents oxidative stress damage within the arteries. This can improve levels of total cholesterol, bad LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. It decrease the chances of heart diseases.

4. Prevents Gallstones

Gallstones are formed when cholesterol and other matter bind together in bile. These matters can become more solid and get deposited and stuck in the inner lining of your gallbladder. Milk thistle has the ability to increase bile flow, protect against liver conditions like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and promote liver detoxification, thus it may be useful in the prevention of gallstones and kidney stones too.

5. Supports Bone Health

Osteoporosis is a disease caused by progressive bone disorder that usually develops slowly over a number of years and causes weak and fragile bones that break easily, even after minor falls. Milk thistle has been shown to stimulate bone mineralization and potentially be protective against bone loss.

6. Controls Diabetes

Liver disease is caused mainly by excessive intake of alcohol. Milk Thistle Extract creates a detoxifying effect and is effective for treating alcohol-related liver disease. Still, it may not prevent you from getting these conditions, especially if you have an unhealthy lifestyle.

FAQs

How does Milk Thistle work?

Milk Thistle Extract might protect liver cells from toxic chemicals and drugs. It also seems to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. It acts as a powerful detoxifier by removing the harmful toxins from the body, which are processed through the liver and helps to rebuild the liver cells.

Are Milk Thistle and Silymarin the same?

The terms milk thistle and silymarin are often used interchangeably, even though they aren’t exactly the same thing. Milk Thistle is composed of 3 isomer flavonolignans including silybin, silychristin, and silydianin that are collectively called Silymarin.

What are the benefits of Silymarin?

Silymarin acts as an antioxidant and reduces the free radical production in the body. It contains anti-inflammatory properties and is said to keep toxins from attaching to liver cells. It stimulates the enzyme formation, increases the bile production, decreases inflammation, and soothes the mucous membranes. It acts as a cholagogue agent and increases the flow of bile from the gallbladder. Silymarin in Milk Thistle also produces an antifibrotic activity. This helps to prevent the scarring within the liver tissues, thus preventing liver cirrhosis.

Can Milk Thistle be taken by pregnant women?

There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking Milk Thistle if one is pregnant or breastfeeding. Thus it’s advisable to avoid it.

References
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Disclaimer

This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of something you have read on Foresta Organics. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your healthcare plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

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