Benefits of Milk Thistle

Do you know the benefits of milk thistle?

First, let’s talk about milk thistle itself. It’s not exactly something you would find in a kitchen cabinet or at the supermarket.

Milk thistle is a flowering plant in the daisy family. It’s native to the Mediterranean, North Africa, and the Middle East.

Other names:

• wild artichoke

• Mediterranean thistle

• Mary thistle

• holy thistle

Milk thistle has long been used as folk remedy. The active ingredient in this herb goes by the name silymarin; it’s extracted from the seeds. Silymarin is actually a collection of flavonoids (super-antioxidants).

So...Is it True...Does Milk Thistle Help Liver Disease?

Silymarin protects the liver from oxidative damage---the kind that causes cancer. It also reduces the effects of drugs, toxins, and alcohol.

Getting drunk beats up your liver.

Silymarin spurs new liver cells.

Other benefits:

• increases levels of glutathione, an antioxidant made in the liver

• treats liver cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, and gallbladder disorders

• may be effective in lowering “bad cholesterol” (being researched)

• has been shown to fight prostate and breast cancer

Basically, think of milk thistle as the liver’s personal bodyguard.

Side Effects of Milk Thistle

None to report.

If you’re allergic to daisies, artichokes, kiwis, or plants in the aster family, you may be allergic to milk thistle too. Pregnant women, diabetics, people with hypoglycemia, and those on blood sugar medication should also use caution.

Consult your doctor for further advice.

Milk Thistle in a Supplement

Make sure it's in the extract form; this form highly concentrates the active ingredients. Milk thistle extract should be standardized to contain 80 percent silymarins. Check for this on the label.

Tip: Silymarin bound with phosphatidylcholine, known as the patented phytosome process, improves absorption of milk thistle by up to 10x.