5 reasons to include milk thistle supplements to your diet
Officially known by the name Silybum Marianum, Milk Thistle (MT) is a herb from the plant family Asteraceae. The reddish-purple flower-bearing herb, MT has been used for medicinal purposes for hundreds of years by humans. In everyday use, MT is generally taken as a quick fix after a heavy drinking episode to protect and restore liver health.
The real healing agent in Milk Thistle is the naturally occurring compound Silymarin which is widely known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities. Although the research on MT hasn’t conclusively sided with the benefits claimed, its practical usage over centuries has made it a popular remedy because of these top 5 benefits, let’s talk about these benefits in detail.
1) Best Natural Remedy for Liver Health
The biggest health benefit Milk Thistle is popular for is for treating liver-related problems. People who’ve suffered or are prone to suffer from jaundice, cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, liver cancer, and hepatitis are recommended to take MT as it has been shown to mitigate the adverse effects of these diseases[1]. The antioxidants in Silybum target free radicals and keep the liver immune against their attack. The anti-inflammatory properties of MT help minimize inflammation in the liver and keep it healthy.
2) Protects and Supports Gallbladder Health
MT is believed to protect and restore the gallbladder from ailments like gallbladder stones and gallbladder sludge. Although there’s a large scope for research when it comes to substantiating MT’s benefits for gallbladder ailments, the adverse effects of diseases like Cholecystitis and chronic acalculous gallbladder disease have been found to be reduced when patients took MT.
3) MT Helps Lowering Increased Blood Sugar
Apart from being a tonic for liver and gallbladder health, one lesser-known benefit of MT is its effect on lowering higher levels of fasting blood sugar levels. Once consulting with a doctor, when taken alongside diabetes medication, MT acts as an effective additional aid in reducing blood sugar levels because it is believed to increase the natural production of insulin in the pancreas. Furthermore, MT is also believed to help reduce cholesterol for type 2 diabetic patients.
4) Helps in Increasing Milk Production for Lactating Women
Being given to lactating women from ancient times, MT is widely considered to enhance milk production. There are many instances where women were given MT daily in the first few weeks after delivery and the milk production was reportedly enhanced. With Limited research to fully back the claims, traditionally MT has been seen to help new mothers maintain a healthy supply of milk production.
5) Nourishes the Skin and helps Improve Acne
The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of silymarin in MT are thought to improve skin conditions like acne, excess sebum production, and scars. A study showed a 53% decrease in acne for participants who took MT per day over two months[2]. Another study showed the positive effects of using MT in combination with other acne-reducing treatments[3].
How to consume Milk Thistle
It is very bitter when consumed raw so the most effective way we can consume Milk Thistle is in the capsule form. Get Milk Thistle Extract Natural 1000mg – 60 Capsules and experience the benefits of this effective medicinal herb.
Milk Thistle Extract Natural 1000mg has –
· Powerful antioxidants which prevent liver cells from damage due to free radicals
· Properties supporting liver health by flushing out toxins
· Characteristics that help enhance insulin resistance and cholesterol levels for overall health.
· 1000mg extracts standardized to 80% silymarin.
· 100% Natural & Vegetarian contents.
Important Points to remember before taking Milk Thistle
Although Milk Thistle doesn’t cause any severe side reactions, it can cause certain allergic reactions to people with kiwi, ragweed, daisies and chrysanthemum allergies. Diabetic people wanting to take MT should consult their doctors before taking MT. Similarly, breastfeeding mothers should also check with their doctor before consuming MT. Keeping these precautions in mind, MT can be consumed to experience its multifold benefits.
