The Miracle Of Milk Thistle
Although Milk Thistle is primarily used for its liver support capabilities, it has many other benefits. This versatile herb can help to reduce cholesterol, lower blood sugar levels, and could even help to boost the immune system. A healthy immune system is vital for staying healthy in today’s fast-paced life. Improve your overall health with our high-quality Milk Thistle capsules. Milk Thistle is a fairly popular herbal supplement. Why? Does it truly help the way everyone claims it does? Let’s look at Milk Thistle a little more closely.
Let’s take a good look at this herb
Milk Thistle (Silybum Marianum) is a spiky plant with compact purple flowers at the very top. The flowers have distinctive white veins that traditional stories claim a drop of Virgin Mary’s milk fell onto the leaves and created those stripes.
This pretty flower was originally only found in European countries, but thanks to colonization, it can now be found in many areas in the US, Asia, Australia, and Africa. Thanks, Colonists!
The most prominent active ingredient in Milk Thistle supplements is called Silymarin, which is primarily found in the seeds. All parts of the young plant are edible, and the flowers can be eaten as a spinach or asparagus substitute.
Milk Thistle isn’t only used in herbal medicine or in supplements. It can also be found in food. They can be enjoyed in salads and the roasted seeds can be used as a source of caffeine instead of coffee beans. A few other names for Milk Thistle include Cardo Lechoso, Our Lady’s Thistle, Silymarin, Silybum Marianum, and Holy Thistle
How does Milk Thistle go from plant to product?
The seeds look a bit like the seeds you find on a dandelion. These fluffy seeds are said to be rather tricky to harvest. The seeds are removed from the fluffy part, called the Fluffy Pappus, and then dried. From there, they are turned into a powder for capsules or used to make a tincture by adding them to ethyl alcohol (or vodka, if you have nothing else). The flowers can also be dried and used to make capsules.
What makes Milk Thistle beneficial?
The active ingredient in Milk Thistle is actually a group of flavonoids called Silibinin, Silidanin, and Silicristin and is collectively known as Silymarin, which is also an alternative name for Milk Thistle. These flavonoids help to protect and heal the liver.
Milk Thistle is thought to have Anti-Diabetic, Anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Nutritional information about Milk Thistle.
According to Health Benefits Times.com, every 100g Milk Thistle contains:
| Organic Acids: | Minerals: | Vitamins: | Organic Acids: | Lipids: |
| Copper, Cu 0.0805 mg Energy 13Kcal Protein 0.6 g Carbohydrate 1.1 g |
Calcium, Ca 132 mg Iron, Fe 0.5 mg Magnesium, Mg 17.3 mg Potassium, K 718 mg Sodium, Na 80.9 mg Zinc, Zn 0.26 mg Copper, Cu 0.0805 mg Manganese, Mn 0.1 mg |
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 41.7 mg Vitamin C 2.74 mg Ascorbic acid 0.36 mg Dehydroascorbic acid 2.39 mg Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) 0.04 mg Tocopherol, gamma 0.01 Tocopherol, delta 0.1 mg |
Oxalic acid 960 mg Malic acid 2.08 mg Citric acid 1.16 mg Fumaric acid 68 mg Phenolics (total) 3.72 mg Flavonoids 1.13 mg Nitrate 113 mg |
Fatty acids, total saturated 41g Lauric acid (dodecanoic acid) 12:00 0.48 g Myristic acid 14:00(Tetradecanoic acid) 0.99 g Palmitic acid 16:00 (Hexadecanoic acid) 28.7 g Stearic acid 18:00 (Octadecanoic acid) 5.05g Behenic acid (docosanoic acid) 22:00 2.43g Lignoceric acid (tetracosanoic acid) 24:00 3.36g Oleic acid 18:1 (octadecenoic acid) 3.86g Linoleic acid 18:2 (octadecadienoic acid) 31 g Alpha-linolenic acid 18:3 n-3 c,c,c (Octadecatrienoic acid) 21.6 g Omega-3 fatty acids (n-3) 21.6 g Omega-6 fatty acids (n-6) 31 g Omega-9 fatty acids (n-9) 3.9 g |
Milk Thistle may have the following benefits:
- Milk Thistle can help to protect and heal your liver:
The active ingredient in Milk Thistle, which we know to be Silymarin, has been shown to help protect already damaged liver cells, as well as help to protect healthy and new cells. The antioxidant properties also protect your liver against oxidative stress from free radicals. These free radicals are created when your liver metabolizes toxic or unhealthy products. Some studies have shown that liver functions have improved in those suffering from liver damage that was caused by alcoholic liver disease and liver cancer. These studies show that Milk Thistle can reduce inflammation.
- Milk Thistle could help to protect your bones:
Some studies show that Milk Thistle can help to prevent bone loss in postmenopausal individuals. Since Osteoporosis is caused by bone loss, Milk Thistle may help to slow down the progress of this disease. Tests have shown that Milk Thistle can stimulate the mineralization of bones. The problem is that the studies done on this are mostly test tube and animal studies, more research is needed to confirm this benefit.
- Milk Thistle might improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy:
Silymarin is said to have anticancer effects and can help to improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy for certain types of cancers, such as prostate cancer. Some animal studies show it may also ease some of the side effects caused by chemotherapy.
- Milk Thistle may help to boost breast milk production:
For many new mothers, producing enough milk to feed their babies is always a concern. Milk Thistle (Silybum Marianum) helps the body to produce more of the hormone called Prolactin. This is the hormone responsible for producing milk in lactating mothers. A study found that mothers who used Milk Thistle as a supplement for roughly two months produced more milk than the mothers who took a placebo.
- Milk Thistle may help to ease Acne:
Acne is something most of us have dealt with at some point or another in our lives. It is caused by skin inflammation and, if bad enough, may cause scarring. Acne is something that most teens experience when they reach puberty. Women on their periods may also experience a few breakouts here and there. Milk Thistle's (Silybum marianum) antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects have been said to help alleviate this skin condition. Milk Thistle’s anti-inflammatory effects come from the Flavanoid Silymarin.
- Milk Thistle may be beneficial for Diabetes:
Type 2 Diabetes is a condition that involves the poor regulation of glucose in the body. It occurs when the pancreas has a hard time producing insulin, and when the cells in your body aren’t as sensitive to insulin and thus don’t absorb as much sugar as they are supposed to. This means that you end up with too much glucose in your bloodstream. The flavonoid Silymarin in Milk Thistle has been found to help reduce the fasting blood sugar levels of those living with Type 2 Diabetes. Scientists found that there is a compound in Milk Thistle that may work a lot like diabetic medication and can help to make you more sensitive to insulin. Milk Thistle (Silybum Marianum) can also help to reduce the risk of developing complications from diabetes, such as kidney disease.
- Milk Thistle can help to reduce your cholesterol levels:
It seems that people have been dealing with high cholesterol for decades now. High cholesterol can lead to heart attacks and strokes, which can seriously affect a person’s quality of life. Studies have shown that Milk Thistle(Silybum Marianum) may help to keep bad Cholesterol at bay.
- Milk Thistle helps to maintain a healthy immune system:
A healthy immune system is vital. Without it, we stand no chance of surviving for very long. Milk Thistle helps to reduce inflammation, which can weaken the immune system after a while. Some studies show that Milk Thistle contains immunomodulation properties (which refer to substances that can adjust the immune system to help it function at its best). Milk Thistle may also help to give the immune system a boost.
- Milk Thistle may help to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and other age-related Neurological conditions:
The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties could provide some protection against conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. These conditions tend to surface during the golden years when you tend to slow down. Alzheimer’s is characterized by forgetfulness and confusion, while Parkinson’s tends to cause uncontrollable shaking. Silymarin is said to prevent damage from free radicals in the brain, helping to prevent the decline of mental functions as you get older.
What to watch out for when thinking about buying Milk Thistle supplements or tea:
- Milk Thistle is considered safe, but on rare occasions may cause some side effects such as Nausea, softer stool or an upset stomach, and heartburn.
- Pregnant women may want to err on the side of caution with Milk Thistle since there isn’t any real data about the safety of Milk Thistle during pregnancy.
- Those who are allergic to plants from the Asteraceae family, such as Cosmos and Daisies, should avoid taking Thistle supplements.
- Because Milk Thistle can affect your blood sugar, it is important for diabetics to monitor their blood sugar levels while using this supplement, especially when using it alongside their standard blood sugar medications.
Milk Thistle may interact with the following medications:
Milk Thistle affects the way the liver metabolizes some types of drugs and can trigger interactions. These medications include:
- Antibiotics such as Biaxin
- Anticoagulants such as Warfarin
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as medications that contain Ibuprofen (like Advil), Celebrex, and medications that contain Diclofenac (like Voltaren)
- Statin drugs like Mevacor and Lescol
- Medications that affect the liver, such as amitriptyline, medicines that contain Diazepam, Zileuton, Fluvastatin, Glipizide, Irbesartan, Losartan, Phenytoin, Piroxicam, Tamoxifen, Tolbutamide, and Torsemide.
Final thoughts about Milk Thistle
As previously stated in the article, Milk Thistle has many uses beyond that of helping your liver out. It can be used to help lower your blood sugar, reduce signs of acne, and lower your cholesterol levels. Because Milk Thistle is a natural product, a herb you can find in your garden if you are lucky, It has little to no side effects to worry about. We have also tried to make sure that our supplement is organic and free of pesticides and herbicides. This makes Milk Thistle a wonderfully versatile supplement to have in your arsenal. Our Milk Thistle supplement offers a top-quality product at an affordable price.
References.
- Agriculture | Province of Manitoba. (n.d.). Province of Manitoba - Agriculture. Retrieved August 3, 2022, from https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/crop-manag...
- Burgess, L. (2021, December 18). What are the benefits of Milk Thistle? Medicalnewstoday. Retrieved August 3, 2022, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320362#s...
- Milk Thistle. (2022). Mount Sinai Health System. Retrieved August 3, 2022, from https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/mil...
- Milk Thistle: Health Benefits, Side Effects, Uses, Dose & Precautions. (2021, June 11). RxList. Retrieved August 3, 2022, from https://www.rxlist.com/milk_thistle/supplements.ht...
- Milk Thistle nutritional info, health benefits, recipes & more. (2021). A.Vogel. Retrieved August 3, 2022, from https://www.avogel.ca/en/bold-o-cynara/ingredients...
- Milk Thistle: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews. (2020). WebMD. Retrieved August 3, 2022, from https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1...
- S. (2019, March 7). Milk Thistle facts and health benefits. Health Benefits | Health Benefits of Foods and Drinks. Retrieved August 3, 2022, from https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/milk-thistle/
- Shoemaker, M. S. S. (2021, April 27). Get “Sily” with Milk Thistle Tea. Greatist. Retrieved August 3, 2022, from https://greatist.com/eat/milk-thistle-tea#benefits
- Taylor, M. (2021, December 15). The 11 Health Virtues of Milk Thistle, According to Science. Greatist. Retrieved August 3, 2022, from https://greatist.com/health/milk-thistle-benefits#...
- Type 2 diabetes - Symptoms and causes. (2021, January 20). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved August 3, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/typ...
- Vue, B., & Chen, Q. (n.d.). NCBI - WWW Error Blocked Diagnostic. PubMed.Gov. Retrieved August 3, 2022, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27557939/
- West, R. H. D. (2018a, January 19). 7 Science-Based Benefits of Milk Thistle. Healthline. Retrieved August 3, 2022, from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/milk-thistle-...
- West, R. H. D. (2018b, January 19). 7 Science-Based Benefits of Milk Thistle. Healthline. Retrieved August 3, 2022, from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/milk-thistle-...
- Wong, C. (2022, July 23). Can Milk Thistle Actually Help Detox the Liver? Verywell Health. Retrieved August 3, 2022, from https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-benefits-of-mil...
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