Learn How Milk Thistle Helps Liver Disease

Let’s face it. Most researchers are aware that milk thistle helps liver disease. Their studies now concern how it helps or why it is beneficial. You might be interested in what they know, currently.

Like most herbs, seeds, nuts and other plant life, the blessed milk thistle contains numerous compounds. Nutrients essential to human health may be present in the stems and roots. The entire plant is edible and was, at one time, a popular food item.

The seeds of the plant contain unique compounds called silymarin or Silibinin, according to modern researchers. The seeds have long been a part of traditional healing. They were used to treat infections and diseases, as well as hangovers, long before any active component was identified.

The activities of silymarin include anti-viral, anti-oxidant, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-cancer and liver-protective benefits. The research is still preliminary, although some of the phase-1 studies have been completed.

When evaluating a pharmaceutical agent, researchers begin with test tube studies. They progress to animal studies. Then, if things look promising, they go on to phase-1 clinical trials, which are composed of human volunteers.

Researchers have already seen milk thistle help liver disease, when administered intravenously; injected directly into the bloodstream. One recent study looked at the dosage necessary to raise serum silymarin levels, when the extract is taken orally. They found that a 700mg dose was necessary to significantly raise blood levels, because of poor bioavailability or absorption into the bloodstream.

Another study found that co-supplementation with a nutrient called lecithin increased the amount of silymarin absorbed by 10 times. Extrapolating from that study, it can be estimated that 70mg of silymarin extract, if combined with lecithin would be enough to raise serum levels.

If milk thistle helps liver disease caused by hepatitis, it is likely due to the anti-viral activity. The reason that it protects the liver from exposure to toxins is most likely due to the anti-oxidant activity.

Anti-oxidants are among our best friends. If we try to keep our body’s anti-oxidant status high, by eating fruits, vegetables and other plant foods, we may be able to prevent diseases caused by free radical damage and even protect our skin against damage done by exposure to UV radiation from the sun.

UV damage is one of the major causes or wrinkles, sagging and other signs of aging. Simply avoiding the sun can reduce those things, because the damage is reparable. To speed the process, you can increase your anti-oxidant intake and use a cream containing them.

Watching milk thistle help liver disease is exciting for researchers. Watching it fight cancer and protecting the bodily organs from the damage normally caused by chemotherapy is exciting, too.

Watching your appearance improve and your energy levels increase would be exciting for you. Just remember that not all supplements are the same and that taking a supplement is only one part of an effective treatment plan.

Researchers are pretty sure why milk thistle helps liver disease and protects against further damage. Now, you know why, too.

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