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With all of the toxic substances
in our environment from the food we eat,
the air we breathe and other sources,
some people feel it is necessary to detoxify
their bodies from time to time. Milk thistle
is beneficial for its detoxification properties,
which support liver function.
Milk thistle has long been considered
a natural way to eliminate impurities
from the body by way of the liver. The
human liver acts as a filter for the impurities
our bodies acquire every day. The liver
takes what our bodies need to survive
and sends the excess into the bowel, where
it is expelled as waste matter. When this
filter is overtaxed by over-consumption
of alcohol or drugs, or from liver diseases
such as hepatitis and cirrhosis, it cannot
function properly. Milk thistle has the
amazing ability to protect the liver from
damage and to assist in regeneration of
new cells and replace already damaged
cells.
How does it work? The active chemical
in milk thistle is silymarin. Silymarin
functions as an antioxidant, inhibiting
the factors responsible for liver damage
and promoting the growth of healthy cells.
In clinical trials, silymarin has been
proven effective in treating and preventing
many types of chronic liver diseases.
Milk thistle can be taken
as a supplement in powder, capsule, and
liquid extract form, though some prefer
to drink it as a tea. To make a tea from
milk thistle extract, simply combine the
dry herb with near-boiling water. Though
the FDA has not yet evaluated milk thistle,
the standard dosage for healthy people
is 200mg of a milk thistle supplement
containing at least 80% silymarin taken
2 to 3 times per day.
As always, check with your healthcare
professional before adding milk thistle
to your otherwise healthy diet. Those
with allergies to things such as ragweed
and dandelions should not take milk thistle
since it may cause an allergic reaction
in this population. The same applies to
pregnant women, women with endometriosis
and women with uterine fibroids, as milk
thistle has estrogen-like properties.
Reactions are rare, but they do occur.
So if you want to cleanse your body, try
adding milk thistle to your diet. It helps
the liver work more efficiently and, as
a result, may help detoxify your body
more effectively.
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