What is a milk thistle?

Milk thistle, is a local plant of Kashmir, India-Pakistan. However, it now grows in various climates throughout the world.

This plant completes its life cycle in one to two years, it blooms lovely, purple flowers that are spiky. It is actually closely related to the artichoke and is suitable for eating as a vegetable.

Benefits of milk thistle

Liver detoxification

Of all the medicinal properties associated with milk thistle, the most well-known is that it is the most liver protective plant in all of the Western world so consider it your liver's best friend.

When we consume alcohol, take medicines, or allow other chemicals into our bodies, the liver works overtime to function and detoxify.

If these chemicals and their metabolites enter the bloodstream faster than the liver can metabolize, a range of side effects - ranging from mild to severe - can occur.

Milk thistle contains a type of flavonoid called silymarin. Silymarin inhibits free radicals, which are created during the metabolism of toxic substances, such as alcohol and medicines.

These free radicals can damage cell membranes, so silymarin binds to the receptors of the liver cell membranes so that toxins cannot enter.

Silymarin stabilizes the cell membrane and delivers antioxidant support directly to the liver. It also supports the production of hepatocytes (liver cells) and reduces inflammation. In conclusion, all of these help the liver to work more efficiently.

Dark eye circles

The liver is an extremely important organ for overall health and well-being. Plus, there are some added benefits when this organ is working properly. One of our favorites? The reduction of dark circles.

When the liver gets nutrients from plants like milk thistle, it can remove toxins from the body more efficiently. The resulting detoxification effect can make a noticeable difference in the appearance of dark circles, so you wake up bright-eyed and full of energy.

How to take silymarin

Silymarin - milk thistle's main ingredient of interest - is insoluble in water.

To ensure that you get the desired benefits of milk thistle, a supplement containing at least 70 percent silymarin should be taken.

What is choline?

There is some evidence that most people do not get enough choline in their diet and the average person falls short of meeting the daily needs.

This is likely due to genetic factors in some individuals that create a greater choline deficiency. For example, according to researchers, 50 percent of the population may have genes that increase dietary methyl requirements, and since choline is a major source of methyl processes, this can lead to choline deficiency.

Symptoms of choline deficiency may include:

• low fatigue energy levels
• memory loss
• cognitive impairment
• learning difficulties
• muscle pain
• nerve damage
• mood changes or disturbances

People with liver disease, such as "fatty liver", are at higher risk of choline deficiency and likely to experience certain symptoms.

Fatty liver, also known as fatty liver disease (FLD), is a reversible condition where triglyceride fat builds up in liver cells. It usually develops in people who drink too often alcohol, are obese, have diabetes, insulin resistance, or other diseases that affect fat metabolism.

The final conclusion

Now we are not saying that you can drink a bottle of vodka, take a capsule and expect a milk thistle with its lipoic benefits to work its magic.

Plants are powerful, but we also need to keep a balance. Consume it carefully and with consistency to reap the greatest benefits.

Find milk thistle and choline available in Healthy Liver, a nutritional supplement for the protection of the liver. It also contains α-lipoic acid, an ingredient with antioxidant protection in the liver.