What you must remember:
- Milk thistle is a plant with tremendous hepatoprotective properties.
- Its flavonoids contained in the seeds give it antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cardio-protective properties.
- Before taking supplements, it is important to seek advice from your doctor and follow the precautions for use.
- Our liver detox contains milk thistle to support the detoxification functions of the liver.
What is Milk Thistle?
Milk thistle is a flowering plant from the Asteraceae family native to the Mediterranean basin with multiple benefits. The aerial parts of the plant and the sheaths are used in herbal medicine for their benefits on the liver. Indeed, it is one of the plants used to facilitate liver detoxification . The active substance involved in supporting the liver is called silymarin and brings together different flavonoids such as silybin, silychristin and silydianine which have several virtues.
Taking care of your liver is essential to ensure proper functioning of the body and optimal elimination of waste. The liver is one of the essential emunctory organs along with the intestine, skin, lungs, kidneys. This means that it allows the body to detoxify by promoting the elimination of waste and toxins.
The benefits and virtues of Milk Thistle
Milk thistle is recognized for its major action on the liver. However, by acting on this organ, this plant can help promote good overall functioning of the body while relieving other emunctory organs.
Milk thistle and hepatoprotective properties
Thanks to its flavonoid composition, milk thistle is of particular interest for the liver. Indeed, silymarin confers benefits to the liver by protecting the cells of this organ thanks to its antioxidant action. It is also involved in the reduction of biomarkers of inflammation as well as the modulation and regulation of oxidative stress.
Milk thistle and digestion
When the liver is saturated with toxins, it tends to release this excess to other emunctory organs such as the intestine, which can cause digestive discomfort and problems. Milk thistle therefore provides indirect support, from this point of view, for digestion to promote optimal digestive functions.
Milk thistle also stimulates the production of bile which helps support the digestive system by reducing digestion time. We thus avoid digestive disorders such as constipation .
Milk thistle and antioxidant properties
Milk thistle supplementation has demonstrated effects on reducing the production of pro-oxidant molecules called free radicals while inhibiting the action of enzymes producing these molecules. Likewise, studies attest to the reduction in the production of pro-inflammatory molecules following milk thistle supplementation.
Milk thistle and cardiovascular balance
Through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic functions, milk thistle confers cardioprotective benefits. In addition, studies have demonstrated its ability to reduce the formation of atherosclerotic plaques causing atherosclerosis and ischemia by reducing the oxidation of LDL, these cholesterol transporters also called “bad cholesterol”.
Indications and dosage of Milk Thistle
Before taking any food supplement, it is important to seek advice from your doctor if you suffer from a disorder or pathology or if you are taking any treatment.
Milk thistle can be consumed in the form of an infusion but also as food supplements, in tablets or capsules.
Taking milk thistle is contraindicated in pregnant and breastfeeding women and people suffering from bile duct obstruction and asteraceae allergy.
Its virtues are increased tenfold as part of a balanced lifestyle rich in foods suitable for detox . In the context of diabetes, it is advisable to seek the advice of your doctor because milk thistle may be associated with a reduction in blood sugar levels.
At present, there is no official dosage, however the recommended doses are 100 to 130 mg of milk thistle seeds.
Bringing Milk Thistle to your body thanks to DIJO
At DIJO, we wanted to integrate milk thistle into our Liver Detox formulation to strengthen the detoxification functions of the liver. It is the ideal product to get off on the right foot after excesses, in the context of constant fatigue or to support digestive functions. It is part of the Detox Pack also including the essential probiotics , an essential pack to support the liver while balancing the intestinal flora by providing good bacteria called probiotics .
Sources :
[1] Eita AAB (2022). Milk thistle (Silybum marianum (L.)Gaertn.): An overview about its pharmacology and medicinal uses with an emphasis on oral diseases. Journal of oral biosciences, 64(1), 71–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.job.2021.12.005
[2] Camini, F.C., & Costa, D.C. (2020). Silymarin: not just another antioxidant. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology, 31(4), /j/jbcpp.2020.31.issue-4/jbcpp-2019-0206/jbcpp-2019-0206.xml. https://doi.org/10.1515/jbcpp-2019-0206
[3] Fallah, M., Davoodvandi, A., Nikmanzar, S., Aghili, S., Mirazimi, SMA, Aschner, M., Rashidian, A., Hamblin, MR, Chamanara, M., Naghsh, N. , & Mirzaei, H. (2021). Silymarin (milk thistle extract) as a therapeutic agent in gastrointestinal cancer. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie, 142, 112024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112024
[4] Kadoglou, NPE, Panayiotou, C., Vardas, M., Balaskas, N., Kostomitsopoulos, NG, Tsaroucha, AK, & Valsami, G. (2022). A Comprehensive Review of the Cardiovascular Protective Properties of Silibinin/Silymarin: A New Kid on the Block. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland), 15(5), 538. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph15050538
