Milk Thistle Silymarin Liver Herb Is Your Supplement Complete?
By: Valerie Rosenbaum
Submitted: 2009-04-03 22:53:24 | Word Count: 531
Here are some facts about the milk thistle silymarin liver herb. Although there is still much that we do not know, there are some things that we do know about the benefit of supplementation. Let’s start with the benefits.
In vitro and animal studies, as well as historical usage, suggest that it protects the liver’s cells from toxins. Human studies are, as yet, inconclusive, although the HALT C trial, which included volunteers suffering from chronic hepatitis C, found that users had less fatigue, nausea and anorexia, as well as less pain in the liver, joints and muscles. Their general health remained significantly better than those patients that did not use the supplement.
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Scientists have documented the anti inflammatory and anti oxidant activity of silymarin, one of the active compounds in the ripe seeds of the milk thistle plant. There is some debate about whether or not it is a chelating agent. Some sources say, “Yes”. Others do not list this as a benefit.
A 2008 study concerning the milk thistle silymarin liver herb and patients with fibrosis concluded that it lowered the body’s iron stores, which indicates that it does have chelating activity. Chelating agents convert hazardous heavy metals like lead and mercury to non hazardous substances, but they can also cause anemia in susceptible patients. The 2008 study used a supplement that included lecithin, a nutrient that increases the activity of silymarin by about 10 times.
Without lecithin, supplements may be completely ineffective. Not much of it ends up in the bloodstream unchanged. Enteric coatings help to protect it and lecithin increases its activity. So, in the right supplement 100mg per day is a safe and effective dosage. That amount should not deplete the body’s iron stores. The study showing decreased iron stores used much higher dosages.
The milk thistle silymarin liver herb may also protect against various types of cancer. It is one of many herbs and nutrients that have anti cancer activity. Others include green tea, turmeric, resveratrol, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin D, grape seed, bilberry, lutein, L carnosine and l glutathione.
Any naturally occurring compound that has anti inflammatory activity and/or anti oxidant activity typically has anti cancer activity, as well. Most health experts now recommend a diet that is rich in nutrients that have these activities. Omega 3 fatty acids are also recommended for that purpose.
If you wanted to take the milk thistle silymarin liver herb and all of the other nutrients and extracts that are known to be beneficial to your long term health, you would end up taking over 70 single ingredients every day. Lucky for us, there are some well designed supplements that include all of them. It may take a little more time to find them. You won’t find them in the drug store. But, if you want to do everything that you can to protect your long term health, it is worth your time to shop for the best.
Now that you know a little more about the milk thistle silymarin liver herb, you might want to learn about other nutrients that are important to the liver’s health and function. You can never have too much knowledge.
Author Resource:-
Valerie Rosenbaum has spent several years researching anti aging natural supplements and skincare products. As a result of that effort she has found the best natural anti aging supplement available on the market today. Learn more at her website http://www.NaturalBalanceSupplements.com
