What Are The Benefits and Side Effects of Milk Thistle?
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What Is Milk Thistle Used For?
People have traditionally used milk thistle for liver and gallbladder issues and to increase breast milk production. Experts believe silymarin is the main active ingredient of the herb. Silymarin is an antioxidant compound taken from milk thistle seeds. It's unclear what benefits, if any, it may have in the body, but it's sometimes used as a natural treatment for things including cirrhosis, jaundice, viral hepatitis, and gallbladder disorders.
Some claim milk thistle may also:
Provide heart benefits by lowering cholesterol levels
Help with diabetes in people who have type 2 diabetes
Improve symptoms related to indigestion
Is Milk Thistle Good for the Liver?
There's conflicting research on the benefits of milk thistle for liver health. It may have protective effects on the liver, preventing damage. There's some evidence that milk thistle can treat cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis, which can be caused by alcohol abuse, autoimmune disease, or viruses. But experts say that the evidence isn't clear.
Some studies also show milk thistle may help people whose liver is damaged by industrial toxins, such as toluene and xylene.
There is not enough scientific data to say whether milk thistle can help liver problems. Learn the facts about milk thistle's potential effects on the liver.
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Research suggests that milk thistle can help treat fatty liver disease, says Sue-Ellen Anderson-Haynes, MS, RDN, CDCES, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and owner of 360Girls&Women B.E.A.T Gestational Diabetes.
One study found that when patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease took milk thistle powder for eight weeks, they showed a major improvement in ultrasound fatty liver grading and liver enzymes, which are two key health indicators for fatty liver disease. Another showed that when patients used milk thistle in their treatment for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, they saw a decline in GGT enzyme activity, which is connected to liver damage.
Suggested:Find Out What May Be Causing Your Symptoms.
Can Milk Thistle Help People With Diabetes?
Medical research suggests that milk thistle, combined with traditional treatment, can improve diabetes. Studies have shown a drop in blood sugar levels and an improvement in cholesterol in people with type 2 diabetes.
Researchers also have found that milk thistle improves insulin resistance, a key part of type 2 diabetes.
Talk to your doctor before taking any supplements because they might interfere with your medication. Learn more about natural remedies for type 2 diabetes.
