So I occasionally hear how people have problems with their liver, sometimes due to their diet or excessive drinking. I would suggest consuming milk thistle as a simple way to do a liver cleanse.
What is milk thistle?
Milk thistle is a flowering plant that comes from the same family of plants as the daisy.
Silymarin, derived from its seeds, has been used in traditional medicine as a remedy for liver problems.
Why milk thistle?
Milk thistle is believed to:
- be an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant which in turn prevents free radical formation.
- help regulate liver cell walls and stabilise membranes while helping liver regeneration.
- helps liver metabolize toxic compounds, lowering the damage to liver cells
What do I think about it?
On the one or two occasions when I feel like I had drunk more than I should, I took a full dose after that and was right as rain the next morning.
I take milk thistle from Nature’s Answer
I also take milk thistle to liver-cleanse and reset my body when I feel that I have hit a plateau with the supplements that I try out. I think that milk thistle does work in this aspect and the effects of the supplements become more obvious again.
I was surprised to see that my skin looked clearer after a few doses!
I hear that in some companies where staff are required to drink to entertain their clients, milk thistle is provided.
Side effects and dosage
Milk thistle causes few, if any, serious side effects and is safe even when taken for extended periods of time. Milk thistle may cause diarrhoea. More rarely, it may cause nausea, bloating, gas, and upset stomach.
I have yet to experience any side effects myself. Nonetheless, I do not go beyond the prescribed dosage and limit myself to very short periods of use when I do a liver cleanse.
I take it for three to four days consecutively, twice a day. I do not take other supplements or medication when I take milk thistle. I am on my third bottle now and I always get them from Iherb. You can click here and get a 5% discount on your purchase.
The recommended dosage is 1-2ml of milk thistle in some water three times a day.
Consume with caution
Even though it is a natural supplement, if you taking it for the first time, I suggest you try a small dose to test for allergies.
Milk thistle has estrogen-like properties and is not advised if you have or had cancer of the breast, uterus, or ovary; or a history of endometriosis or uterine fibroids.
If you are pregnant or on medication, do consult your doctor before taking it too.
Other natural ways to liver cleanse
- Drink a lot of water
- Eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies
Avoid:
- Smoking
- Drinking
- Fried foods, prescription medications, food additives,
Happy liver cleansing!
#naturesanswer #milkthistle