For over two thousand years, Europeans have used milk thistle seeds as an herbal treatment for liver disorders. Many professional herbalists recommend milk thistle extract for prevention and improvement of various liver ailments, including viral hepatitis, fatty liver associated with long-term alcohol use, and liver damage from drugs, industrial toxins and other hazardous elements.

Liver is one of the largest internal organs in our body. It plays a very important role in metabolism, digestion, detoxification and elimination of various harmful substances from the the body. It carries out over 1500 complex biochemical functions that are critical for our overall health

The American Cancer Society estimates that 21,370 new cases of primary liver cancer and bile duct cancer will be diagnosed in the United States during 2008. It is more common in men than in women. About 18,410 people will die of liver cancer in the United States during 2008. An average man’s lifetime risk of getting liver or bile duct cancer is about 1 in 100, while an average woman’s risk is about 1 in 250.

Milk thistle fruits contain active constituents:

Silybinin
Silychristin
Silydianin
Isosilybinin (known as Silymarin)


Which is descibed as “liver protector”. Most expects believe that milk thistle is effective because of its very potent antioxidant composition. Silymarin is considered to be 10 times more powerful than vitamin E. It scavenges free radicals that are damaging to the body.

Normally, milk thistle has a constitution of 80% silymarin for best health benefits.

Benefits of milk thistle

As we are constantly exposed to more and more pollutants, the liver must therefore work harder and harder. We can assist our liver by supplementing it with milk thistle:

*Helps the liver maintain its normal function.
*Inhibits negative factors that are responsible for liver damage, such as alcohol, chemical compound, environmental and others toxin, by strengthening the outer membrance of the liver, thus protecting it from further damage.
*Increases liver glutathione levels (which bind drugs and chemicals elements) that acts as a detoxifying agent.
*Stimulates productions of new liver cells to replace old damage cells.

Who Should Consume?
Milk Thistle can be taken as a preventive measure for better liver health. It is highly recommended for people who are occupationally under stress, people who sleep late, causing the liver to increase its function load, consuming alcohol, recreational drugs or prescription medications, eating chemically process food and those who are regularly exposed to pesticides, environmental toxins and pollutions.

For me, we need to change our lifestyle and start learn how to eat healthy to prevent most of the common diseases for better healthy living.