The function of your liver plays a very important roll in the state of your health. It goes without saying you need to ‘Love Your Liver’. Unfortunately, the world that we live in is filled with so many pollutants in the air and in our environment. Along with the over-the-counter and prescription medications, as well as alcohol consumption, liver disease is on the rise. The liver works really hard to repair itself and keep us healthy from the effects of these toxins in our daily life.

What really is the function of our liver? It is by far the largest organ in our body and acts as a super-filter to remove all the toxins that we are bombarded with daily. When the liver is overloaded, it needs liver support. One of the ways to do this is with the herbal supplement, Milk Thistle.

Benefits of supplementing with Milk Thistle:

1. Milk Thistle rebuilds the liver cells and removes toxins. Along with that, Milk Thistle works to increase the condition of the kidneys, spleen, gallbladder, as well as the endocrine and gastrointestinal systems.
2. Milk Thistle is a powerful anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory supplement that encourages cell regeneration. Many people are very surprised to discover that as an anti-oxidant, it is significantly more powerful than both Vitamin E or Vitamin C.
3. Milk Thistle is shown to aid in reducing liver damage. As a liver support and liver aid, Milk Thistle can decrease, and in some case, reverse the damage to the liver. This damage can be caused by prescription, as well as over-the-counter medicines, excessive alcohol consumption, and the harmful effects that we face daily with the pollutants found in our water, air and our food supply.

Additional Milk Thistle Benefits:

• Improves bile production and efficiency
• Provides antioxidant immune boosting effects
• Supports decrease of bad cholesterol
• Stimulates digestive enzymes
• Protects liver and helps remove toxins
• Helps to break down fatty rich foods
• Known to increase the synthesis of glutathione
• Helps reduce inflammation in the body
• Potential to decrease hot flashes
• Diminishes risk of gallstones or liver stones
• Helps relieve constipation
• Known to be helpful for hemorrhoids and varicose veins
• Beneficial for PMS
• Can be used as a detox supplement for a hangover
• Good for environmental sensitivities and toxic exposure
• Benefits the health of the skin through the process of detoxification, helping to clear up skin impurities like acne, eczema as well as psoriasis

When purchasing Milk Thistle: You want to look for a product that has been manufactured in the highest quality facilities or a certified GMP U.S. Company. Ideally, you want to look for a supplement with at least 175 mg per capsule for maximum liver cleanse effectiveness. You will also want to look for a Milk Thistle product that is standardized to an 80% Silymarin strength to accelerate the repair of any damaged liver cells. Silymarin exhibits immune boosting and anti-inflammatory qualities. When at all possible, buy from a reputable company. A couple brands that I recommend are the Solgar, here in 150 or 300 count bottles, and the brand, Nature’s Way. What I love about this Herb Extract one by Solgar, it has raw milk thistle powder added, which helps to extract active ingredients. If you are just starting to include Milk Thistle into your supplementation routine, you may want to consider starting with a good liver detoxifier and regenerator. I strongly recommend this product by the reputable brand NOW as your starting point. After finishing a bottle, you then can move on to the other recommendations.

When to take Milk Thistle: It is recommended to take Milk Thistle preferably half an hour before a meal with a big glass of water. I personally don’t pay close attention to this because I am not sensitive to taking supplements. Do what is best for you. If you are sensitive, you may want to follow the recommendation. If you are forgetful when it comes to taking supplements, I recommend setting a reminder on your phone. After a period of time, it will become second nature and you will generally not forget. I hope you enjoyed this post and found it to be resourceful. I am very passionate about having optimal health and I want to bring what I have absorbed through my research to you. Coming soon, I will be sharing another great aid to help in detoxing the liver … Dandelion. I drink this tea almost daily.

Milk Thistle: Solgar 150 or 300 count and Nature’s Way  |  Liver Detoxifier and Regenerator: NOW  |  Tea: Traditional Medicinal Dandelion Root I purchase this 6 Box Savings

Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor, nor am I registered dietitian. The opinions expressed in this blog post reflect my personal experience and ongoing investigations into functional conditions related to everyday health and nutrition.