2000 years of detoxify:
Thistle (Milk thistle) has actually been used for over 2,000 years. The plant is native to the Mediterranean region and a member of the Asteraceae plant family. The Greek physician and botanist Dioscorides was the first to describe milk thistle’s healing properties back in the year 40 A.D.
How Thistle benefits work?
Thistle benefits work by drawing toxins out of the body that can cause a range of symptoms and diseases — including cancer development, high cholesterol, diabetes, kidney stones, gall bladder disorders, negative effects of chemotherapy, alcohol use, skin damage and much more.
As an antioxidant, Thistle is equally powerful to other important nutrients like vitamin E or vitamin C, which help fight free radical damage and slow the aging process that can lead to disease development. It specifically contains high levels of lipophilic extracts from the seeds of the plant, which act as Bioflavanoid antioxidants that increase immunity and slow down oxidative stress.
While it has many different benefits, Thistle is most well-known for being a natural liver supporter and detoxifier. The liver constantly works hard to help defend us from toxins that are common in our everyday life, acting like a filter and removing harmful substances from the body.
Thistle is shown to decrease, or even reverse, damage to the liver that’s been caused by prescription medications, antibiotics, pollution, heavy metals and so on.
Top Thistle Benefits:
Liver Health:
As a liver support and liver aid, Thistle is a powerful detoxifier. It helps rebuild liver cells while removing toxins from the body that are processed through the liver. Thistle is effective at naturally reversing the harmful effects of alcohol consumption, pesticides in our food supply, heavy metals in our water supply, pollution in the air that we breathe in and even poisons!
The liver is actually our largest internal organ and is responsible for performing a number of essential detoxifying functions. The condition of our blood throughout our whole body is mostly reliant on the health of our liver. As a “blood purifier,” the liver needs to actively clean the blood each and every day in order to support nearly every system within our body.
Protects Against Cancer
Thistle seeds are a high source of the antioxidant flavonoid called Silymarin. Silymarin is associated with decreasing the risk for cancer development by boosting the immune system, fighting DNA damage and reversing cancerous tumor growth.
Helps lower high Cholesterol:
Thistle is considered to be a powerful anti-inflammatory, stopping inflammation, which is one of the main causes of heart disease. Milk thistle benefits heart health and helps lower high cholesterol levels by lowering inflammation, cleaning the blood and preventing oxidative stress damage within the arteries.
Helps control or prevent Diabetes
Research shows that taking Silymarin, the main chemical found in Thistle, along with conventional treatments can help control symptoms of diabetes by helping with glycemic control. The valuable effect of antioxidants found in Thistle has been reported in experimental and clinical studies to help decrease blood sugar levels in insulin-resistant patients.
Helps Prevent Gallstones
The liver is a major digestive organ, helping process nutrients and toxins that enter our body through foods, water and air. Because the liver and other digestive organs — like the gallbladder, pancreas, intestines and kidneys — work closely together to improve liver health so much, Thistle is also able to help prevent gallstones and kidney stones.
Boosts skin health. Has anti-aging effects.
