Milk thistle for liver is the most widely recommended herb to help support the liver, for liver detoxification as well as for liver cleansing. The liver is critical to the optimal function of all processes carried out within our body and is one of the most essential organs in the body,  involved in the digestive process and in the assimilation of nutrients. Equally important, the liver detoxifies metabolic waste-products such as ammonia as well as other toxins and pollutants from the environment such as heavy metals like lead and mercury. Pesticides and chemicals sprayed onto fruits and vegetables to keep them from perishing are also subject to liver cleansing and ultimately removed from the body. 

Other Liver Functions

The liver also works tirelessly to maintain healthy glucose and cholesterol levels; it helps break down fats in our digestive system and converts food using the enzymes it produces into forms that allow for easy assimilation of nutrients. These are just some of the processes carried out by the liver and we can begin to understand why the liver is one of the most crucial organs in the body. Helping to detox your liver and prevent early stages of a fatty liver, which could lead to liver disease, is a major concern in the UK.

Liver Problems

Unfortunately, the liver is also one of the most abused organs and increasingly, fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, liver failure and other liver disorders are on the increase, arising as a result of liver damage. It is currently estimated that more than 50% of the people over the age of 50 suffer from some form of liver disease and in many cases they may not even be aware of it. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is one of the most common liver concerns today and it is a term used for a wide range of conditions.

A healthy liver should have very little fat since it processes fats and cholesterol. In the case of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, the first stage is called simple fatty liver disease and most people do not exhibit any obvious symptoms. Currently it is estimated that between 25% and 30% of the people in the UK suffer from fatty liver disease and although this stage is not life threatening, it should not be disregarded.

In some people, this fatty liver disease can result in accumulation of fat in the liver which leads to inflammation and scarring of the liver. Fatty liver disease is linked to obesity and this increases the risk of cardiovascular disease including heart attacks and strokes. Between 2% and 5% of the people go on to develop the second stage of fatty liver disease called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

NASH results in inflammation of the liver which is the body’s natural response to liver cell damage and liver cell death. For some, NASH leads to fibrosis of the liver where constant inflammation leads to the scarring of liver tissue and the blood vessels within the liver. Some parts of the liver still remain functional so the liver can carry on with its functions albeit under a burden.

The final stage is cirrhosis of the liver where the scar tissue progresses to most parts of the liver and the liver becomes lumpy and starts to shrink. This is a severe disease because the damage is irreversible and over a period of time can lead to liver failure.

Risk factors for fatty liver disease include:

• obesity or if you are overweight
• suffer from type 2 diabetes
• have high blood pressure
• have high cholesterol
• are over the age of 50
• smoke

In my opinion, it is therefore important to have a strategy in place to reverse a fatty liver and detoxify the liver either periodically or on an ongoing basis depending upon your lifestyle and diet. Utilising a good liver cleanse supplement should be one of the things you focus on; to help prevent a fatty liver, liver disease, an overworked and damaged liver, as well as excerise and a balanced diet.

Milk Thistle For Liver & Its Benefits

Milk thistle is a weed-like plant that grows wild in Europe, North America and Australia. In the 17th Century Nicholas Culpepper recorded that milk thistle for liver support opened “obstructions” of the liver and spleen. By the 19^th Century, German physicians were using milk thistle tinctures for many liver disorders. The German Commission on safety and efficacy of herbs fully endorses milk thistle seeds or milk thistle seed extracts as supportive treatment for liver disorders.

For thousands of years milk thistle tinctures, milk thistle seeds and milk thistle seed extracts have been used to treat liver problems and gall bladder problems.

Milk thistle contains a bioflavonoid called silymarin which itself contains several compounds. Silymarin is a potent antioxidant iand possesses powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Research has confirmed that a compound called silybin is the most active component within silymarin, but unfortunately, silybin has been poorly absorbed by the body until now.

There are many milk thistle supplements available including tablets, capsules & tinctures for liver support & health and choosing one can be daunting. The milk thistle supplement which carries out liver detoxification and cleansing efficiently within the body is DoSe by VH Milk Thistle Complex. This milk thistle supplement contains the trio of well-established liver cleansing herbs including Artichoke and Dandelion. Unlike many milk thistle supplements, Milk Thistle Complex contains a therapeutic strength of milk thistle extract combined with Milk Thistle seeds. Milk Thistle extracts are often standardised to provide one of the active compounds called silymarin but the addition of milk thistle seeds also provides a whole range of beneficial compounds found in the milk thistle which work in synergy for liver health. 

Choline is added to this supplement for its benefits to the liver and helps maintain normal liver function by utilising fats which may otherwise deposit in the liver with the result of a sluggish liver function. 

N-Acetyl Cysteine, NAC, is added in this liver supplement for its ability to bind with heavy metals helping heavy metal detoxification. We are exposed to heavy metals from environmental pollution and these heavy metals can often find their way into the food we eat. By removing heavy metals, NAC contributes to optimal liver health, its function, and for its protection. 

Each bottle of Milk Thistle Complex provides a 30 day course which you can either use on an ongoing basis or repeat every few months to protect the liver with a milk thistle liver detox. This product is suitable for vegetarians.

How to liver cleanse naturally

A healthy liver keeps you well. There are so many liver cleansing diets, recipes and suggestions that one can easily get confused. There are however some basic principles to keep your liver healthy and to prevent fatty liver disease and is a diet for fatty liver treatment, ideal daily use. I am briefly going to outline some basic principles on how to carry out an effective liver cleanse:

Enhance your fibre intake. High fibre eases digestion and helps reduce fats that the liver would otherwise have to handle. This puts less burden on the liver, enabling it to function more efficiently and recover more quickly.

Avoid alcohol if possible, or at the very least ensure that your intake is ideally below the limits as set out by the relevant authorities. No matter what you have heard about red wine and its protective properties, alcohol is a toxin which does affect the liver.

Drink lots of water. Whilst some may advocate not drinking tap water because of its chlorine content, I believe that any water whether bottled or otherwise will be of benefit. You can add a few drops of lemon juice to aid the cleansing process. Aim for drinking six to eight glasses every day, although you can mix this with caffeine-free herbal tea.

Ensure you have a sensible diet incorporating the best possible sources of fresh leafy greens which are rich in chlorophyll, a powerful alkalising and energising compound. Eat fresh fruits rich in vitamin C and A also help to protect the liver. Sulphur in vegetables is a great detoxifying nutrient for the liver. Try avoiding processed foods since they are usually high in sugar, undesirable fats and often have lower nutritional value.

Consider milk thistle for liver cleansing & detoxification especially milk thistle supplements such as Milk Thistle Complex. 

Finally, do incorporate healthy fats into your diet. The liver produces bile to break down fats so eating healthy fats from oily fish, almonds, pumpkin seeds, olives, avocados and using Coconut butter in cooking is not going to put your liver under stress. Whilst some people advocate abstaining completely from animal fat, I believe that lean meats are a valuable source of various nutrients including vitamin B12 and creatine which are all important to the body.

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