How Much Milk Thistle Should One Use in a Diet
Let's face it. The question of how much milk thistle should one use is a bit complicated. There are many things to consider, including one's weight and age. Other factors include the potency of the extract and whether or not other ingredients are included in the supplement.
The safety profile of the botanical remedy is good. Animal studies indicate that the toxicity is very low, except for ruminants, such as sheep and cattle. The plant contains a great deal of potassium nitrate, which can be toxic to those animals.
The bioavailability of the medicinally active silymarin is low, meaning that there is poor absorption into the bloodstream. The concentration of silymarin in the seeds is low, as well. Less than 6% of the fresh seed is silymarin.
Professionally prepared concentrated extracts, containing 65-85% silymarin, are available. Although some herbalists suggest buying the seeds, grinding them in a coffee grinder and sprinkling them on foods or preparing a tea from them, this is not the manner in which the scientific studies have been conducted.
Various clinical trials have been conducted concerning the benefit for people exposed to liver toxins, those with type II diabetes, individuals with chronic hepatitis C and other health problems. Yet, these studies have not clearly answered how much milk thistle should one use on a regular basis. Doses ranging from 420-1200mg per day have been suggested.
Studies indicate that co-supplementation with lecithin, a fatty substance found in plants and animals, increases the bioavailability of silymarin, making it possible to use a lower dose and achieve the same results.
The better supplement manufacturers include lecithin, silymarin and many other nutrients to provide as many health benefits, as possible. Their recommendation for how much milk thistle should one use depends on the desired benefits.
For a relatively healthy adult wanting to protect the liver from environmental toxins, 100mg per day is recommended, when included as an ingredient in a multi-nutritional supplement. For an adult concerned about frequent colds or other viral infections, 250mg per day is recommended, again, as an ingredient in a multi-nutritional supplement.
Single ingredient supplements are never the best investment. Research has proven, again and again, that natural compounds work best when combined with other specific ingredients. That is one of the reasons that whole food supplements are becoming more popular.
Another question that many people have is how much milk thistle should one use for inflammatory skin conditions. The recommendations above should work, but when the skin is involved, the best results are seen when a protective anti-inflammatory cream is used, as well.
If you have a specific health problem, you should consult a doctor of naturopathic medicine or other healthcare practitioner concerning the appropriate dose. If you are taking prescription medications, you should be aware that silymarin can interfere with the effectiveness of other drugs.
So far, that's what we know about how much milk thistle should one use. More research may give us a better answer, at some point. Right now, we must rely on the advice of supplement manufacturers.
Visit my site to learn about more amazing natural skin care substances you have probably never heard of.
The safety profile of the botanical remedy is good. Animal studies indicate that the toxicity is very low, except for ruminants, such as sheep and cattle. The plant contains a great deal of potassium nitrate, which can be toxic to those animals.
The bioavailability of the medicinally active silymarin is low, meaning that there is poor absorption into the bloodstream. The concentration of silymarin in the seeds is low, as well. Less than 6% of the fresh seed is silymarin.
Professionally prepared concentrated extracts, containing 65-85% silymarin, are available. Although some herbalists suggest buying the seeds, grinding them in a coffee grinder and sprinkling them on foods or preparing a tea from them, this is not the manner in which the scientific studies have been conducted.
Various clinical trials have been conducted concerning the benefit for people exposed to liver toxins, those with type II diabetes, individuals with chronic hepatitis C and other health problems. Yet, these studies have not clearly answered how much milk thistle should one use on a regular basis. Doses ranging from 420-1200mg per day have been suggested.
Studies indicate that co-supplementation with lecithin, a fatty substance found in plants and animals, increases the bioavailability of silymarin, making it possible to use a lower dose and achieve the same results.
The better supplement manufacturers include lecithin, silymarin and many other nutrients to provide as many health benefits, as possible. Their recommendation for how much milk thistle should one use depends on the desired benefits.
For a relatively healthy adult wanting to protect the liver from environmental toxins, 100mg per day is recommended, when included as an ingredient in a multi-nutritional supplement. For an adult concerned about frequent colds or other viral infections, 250mg per day is recommended, again, as an ingredient in a multi-nutritional supplement.
Single ingredient supplements are never the best investment. Research has proven, again and again, that natural compounds work best when combined with other specific ingredients. That is one of the reasons that whole food supplements are becoming more popular.
Another question that many people have is how much milk thistle should one use for inflammatory skin conditions. The recommendations above should work, but when the skin is involved, the best results are seen when a protective anti-inflammatory cream is used, as well.
If you have a specific health problem, you should consult a doctor of naturopathic medicine or other healthcare practitioner concerning the appropriate dose. If you are taking prescription medications, you should be aware that silymarin can interfere with the effectiveness of other drugs.
So far, that's what we know about how much milk thistle should one use. More research may give us a better answer, at some point. Right now, we must rely on the advice of supplement manufacturers.
Visit my site to learn about more amazing natural skin care substances you have probably never heard of.
