Saed News: Milk thistle is a flowering plant with many benefits, and one of its properties is its potential for weight loss.
It has been centuries since the milk thistle plant was first used to treat liver and bile diseases, and it remains one of the leading remedies for improving these conditions. Milk thistle is a flowering plant, scientifically known as Silybum marianum. The flowers of this medicinal plant are reddish-purple with white veins. Milk thistle is also known by other names, including Scottish thistle, milk thistle, Mediterranean thistle, and Scotch thistle, among others.
What is Milk Thistle?
Milk thistle is a dicotyledonous plant from the asteraceae family, and it grows wild. It has tall, narrow stems, light purple flowers, and green, thorny leaves. The plant grows in a cone-like shape and can reach a height between 30 to 200 centimeters during its lifespan. It thrives in hot and sunny regions. Milk thistle can be found in Iran, the southeastern coast of England, North America, Australia, and New Zealand, among other areas. Silymarin is one of the active ingredients in milk thistle, extracted from its seeds. Silymarin is a flavonoid with antioxidant properties and offers numerous health benefits. This unique compound in milk thistle prevents free radical damage to liver cells, thus contributing to liver health.
How to Use Milk Thistle
Evidence suggests that up to 420 mg of milk thistle can be used daily, which is a completely safe and harmless dose. The 420 mg can be divided into three doses of 140 mg each, taken throughout the day. Many pills and capsules containing milk thistle are available on the market, such as the Livergol tablets, which come in two forms: 140 mg and 70 mg.
Milk Thistle and Weight Loss
According to an animal study conducted in September 2016, silymarin helps treat metabolic disorders related to obesity. In this study, six mice were fed a high-fat diet for three months to induce obesity, fatty liver, insulin resistance, and high cholesterol. After using milk thistle, not only were the health issues resolved, but the mice also lost 5% of their weight. While there have been a few human studies on milk thistle, most focus on its impact on metabolic symptoms associated with obesity rather than directly addressing weight loss. However, milk thistle's ability to improve liver function and control blood sugar may assist in weight loss. While it may not directly promote fat burning, it could contribute to weight loss by improving digestion and food absorption.
Health Benefits of Milk Thistle
Digestive Health
Liver Protection
Blood Sugar Control
Side Effects of Milk Thistle
If there are any side effects, they are more likely to affect the digestive system, such as diarrhea, nausea, or bloating.
Pregnant Women: Pregnant women should be cautious when using this herb.
People with Plant Allergies: Those who are allergic to plants in the asteraceae family should avoid milk thistle.
Diabetic Individuals: The blood sugar-lowering effects of milk thistle may cause a severe drop in blood sugar for people with diabetes.
People with Specific Conditions: Milk thistle has estrogen-like properties, so it might exacerbate hormone-sensitive conditions like breast cancer.
Conclusion
While many claims are made about milk thistle and weight loss, not all of them can be confirmed. This plant is particularly beneficial for liver and gallbladder health, and it has other advantages such as controlling blood sugar. While using milk thistle might lead to weight loss, research in this area is still incomplete, so it can't be definitively stated that it will cause weight loss.
