Milk Thistle 1000 mg Pills – Is this Dosage too High?

Milk Thistle 1000 mg pills are a source of silymarin – a natural flavonoid complex that is a powerful anti-oxidant.

This supplement also exhibits a protective effect on the liver and is taken to support healthy detox function.

Using a 1000 mg Milk Thistle extract pill a day is believed to promote general health and well-being by boosting liver function. The liver plays a key role in maintaining health and protecting the body from the effects of toxins and other damaging substances.

Milk thistle 1000 mg tablets represent one of the highest single-pill doses available. Most studies have used up to 800 mg per day. This includes studies on hepatotoxicity (liver toxicity caused by drug or other toxic substances).

While this supplement does have a dose-dependent effect on the body, there is limited evidence that 1000 mg is the optimal dosage. For individuals who have been instructed to take this high of a dosage by their doctors, it may be better to use smaller dosage capsules and take the supplement twice a day instead.

Milk Thistle

Herbal Supplement

Liver Health

Detox

Longevity

How It Works:

• Supports liver health & detox
• Anti-oxidant & anti-inflammatory properties
• Improves insulin sensitivity & cholesterol

Dosage:

Between 140 - 800 mg per day

Safety:

Rated Likely Safe

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Milk Thistle 1000 mg Pills

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is a plant that has been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine practices throughout Europe.

The first recorded use dates back to Ancient Greece when the plant was used to treat poisonous snake bites.

Milk thistle has traditionally been used as both an edible vegetable and as a medicinal agent. It was primarily used for conditions relating to the gallbladder and liver.

Scientists became increasingly interested in milk thistle in the 1970s, particularly because of its antioxidant and hepatoprotective (liver protecting) qualities. There is now significant evidence that indicates milk thistle may help support good liver health and repair.

Despite many positive results, milk thistle pills are not commonly used within conventional Western medicine. However, it remains a widely used herbal supplement as part of liver detox or cleanse regimens.

Milk Thistle Supplements for the Liver

A collection of flavonolignans called silymarin is considered the biologically active component of milk thistle. This compound is highly concentrated in the plant’s seeds. It is made up of six distinct flavonoids, including silibinin, isosilibinin, silicristin and silidianin.

Many supplements are standardized to contain a specific concentration of silymarin (usually between 70 and 80 percent). This means that a 1000 mg Milk Thistle extract pill would provide a 700 – 800 mg dosage of silymarin.

Research studies show that silymarin has several different beneficial effects for liver health. This supplement may reduce forms of free radical oxidative damage on liver cells. It may also decrease tumor promoter activity, improve protein synthesis, protect against radiation and help to stabilize cell membranes.

All of these effects may support the healthy function of the liver and reduce signs of damage caused by toxins (including alcohol). This can have wide-reaching benefits for overall health since the liver plays such a key role in the body.

The liver is involved in removing waste products and toxins from our blood. It also plays a role in digestion, metabolism, hormone regulation, protein production, the immune system and as a storage system for a number of essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

Taking milk thistle pills may therefore contribute to improved general health by helping the liver to work better and protecting this organ from certain sources of damage.

Milk Thistle and Cancer Research

Silymarin has been observed to exhibit antioxidant effects, which is one of the reasons milk thistle has attracted the attention of cancer researchers.

Animal and laboratory tests suggest milk thistle and its constituents may possess anticancer and chemopreventive properties. Silymarin has been observed to induce apoptosis (cell death) in some cancer cells, as well as increase immune response and reduce metastasis (spread of tumor cells).

Despite some anticancer effects observed in the laboratory, milk thistle supplementation has not been shown to alter the development or progression of cancer in human populations. Consequently, taking milk thistle 1000 mg pills is not an endorsed treatment or prevention for cancer.

Milk Thistle for Type II Diabetes

Type II diabetes mellitus is becoming increasingly common around the world.

Poor diet, excessive serving sizes, limited physical activity, dehydration, inflammation, ineffective stress management and other factors have all been associated with this condition.

Milk thistle has been investigated for its ability to alter blood sugar levels and has been observed to support conventional diabetes treatment.

In studies, S. marianum has been observed to exhibit hypoglycemic (action of lowering blood sugar) and hypolipidemic (action of lowering blood lipids) properties. In one study, S. marianum supplementation was observed to increase insulin sensitivity in much the same way as available medications, such as thiazolidinedione.

Milk Thistle and Cardiovascular Health

Silybum marianum has been observed to affect cholesterol production in the liver and act on the cytochrome p450 liver enzyme pathway.

Taking Milk thistle pills may help naturally balance cholesterol levels by decreasing so-called “bad” (LDL) cholesterol levels and increasing “good” (HDL) cholesterol levels. It has also been observed to cause lipid peroxidation and induce vasodilation.

These characteristics of milk thistle may help reduce the risk of developing arterial plaque, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, stroke, obesity and heart disease.

More Uses of Milk Thistle 1000mg

S. marianum supplementation has been relied upon for thousands of years to support health and wellbeing. There is currently insufficient data to demonstrate many of the reported traditional benefits.

Traditionally, S. marianum has been used for:

• Symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome and menopause;
• Female infertility;
• Neurodegenerative conditions and diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s;
• Obsessive compulsive disorder;
• Osteoarthritis pains;
• Allergies and asthma;
• Poisoning from plants, snakebites and environmental toxins;
• Bleeding and/or clotting disorders;
• Hyperthyroidism;
• Hypertension during pregnancy;
• Hemorrhoids;
• Varicose veins and vasculitis.

How to Take 1000 mg Milk Thistle Extract

Milk thistle 1000 mg supplements are typically used once a day to support liver function. This supplement may be used as part of a cleanse or detox program. It should be consumed with lots of water.

However, it is important to note that most studies have used smaller dosages than 1000 mg per day. Some users may want to take higher doses to increase the effects of this supplement, including anti-diabetic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

There is little research available to endorse this view. The majority of available research have relied on either a special extract of milk thistle or supplement levels that rarely exceed 1000 mg a day.

This includes research focused on milk thistle’s ability to act against various cancers, improve lipid profiles, protect the kidneys, enhance glucose utilization and increase insulin sensitivity.

Most users purchase a 500 mg milk thistle extract pill that provides between 70-80% silymarin extract. This will yield an active dosage of 350 – 400 mg of silymarin per day.

Safety Overview

A combination of historic use and contemporary research indicates milk thistle is generally well tolerated. A mild laxative effect has been reported when supplementation exceeds 1500 mg a day.

Milk thistle may interact with a number of prescription and over-the-counter medications. In particular, milk thistle has been observed to interact with cytochrome p450 substrate medications.

Additionally, milk thistle has been observed to affect blood sugar levels. It may interact with medications for type II diabetes and/or medications used to treat disorders of the immune system.

Silybum marianum is also a known galactogogue: an agent that stimulates lactation. Pregnant and nursing women should exercise caution if taking milk thistle. In all cases, be sure to speak with a doctor before taking milk thistle 1000 mg pills.

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