- There are countless supplements out there. We want ones that will work for us, be affordable without breaking the bank. Milk thistle will work for us, so we should have no doubt about it. Its main mechanisms of action are antioxidant (like other flavonoids it fights oxidative stress), anti-inflammatory (it controls COX-2 and Nf-kb, two inflammatory processes in our body), and it also has an anti-aging effect.
- Not only will it "lower the prices in the liver," but studies show various neuroprotective benefits and an anti-aging effect (it seems to reverse telomere shortening, which is observed in older individuals). So let's keep in mind that while we take it for our liver, it provides benefits in general. And similarly, even if we don't have any liver issues, we can still take it for its other benefits, as its price makes it affordable.
- The neuroprotective benefits are significant. We don't need to discuss them here, you can easily find them. But if we are looking for an antioxidant that can penetrate our brain (not many can), milk thistle should be high on our list.
- It helps in its overall function if we take it with other antioxidants. Vitamin C, which is inexpensive, is the easiest option, but of course, there are others like Coq10, vitamin E, MSM, etc. This applies to all antioxidants, they work much better in synergy. Milk thistle and vitamin C also provide increased liver protection when taken together compared to each one alone, for the same reason.
- A good supplement is standardized extract for 80% silymarin, the main active compound of milk thistle. This is such, so it is a good choice. 250mg of silymarin is a good dosage, beyond that, we consider what suits us (capsules, price).