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Think Your Liver May Be Damaged? Add Milk Thistle To Your Daily Routine

Author:

Morgan Chamberlain

March 17, 2023

Former mbg Supplement Editor

By Morgan Chamberlain

Former mbg Supplement Editor

Morgan Chamberlain is mindbodygreen's former supplement editor. She graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Science degree in magazine journalism and a minor in nutrition.

Image by Goodboy Picture Company / iStock

March 17, 2023

Our livers do so much to help our bodies detoxify unwanted compounds, and thanks to an influx in modern environmental toxins (e.g., heavy metals, harsh chemicals, air and water pollutants, etc.), they need more support than ever before. When you factor in additional periods of overindulgence in alcohol (hello, college!), refined sugars, or even stress 1, your liver may be begging for some extra TLC.

What causes liver damage?

The liver filters everything from food and alcohol to prescription drugs and dietary supplements. Excess amounts of anything can lead to damage, and unaddressed damage can cause long-term harm—or even death. According to a 2019 review from the Journal of Hepatology, approximately 2 million people 2 around the world diet annually as a result of liver diseases. Cirrhosis (severe scarring of the liver) causes about 58% of these deaths.

The good news is that the liver is incredibly regenerative, and with the right support from lifestyle habits and tailored nutrition and supplementation choices, we can aid its natural detoxification process and ensure optimal function.

One herb in particular has been used safely for centuries to help protect and restore the liver: Let’s talk about milk thistle.

How milk thistle helps protect & repair the liver.

An active compound in milk thistle called silymarin exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions that can be utilized to both support the liver’s natural detox pathways and help restore damage caused by an excess burden of toxins.

According to a 2020 Advances in Therapy review, silymarin helps protect the liver 3 from cellular damage and cytotoxicity by scavenging free radicals and modulating enzymes associated with cirrhosis and fibrosis (a reversible wound-healing response to acute and/or chronic liver injury). When it comes to overall antioxidant balance, silymarin is also known to enhance synthesis and maintain healthy levels of glutathione 4 (the body’s “master antioxidant”) in the liver, per a 2014 World Journal of Hepatology review.

Beyond its hepatoprotective properties, silymarin has also been shown to promote liver cell regeneration 5. In other words, milk thistle helps support the liver’s ability to physically repair itself. If you’re trying to rebuild your liver to its former glory or protect it from modern toxins, milk thistle is a valuable tool to add to your detoxification toolbelt.

How to add milk thistle to your daily regimen.

Wondering how you can add this wonderful botanical to your wellness routine? Milk thistle teas are available, but the most common way to consume milk thistle is via quality supplementation.

You can find this herb in single-ingredient capsules, or choose a targeted liver health supplement with additional ingredients that deliver hepatoprotective effects. Check out mindbodygreen’s roundup of the best liver detox supplements to find a supplement with milk thistle that can support your unique liver health needs.

The takeaway.

We can often look to nature for support with our health needs, and liver protection and support is no different. To help bolster your liver’s natural detox pathways and optimal function, consider adding a milk thistle supplement or tea to your daily routine.