Can Milk Thistle Help Reduce Insulin Needs?

What Is Milk Thistle ?

Milk Thistle is a plant that has originated from Europe. This plant is a herb believed to have medicinal properties. The scientific name for this herb is Silybum Marianum and is found to contain different compounds that are anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory. Milk Thistle has adopted the name from the sap its leaves produce when broken. For the sake of medicine, the seeds are the most commonly used from the entire plant. 

Many people all over the globe use this herb to treat problems such as the poor functioning of the liver. It is said to fix the liver of all problems and damages. There are many diseases that cause liver damages, such as, jaundice, chemotherapy among others. 

How Does Milk Thistle Work? 

The Milk Thistle seed used to make the medicine helps by restoring liver cells and protecting them from harsh chemicals and other toxins. In addition to that there has been a great conversation about Milk Thistle being beneficial for people with diabetes. Specifically type 2 diabetes. There have been multiple studies conducted on this that have led to some proof of it's contribution to the health of people with type 2 diabetes. 

Milk Thistle is believed to be very beneficial in the insulin resistance for people suffering from type 2 diabetes. If you do not know what is insulin resistance, we can help you. 

Other Benefits Of Milk Thistle 

Bone Protection 

Bone loss is a grave problem and people suffering from osteoporosis may have to face terrible bone loss. Milk Thistle has been tested to see if it help restore bone loss and the results have been satisfactory. Milk Thistle promotes the mineralization of bones along with protecting it against bone loss. 

For women who have recently given birth or are currently going through menopause, it is vital that they use Milk Thistle to stop their bones from withering away. Experts are yet to find any substantial claim to support their argument. 

Effective in Cancer Treatment 

Milk Thistle is believed to be very beneficial against the treatment of cancer. There have been claims that assert that Milk Thistle is a great combination with chemotherapy as it helps make its work easier and more efficient. In addition to that there have been findings that ensured that they can even kills cancer cells in some cases. 

Acne Treatment Function 

Since Milk Thistle is anti-inflammatory it can be of great help in treating acne. Acne is usually an inflammatory reaction which can be painful while being scarring. There have been plenty of researches that made it clear how it is beneficial in the treatment of acne. 

Treats High Cholesterol 

Milk Thistle helps bring down cholesterol by reducing the inflammation along with purifying the blood. People with diabetes and high cholesterol have been the ones to mostly benefit from the healing properties of Milk Thistle . Not much practice has been done on people who have high cholesterol but without diabetes. 

What is Insulin Resistance?

The pancreas in our body produces a substance called the insulin. The insulin is a hormone that helps cells in your body to absorb glucose and be able to use it. People who have insulin resistance find ir very difficult to use the insulin. Now, the cells are unable to absorb the insulin in your blood therefore, it remains there increasing the blood sugar levels. This can be quite dangerous for people who already have type two diabetes. In addition to this, many doctors call it the pre-diabetes stage. This is when the pancreas works exceptionally hard to increase the productions of insulin so that the body is not resistant to is and the blood sugar levels can be lowered down. 

If the pancreas keep working too hard, soon it will not be able to produce a great deal of insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. This is what results into type 2 diabetes. 

Insulin is a very important component as it helps keep your body well energized. Insulin also keeps your liver in check by making sure that it stores some of the glucose rather than letting it flow into the blood stream causing the blood sugar levels to spike. 

Up till now the experts do not have a clear understanding as to why our bodies become resistant to insulin. They have some conclusions but they are not concrete themselves. For instance, experts believe that our body's cell become immune to insulin and are not as affected by it. In addition to that they believe that since the pancreas are over working they end up getting burned out and are not able to produce more insulin for a longer period of time. 

How Can You Tell If You Are Insulin Resistant? 

You can only be insulin resistant if you are pre-diabetic. The symptoms of that include:

• Being extremely hungry or thirsty 
• Never feeling full even after a hearty meal
• Tingling in your hands and feet
• Being lethargic 
• Regular occurrence of unexplained infections

If you are experiencing any of the above mentioned symptoms you must get your blood work done to be assured whether you are insulin resistant or not,. Once you find the answer to that you will be able to address your situation in a much better way. 

What Does Milk Thistle Have To Do With Insulin? 

Many people have reasons to believe that Milk Thistle can help you manage type two diabetes. there have been compounds found in the Milk Thistle that have been discovered to be helpful in increasing the sensitivity to insulin, which in turn decreases the level of sugar in your blood. Many people have conducted several researches on this concept and the results have been in the favor of Milk Thistle . 

How Does Milk Thistle Lower Blood Sugar? 

There are no hard evidences to prove how the Milk Thistle effects the blood sugar but doctors have propositions. According to research, the Silymarin Supplementation has helped reduce fasting blood sugar levels extensively. This proved that there are high chances of Silymarin supplements to improve the glycemic indices as well as the lipid profiles of patients with type 2 diabetes. . 

There have been additional researches using control groups and placebo medicines that have proved that after taking Milk Thistle , the HbA1c levels decreased significantly in the type 2 diabetes group. Similarly, researches have also showed a reduction in the insulin resistance and increased sensitivity. 

What Quantities Of Milk Thistle Should You Take?

There are different supplements available in the market. Those supplements are of different quantities, you cannot assure what exact amount you should take. Each case may vary which is why you must consult your doctor before you start taking any dosage on your own. 

What Are The Best Sources Of Milk Thistle ?

The plant completely is consumable. You can either eat the stem itself or you could go for the leaves or specifically the Milk inside of the leaves. Most commonly used parts of this plant are the seeds. They hold the most benefits. 

How To Grow Your Own Milk Thistle?

Do you want to grow your own Milk Thistle ? It is it not as difficult as it may sound. The Milk Thistle plant does not need a specific environment to grow. You can grow it wherever and however you want. All you need to make sure is that you are providing it the high temperature and dry conditions it requires. 

To grow the plant you need to spread all its seeds on the dry soil. The average time taken to germinate is 2 weeks. The Milk Thistle actually grows in clumps and because of that you must be cautious about the spacing. The ideal spacing would be spread them at least 12 inches apart. For this plant you do not need to worry about watering. It does not require a lot of water and can even survive in drought conditions. 

After germination, the flowers will bloom. Once the flowers have bloomed you will see a seed that they have left. Remove the fibers around theses seeds and dry them. You can either dry them in the air or if you have a dehydrator than you are good to go. Once they are completely dry, these seeds can be grinded into a powder. You can either do that by grinding them in the pestle and mortar or an electronic grinder. There are several ways you can consume this powder. 

Make sure that you are taking this at least more than once a day and are consistent. No treatment works if you are inconsistent which is try to be as consistent as you can to see the changes vividly.

 In addition to that, taking this does not mean that you should skip on your medicines. Keep taking them and use this an additional treatment so that you don't put your health in jeopardy by ignoring medical treatment.