2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Wherever this prickly herb with a funny name is in a hurry, she is always ready to help. Milk thistle is renowned for its beneficial properties in maintaining liver health. But she still has a lot of merit
The use of milk thistle as a natural medicine and edible product has been around for a long time. The plant is renowned for its nutritional, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Many people consider milk thistle to be an annoying weed, unaware of how much benefit can be derived from it.
How to properly harvest milk thistle?
It is recommended to collect milk thistle with thick gloves - the leaves of the plant are covered with thorns. Harvest time is determined by drying flowers and emerging silvery-white seed heads. The heads of the plant are cut off first.
The inflorescences are placed in paper bags and placed in a warm place to dry for about 5-7 days.
The inflorescences are transferred to a sack of burlap, in which they are crushed to grind a little. Then everything is poured into a sealed container and placed in a cool dark place for storage.
Useful properties of milk thistle
1. Good for the liver
Milk thistle has protective and liver-supporting properties. The liver protects the human body from toxins that live in the air, medicinal substances taken by mouth, and is a kind of filter that removes harmful substances. The liver produces hormones, releases glucose into the blood, supplies the body with energy, and promotes the outflow of bile.
With the help of milk thistle, the load on the liver is relieved, its cells are restored, pesticides, heavy metals, alcohol, and other harmful substances are removed from the body, which helps in the treatment of liver diseases, elimination of jaundice, hepatitis, etc.
2. Good for the kidneys
Milk thistle has a beneficial effect on the kidneys, stimulates the regeneration of their cells. After taking milk thistle products, toxins are less retained in the body, which improves kidney function.
3. Reduces blood cholesterol levels
Milk thistle has strong anti-inflammatory properties, is used to treat cardiovascular diseases, lowers blood cholesterol, and reduces inflammation.
4. Helps with diabetes
In the treatment of diabetes mellitus, positive results appear when using milk thistle, which helps to reduce glycosylated hemoglobin, restore glucose, release insulin, which normalizes blood sugar.
5. Prevents the appearance of gallstones
Drops in the gallbladder are very dangerous because they can rupture the gallbladder. When present, a person feels abdominal pain, flatulence, heartburn, and indigestion.
The work of the internal organs of a person, kidneys, intestines, pancreas and gallbladder, is interconnected. Milk thistle contributes to the good functioning of all organs of the gastrointestinal tract, preventing the appearance of stones in the gallbladder, heals the stomach and endocrine system, promotes the production of bile, prevents blood detoxification, cleanses the body of harmful substances.
6. Improves skin condition
Milk thistle has anti-inflammatory, soothing and antioxidant properties, which are beneficial for the health of the skin. It rejuvenates, gets rid of dark spots, wrinkles. Milk thistle helps prevent skin cancer.
7. Helps Fight Aging
Milk thistle has a rejuvenating effect by controlling the development of free radicals and helping to eliminate toxic substances from the body and blood. This allows you to get rid of diabetes, heart, kidney and liver diseases, prevents premature aging of the skin, and improves vision.
Ways to use milk thistle:
* As tea.
You need to boil the leaves and seeds of milk thistle in boiling water for 5 minutes. To make the tea tastier, you can add honey.
* Powder.
The seeds are ground into powder, which is added to salads, soups and other dishes.
* Ingredient for salads.
Milk thistle is added to salads, which can be made from the stems, leaves, flowers, and roots of the plant.
* Component of cocktails.
Milk thistle is also used as an ingredient in cocktails. Grind its seeds and soak overnight in water, add lemon juice and chopped berries to them, mixing everything with a blender.
* For healthy snacks.
Milk thistle seeds are considered a nutritious snack like nuts. The beneficial substances of the seeds are better preserved frozen, so the plant should be stored in the refrigerator.
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