Silybum marianum, colloquially identified as Carduus marianus, known as milk thistle, is an annual or biannual plant of the Asteraceae family.
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) has been used for 2,000 years as an herbal remedy for a variety of ailments, particularly liver, kidney, and gall bladder problems. Several scientific studies suggest that substances in milk thistle (especially a flavonoid called silymarin) protect the liver from toxins, including certain drugs such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), which can cause liver damage in high doses. Silymarin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and it may help the liver repair itself by growing new cells.
Although a number of studies demonstrate that milk thistle can be helpful in follow deceases:
Cirrhosis
Multiple studies from Europe suggest benefits of oral milk thistle for cirrhosis. In experiments up to five years long, milk thistle has improved liver function and decreased the number of deaths that occur in cirrhotic patients. Although these results are promising, most studies have been poorly designed. Better research is necessary before a strong recommendation can be made. B
Liver disease (chronic)
Several studies of oral milk thistle for hepatitis caused by viruses or alcohol report improvements in liver tests. However, most studies have been small and poorly designed. More research is needed before a strong recommendation can be made. B
Acute viral hepatitis
Research on milk thistle for acute viral hepatitis has not provided clear results, and milk thistle cannot be recommended for this potentially life-threatening condition. C
Amanita phalloides mushroom poisoning
Milk thistle has been used traditionally to treat Amanita phalloides mushroom poisoning. However, there are not enough reliable studies in humans to support this use of milk thistle. C
Cancer
There are early reports from laboratory experiments that the chemicals silymarin and silibinin in milk thistle reduce the growth of human breast, cervical, and prostate cancer cells. There is also one report of a patient with liver cancer who improved following treatment with milk thistle. However, this research is too early to draw a firm conclusion, and effects have not been shown in high-quality human trials. C
Diabetes (in patients with cirrhosis)
A small number of studies suggest possible improvements of blood sugar control in cirrhotic patients with diabetes. However, there is not enough scientific evidence to recommend milk thistle for this use. C
Dyspepsia (indigestion)
An herbal preparation containing milk thistle may be effective in decreasing symptoms of functional dyspepsia. However, milk thistle alone has not been researched. C
High cholesterol
Although animal and laboratory research suggests cholesterol-lowering effects of milk thistle, human studies have provided unclear results. Further studies are necessary before a firm recommendation can be made. C
Liver damage from drugs or toxins
Several studies suggest possible benefits of milk thistle to treat or prevent liver damage caused by drugs or toxic chemicals. Results of this research are not clear, and most studies have been poorly designed. Therefore, there is not enough scientific evidence to recommend milk thistle for this use. C
Menopausal symptoms
An herbal preparation containing milk thistle may be effective in decreasing menopausal symptoms. However, milk thistle alone has not been researched.
vibrancy to a room which is fairly plain
You should consult your doctor before taking any Herbal Remedies.
There’s nothing more challenging than inviting friends and family round for a meal if you are on a diet. No-one wants to be a diet bore and dish up a salad or simple vegetarian recipes to their nearest and dearest but then again, if you have been virtuous all week, you don’t want to blow all your good work and pile on the pounds that you have managed to lose by having a blow-out at the weekend. With a bit of careful planning, it is possible to eat healthily whilst also dishing up a delicious meal for everyone to enjoy.Soup is a good starter. Serve it with some nice crusty bread for the non-dieters to enjoy.
Just make sure that it is not a creamy soup although some, such as carrot, can be served with a swirl of cream to make it that bit more special. Use crème fraiche for yours and no-one will be any the wiser. French onion is another favourite but don’t be tempted to serve it with the traditional topping of bread with melted cheese.
For the main course don’t serve anything fried. Instead grill your meat or fish with some of the calorie free spray available in the supermarket. If you are cooking a dish with a sauce give yourself a smaller portion of sauce and if you are having potatoes then boiled are best. If you really need to serve roast potatoes (and after all Sunday lunch is not complete without some crispy roasties) then use the spray oil. Pasta recipes can also be very healthy options.
I have experimented with making desserts where you substitute artificial sweetener for sugar, and crème fraiche for cream and to be honest they just don’t work, or at least they haven’t satisfied my sweet tooth. Instead, you are better off with some fresh fruit, depending on what is in season. You could also make some meringues and allow people to make their own pavlovas. If you are tempted to serve ice cream, why not substitute it with a fruit sorbet, which is far healthier and every bit as tasty?
Winter Holidays is the best and most loved time in a year but it’s important during these wonderful Holidays especially Christmas and Eve New Year’s celebrations not to go totally overboard. It’s well known the fact that many people try to keep their diets to shape up in time for Christmas when you can give relax your diets trough the festive season:-) Is that right? I guess that is but…
But being so busy with preparing and celebrating Christmas and Eve New Year don’t forget about your regular morning gymnastic or min. 30-minute walks and generally try ti use holiday’s time for more outdoor activities. It seems that these beautiful winter days just make you to get yourself outside for some great outdoor activities. You, your kids and friends can go out to build a snow fort then to have there a snow ball fight, make a snowman and give him a carrot nose and a hat, go sledding down a hill, go skiing, snowboarding or fishing, why not?
So, you can eat what you want but be actived after enjoying with wonderful winter Holiday! Happy New 2011 year and be healthy!
What are the health benefits of using of olive oil? There is a long list of reasons to use it – it can lower blood sugar levels, keep tissues fluid, it helps to keep heart health and reduce cancer risks.
Thanks to its composition, the olive-oil is very resistant to heat. So, it can reach 210oC without being decomposed, unlike other vegetable oils or butters that cannot stand high temperatures. Knowing the frying temperature to be 180oC, we gather from the table below showing decomposition temperatures for different fatty stuffs, that olive-oil is preferable in frying.
The olive-oil gives us just as many calories as all vegetable oils give, but not more than that, as is perhaps an wrong view. Thus, 1 gram of olive-oil gives 9 calories, even wholesome ones.
The olive-oil contains substantial amounts of vitamin E which protects fatty acids from oxidation. It is essential to all ages, especially to pregnant women and those in the nursing period.
Provided the olive-oil is stored cool, in opaque containers that do not let light in, does not get rancid, contrary to other vegetable oils, but only after a very, very long time.
The Western diet typically consists of high levels of saturated fat from animal products and has been associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer. Whilst olive oil, the predominant fat in the Mediterranean diet, has been associated with many health benefits its role in bladder cancer aetiology is still unknown. Therefore, we investigated the effect of intake of animal products, olive oil and other major dietary fats on bladder cancer risk.
Methods: Dietary data were collected from 200 cases and 386 controls participating in a Belgian case-control study on bladder cancer. Adjustment was made for age, sex, smoking characteristics, occupational exposures and calorie intake.
Results: There was a statistically significant inverse association between olive oil intake and bladder cancer consistent with a linear dose-response relationship: middle versus the lowest tertile (OR: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.39-0.99) and the highest versus the lowest tertile (OR: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.28-0.78; p-trend=0.002). We also observed borderline statistically significant increased odds of bladder cancer for the highest versus the lowest intake of cheese (OR: 1.53; 95% CI: 0.95-2.46; p-trend=0.08).
Conclusion: We observed evidence for a protective effect by olive oil and a possible increased risk of bladder cancer associated with a high intake of cheese. Our results require further investigation and confirmation by other studies.
Brinkman MT, Buntinx F, Kellen E, Van Dongen MC, Dagnelie PC, Muls E, Zeegers MP. Consumption of animal products, olive oil and dietary fat and results from the Belgian case-control study on bladder cancer risk. Eur J Cancer. 2010 Oct 12.