Author: Laurel Levine
Source: ezinearticles.com
Let’s face it. The connection between milk thistle and liver care has been recognized by herbalists for centuries. Modern day studies have confirmed those benefits, as well as many others. This article focuses on the benefits to the skin’s health and appearance.
Conditions affecting the skin, hair and fingernails can best be treated from the outside in and from the inside out. Good hygiene and the use of nourishing skincare products, hair treatments and protective nail polishes are necessary for treating from the outside in. A healthy diet, good nutrition and dietary supplements are the best approaches for treating from the inside out.
For example, let’s say that you have acne. Chronic inflammation and overgrowth of bacteria on the skin’s surface, combined with an unhealthy pH level, are the issues to address in acne.
Using a sulfur-based cleanser helps to restore the proper pH balance. The regular use of a lotion containing natural anti-bacterial agents, such as manuka honey, helps to reduce the number of breakouts and heal blemishes. Natural anti-inflammatories may be included in skincare products and in dietary supplements. Dietary habits can contribute to chronic inflammation or prevent it.
Let’s say that you want to protect your skin against the effects of UV radiation. A recent study focused not on milk thistle and liver care, but on the prevention of skin cancer and premature aging caused by sunlight. Dermatologists have said that the primary cause of wrinkles and other signs of aging is free radical damage caused by UV exposure. Since antioxidants prevent and repair free radical damage, researchers have evaluated a number of them to see if they can protect against photo-aging or repair damage that has already been done.
In a recent study conducted by the Department of Dermatology at the University of Alabama, researchers concluded that the silymarin in milk thistle is one of the antioxidants that can be used to supplement the protection provided by sunscreen and could be useful in treating skin diseases caused by UV-induced inflammation and free radical damage.
Most natural health experts are aware of the connection between milk thistle and liver care, but the other benefits are not so well-known. It takes time to “spread the word” so to speak.
Silymarin is only one of many antioxidants found in plants. All of them help protect against free radical damage. Most of them have anti-inflammatory activity. If we include more plant foods in our diets, we may reduce our risk of many age-related diseases, as inflammation and free radical damage play a role in practically all of them.
The connection between milk thistle and liver care has to do with the extracts anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-viral activity. Alone, it cannot address all of the causes of aging inside or outside of the body, but it is a good ingredient to include in a multi-nutritional supplement.
Now that you know all this, you might want to learn more about milk thistle and liver care or the other health benefits. Knowledge may be the key to looking good and feeling great, throughout your life.
If you’d like to learn more about little known but clinically tested natural ingredients that are used for treating aging skin, visit my website today.
Laurel is a long time user and passionate advocate of natural skin care products. Visit her site now to discover cutting edge, anti-aging skin care products she recommends after extensive research: http://www.beautiful-skin-site.com.