A product we have used for many years is S.A.T. It stands for Silymarin (milk thistle), Artichoke (Cynara scolymus), and Turmeric (curcumin). It is great for liver support and anyone who has had their gallbladder removed as it helps them process fats.
Silymarin
Silymarin is a polyphenolic flavonoid extracted from the seeds of the milk thistle plant (Silybum marianum). It has been used for centuries to treat various liver conditions, gallbladder disorders, protecting the liver against snake bite and insect stings, mushroom poisoning and alcohol abuse, as a natural treatment for upper gastrointestinal tract and digestive problems, liver and biliary tract diseases, menstrual disorders and varicose veins, and has been studied extensively for its potential health benefits.
Silymarin has many beneficial properties, antifibrotic, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, antiviral, and antioxidant. It scavenges free radicals reducing oxidative stress, and can increase glutathione and superoxide dismutase levels. It has been shown to promote liver cell regeneration, and helps combat hepatic (liver) fibrosis. Silymarin has also be shown to reduce cholesterol levels. It may also help prevent cancer.
Some of the mechanisms of silymarin are; increases the regenerative ability of liver cells by enhancing the synthesis of DNA and RNA. Prevents entrance of xenobiotics into the cell. Scavenges free radicals and increases the cellular content of glutathione that leads to the inhibition of lipid peroxidation (fats being damaged by free radicals).
It is used to treat many liver conditions such as alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and drug induced liver injuries. Silymarin has been shown to lower ALT and AST levels within 4 weeks.
Silymarin also shows protective effects on the pancreas. Silymarin can be used as a drug for diabetic nephropathy therapy.
Silymarin has also shown neuroprotective benefits.
“High oxygen utilization, huge amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids, elevated levels of free iron ions and low antioxidants defenses all together make the brain tissue vulnerable to reactive oxygen species injuries. Silymarin when administered at a dose of 200 mg/kg/day, strongly reduced the proteins oxidation in hippocampus and cortex of elderly rats in comparison to the young ones.”
“Silymarin can be used as a choice compound against Alzheimer disease in which the protein oxidation is an important early occasion. According to previous studies, silymarin has antioxidant activities in the central nervous system, which enables it to enter the CNS via the blood–brain barrier (BBB).”
A general dosage recommendation for silymarin is 450mg per day. For more chronic type diseases, or prevention of them developing further, 1,200mg or more, per day in divided doses, is more often used.
Artichoke
Artichoke extract (Cynara scolymus) has been traditionally used to support digestive health and liver function. It helps increase bile secretion from the liver, and has been shown to lower cholesterol levels, and blood pressure.
Most benefits come from the increase in bile secretion, the antioxidant properties, and the increases in nitric oxide when taking artichoke. Artichoke also has antimicrobial effects, hypoglycemic, and anti-cancer effects. Much like silymarin, artichoke, increases glutathione levels, and has been shown to lower AST and ALT enzymes, and total bilirubin.
Artichoke extract may help protect the liver from damage and promote the growth of new tissue, as seen in studies on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Artichoke extract can help reduce post-prandial (post meal) glucose spikes. This was more effective in lean people than obese people.
In general, 500mg per day is used.
Turmeric / Curcumin
Turmeric is widely studied for its health-promoting properties. It has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, as well as Ayurvedic medicine, for more than 2,000 years. Curcumin is the main active ingredient of the spice turmeric (Curcuma Longa). It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which is a large reason for the benefits seen when taking curcumin. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, most chronic diseases can benefit from curcumin. Curcumin shows promise in IBD, it improves blood lipids, markers of glycaemic control, blood pressure, and liver enzymes.
Curcumin can enhance the synthesis of DHA and increase concentrations in the liver and the brain. DHA has many health benefits. Several cognitive disorders such as anxiety, depression and Alzheimer's are linked to a dietary deficiency of DHA.
Curcumin, in vitro, is neuroprotective against glutamate induced cell death. Curcumin may also increase BDNF levels. It can also reduce the negative impacts stress has on memory, and it has been shown to lower rates of anxiety in obese females. This is thought to be due to the anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin. Depression is also relieved due to this anti-inflammatory component of curcumin, along with its antioxidative effects, and its ability to regulate the monoamine neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenaline. Curcumin is beneficial in Alzheimer’s disease due to its ability to inhibit aggregation of beta-amyloid proteins.
Curcumin is also good for pain relief. “Curcumin at 400mg (2,000mg of Meriva) in persons with acute algesic episodes appears to have a potency comparable to 1,000mg acetaminophen and 100mg nimesulide (trending to be more potent than acetaminophen yet less potent than nimesulide). It appeared to start working within two hours (slower than nimesulide) with maximal efficacy at 3-4 hours and a loss of efficacy but not yet normalized within 12 hours. This same supplement (2g Meriva) seems effective in reducing pain in osteoarthritic persons over three months and eight months.” Curcumin is beneficial for those with arthritis and inflammatory joints.
Curcumin can decrease joint stiffness, improve flexibility, reduce delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), may reduce the risk of injury from training, and can improve the speed of recovery if an injury does occur.
Curcumin can prevent endothelial (blood vessel) dysfunction, help reduce atherosclerosis (plaque build-up in the arteries), could be protective against cardiac hypertrophy, inflammation, and thrombosis (blood clot), can lower blood pressure by improving blood flow, and it may reduce total cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Curcumin can help with diabetes and metabolic syndrome. It improves inflammation and insulin resistance. “Supplementation of curcumin to a prediabetic population over the course of nine months appears to preserve pancreatic function and improve both insulin sensitivity and adiponectin relative to control, and curcumin was able to prevent any occurrence of diabetes during this time frame (whereas 16.4% of control developed it).” Curcumin may also increase glucose uptake into skeletal muscles.
Curcumin is beneficial for Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease.
Curcumin is able to reduce fat build up in the liver (steatohepatitis). It also helps protect the kidneys.
Curcumin may also be protective against heavy metals and some cancers.
Curcumin is poorly absorbed. Combining it with a phospholipid increases its absorption 3.4 fold in comparison to taking curcumin alone in rat studies. Curcumin is a fat-soluble supplement, taking it with a meal with fats can help its absorption.
A typical dosage when taking curcumin combined with a phospholipid is 200-500mg, twice per day.
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