Olive Leaf Benefits
Olive leaf extract is extracted from the leaves of the Olive tree and has numerous health benefits.
The main constituent of olive leaf extract is oleuropein, which has wide ranging benefits for our health. It can relieve chronic fatigue, help in times of colds and flu and lowers cholesterol and blood pressure. It can also help get rid of warts, herpes sores and other fungal infections. It boosts the immune system and works when antibiotics fail (at least at the moment) as bacteria have developed immunity to their actions in the body.
If you have access to fresh olive leaves then you can make your own infusion of the leaves, but as most of us are not so lucky. Olive leaf extract provides us with all the benefits of the fresh leaves without us having to go to the trouble to pick them and clean them before making them into a tisane. Think about it, in the countries where olives are grown, people live to a ripe old age and live active lives. They consume olives as part of their daily diet and wash it all down with plenty of olive oil and yes, some elderly people drink it to keep their joints supple and free of arthritis and rheumatism and it seems to have worked for them. In Greece, particularly people have access to olive groves which have been in their families for generations and the oil these groves produce every other year is green, very tasty and full of health-giving nutrients.
Some of the olive leaf extract health benefits
Immune System
As prevention is usually better than cure and you want to have a winter without the problems of colds and flu, then you should consider investing in some olive leaf extract capsules, which, if you start taking now, may be very beneficial over the coming months. If you have a cold or flu, then the symptoms will be relieved more quickly if you take olive leaf extract.
The overall strength of the immunity is increased when taking olive leaf extract. The body becomes more able to fight germs and bacteria once you regularly consume olive leaf extract. Taking a few capsules of olive leaf extract every day will help to keep you generally healthy as it boosts the immune system and prevents diseases such as colds and flu.
Heart and Cholesterol
Olive leaf extract will help in lowering cholesterol levels and reducing blood pressure, because of its antioxidant properties. The bad cholesterol in the body is the Low density Lipoprotein. When the level of LDL is lowered the condition of the heart improves. Olive Leaf Extract is recommended for the high blood pressure patients. It reduces blood pressure by relaxing the arteries. Blood flow is increased and as a result the functioning of the heart recovers.
Blood Sugar and Blood Clothing
Olive leaf extract has also proven its effectiveness in lowering blood sugar levels. Blood sugar has become a common problem in many people and its effects are disastrous to the body. If you are suffering from hypoglycemia and are constantly taking diabetic medications then you can try the olive leaf extract. Olive Leaf extract also reduces blood clotting. It prevents platelet aggregation. The antioxidant Oleuropein inhibits production of thromboxane A2, angiotensin and converting enzymes. It is very helpful for people who are suffering from bleeding disorders. The loive leaf extract has anticoagulation and anti-clotting properties.
Stomach
It can prevent excess acidity in the stomach and cure gastritis. It also relieves stomach pain by stopping muscle spasms in the stomach and is useful in the treatment of stomach cramps.
Skin
Olive leaf extract is also very good for the skin. It can eliminate acne problems and also prevents wrinkle formation. It keeps the skin young and supple. If you are tired of your acne problem then Olive leaf extract can do wonders for you. It cleanses the skin and eliminates acne forever. It will also give you a youthful and glowing skin.
Chronic Fatigue
It reduces chronic fatigue in the body and revitalizes the body system so that you feel more energetic. The Olive Leaf extract is also a stress buster and improves your mental health as well.
Chronic fatigue is a serious problem among many people. Basically the reason of this problem is the production of micro toxins in the body. Olive leaf extract inhibits the production and thus people feel more energetic and vigilant while performing their regular activities.
Antioxidant properties
Antioxidants present in the Olive leaf extract help to fight the most common diseases like common cold, flu to more severe viral diseases. Olive leaf extract is effective against yeast infections, ringworm, shingles, and Epstein-Barr disease. It actually prevents the critical amino acid production of viruses. It renders the virus ineffective, penetrates the cell and inhibits viral replication. It also helps to stop infections caused by protozoa, bacteria and retrovirus. It supposedly neutralizes reverse transcriptase and proteases in retroviruses. It contains flavonoids and oesters which help combat disease and the antioxidant properties help to slow down the ageing process. One of the most notable properties of antioxidants is its ability to neutralize free radicals which cause various ailments in the body including cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, ageing etc. When free radicals are neutralized they also increase the life span of an individual and the antioxidant properties of the extract help to slow down the ageing process.
Anti-microbial properties
It fights pathogens, bacteria and various kinds of viruses. It is effective against pneumonia, flu, dysentery, respiratory and sinus infections. It also curbs infections of the eye, ear, tooth and other vaginal infections. It also reduces symptoms of PMS.
One benefit is that it will prevent bacteria such as E. coli sticking to the walls of the intestinal walls and so reduce the risk of getting a bout of diarrhea, and other stomach ailments. It will also rid the body of the salmonella bacteria.
Possible side effects
Though the benefits of Olive Leaf extract are too many but there are some side effects too. The main function of Olive Leaf extract is to fight infections but sometimes the body organs may get overloaded with dead microbes. The effect is generally called detox reactions and it occurs because Olive leaf extract starts fighting with germs too vigorously.
Find out more about Side effects of olive leaf extract.
Olive leaf extract has plenty of health benefits, so it’s almost a surprise that more don’t know about it. The olive plant’s most infamous asset is of course the olive, where they’ve been enjoyed for a rather long time. Even the oil rendered from the olive is somewhat of a rockstar in many health circles within the industry. Knowing about more than the average uses of certain foods is not something most people get from casual conversations or reading. In order to get this particular knowledge it takes a passion and ambition for wanting to learn the industry. The best first step in this process is finding the right place to get your education, and there are plenty of good public health masters online options available today.