Many of us are familiar witholive oiland its benefits but have little to no awareness of the powerfulhealthbenefits ofolive leaf extract(OLE). Also referred to asoleuropein, the name of its main component, Olive Leaf Extract is derived from the leaves of the plant that bears olives, a tree calledOlea Europaea. It is believed by many to help preventcardiovascular disease,diabetes, cancer, and other conditions.
Olive leaf extracthas been shown to be safe and has been widely used as traditional medicine in countries such as Greece, Spain, France, Turkey, Israel, Morocco, and Tunisia.In Egypt, it has been used for hundreds and even thousands of years. It is commonly consumed insupplementform and as atea.
1. Cardiovascular Disease
Heartdisease is a leading killer in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Unfortunately, as more countries adopt the Western lifestyle in place of their ancestral diets, heart disease will continue to progress. In the United States, alone, deaths due to heart and vascular disease unnecessarily kill almost 1 million people every year.
Advanced glycation end products have been associated with cardiovascular disease. In a 2016 study inFood Research International, conducted by Dr. Mata Navarro and colleagues, it was shown thatolive leaf extractinhibited the formation of the advanced glycation end products, thereby helping to prevent heart disease and vascular disease.
2. High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is one of the leading risk factors for heart disease. More than 1 billion of the world’s 7.6 billion people have high blood pressure, which occurs when the systolic blood pressure is measured at 140 or more and diastolic blood pressure is 90 or more.
A 2016 study inFood & Functionshowed that olive leaf extract could help lower blood pressure. A 2011 study inPhytomedicineshowedolive leaf extract, at a dose of 500 mg twice per day, could lower blood pressure similarly to the pharmaceutical drug captopril at 25 mg twice per day. No side effects were noted from the supplement.
3. Diabetes
Diabetesmellitus type 2, or diabetes as it is commonly known, is a condition that affects millions worldwide. Those with diabetes suffer from elevated sugar (glucose) levels in the blood, causing oxidative damage to blood vessels, nerves, and organs, such as the kidneys and eyes—an example of oxidation is when a car becomes rusty from the effects of weather. Diabetes increases one’s risk of having a heart attack, stroke, foot amputation, and kidney failure.
Ninety-five percent of those with diabetes have type 2 diabetes, and five percent have type 1. Type 2 diabetes is primarily a disease of lifestyle while type 1 is due to an autoimmune destruction of the pancreas.
Olive-leafpolyphenols improve insulin sensitivity, meaning that one’s insulin works more efficiently. In a 2013 study in New Zealand, 46 men were selected to receive a capsule with olive leaf extract or a placebo for 12 weeks. Those who received the olive leaf extract showed a one percent improvement in insulin sensitivity. Many studies support the idea that olive leaf extract helps inregulating blood sugarfluctuations.
4. Brain Function
Braindisorders are expected to rise over the next several decades. These induce dementia,Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease, among others. A healthy diet and physical activity are crucial to keeping the brain healthy. Certain supplements can also be helpful asnatural approaches to Alzheimer’s disease,including olive leaf extract.
Olive leaf extracthas been found to haveantioxidantand brain-protective effects. A 2017 study inMetabolic Brain Diseaseusing animals showed benefits.In that study, test subjects who received olive leaf extract had significantly improved balance, muscle strength, and antioxidant levels in the brain. The findings support that olive leaf extract has brain-protecting properties and may be useful in preventing the death of specific brain cells called dopaminergic neurons, which can lead to Parkinson’s disease. For this reason, it has been suggested that olive leaf extract may be useful to patients with Parkinson’s disease and may provide some protection against Alzheimer’s disease.
A study in theEuropean Journal of Pharmacologyusing an animal model showed olive leaf extract could also reduce long-term complications from a stroke.
5. Antifungal, Antiviral and Antibacterial
In a study inCurrent Medical Mycologyfrom 2015,it was found thatolive leaf extractexhibited anti-yeast effects against Candida albicans. Candida albicans is a pathogenic yeast that is found on the skin and in the human gut flora. In a different study, 150 plant extracts, including olive leaf extract, were analyzed for antiviral activity. The findings showed that olive leaf extract also had a strong ability to kill viruses and may be useful in the treatment of infections caused by viruses.
Furthermore, a 2017 study in theJournal of Food Medicineshowed olive leaf extract to have antibacterial properties against gram-positive bacterial strains such asstaphylococcusandstreptococcus.
6. Skin Health
A 2014 study inCell Journalevaluatedolive leaf extractused in the treatment ofskindiseases and wounds. Using an animal model, mice received a one-centimeter-long full-thickness incision and were left unsutured (the wound was not sewn shut). Some mice were treated with topical olive leaf extract for seven days and others with only purified water. The wounds were analyzed and it was found that olive leaf extract, when applied directly to the wound, helped withskin and wound healing.
This may be useful in the recovery process after cuts and surgery. Also, due to theantioxidantproperties that are in olive leaf extract, it can help prevent skin cell damage. One studyeven showed that olive leaf extract could also helpprotect against skin aging.
7. Weight Management
A 2014 study inEvidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicinefound that olive leaf extract can help against obesity by turning off the genes that create fat (thermogenesis). The results of the study are supportive that taking olive leaf extract may help inweight loss.
How to Use Olive Leaf Extract:
The most convenient way to receive the benefits ofolive leaf extractis to purchase it in a capsule or tablet form as a natural supplement. Olive leaf extract can also be purchased in liquid form.
Olive leaf extractsuggested dose: 500 mg once to twice per dayOlive leaf extract liquid: Take as directed on the label
Olive leaf extractsuggested dose: 500 mg once to twice per day
Olive leaf extract liquid: Take as directed on the label
Although there is still much research to be done on olive leaf extract, there is enough evidence to support that it is beneficial to overall health and well-being.
