Discover the Top 6 health benefits of Olive leaf extract

Explore the health benefits of olive leaf extract, and its history. Also, learn how you can use it in your daily diet.

Introduction:

The leaves of the Olea Europaea plant or olive tree have been known for their great health benefits for centuries. Particularly used in Mediterranean cultures, the extract of these leaves has been used for its significant benefits for skin, and immune system. It finds its uses as a fantastic antioxidant and also as an antimicrobial agent.

However, these claims are backed by limited research employed only on animals. Nevertheless, this extract promises solid results for humans. Early research (at the time of writing) indicated strong benefits for humans.

The extract of olive tree leaves contains a long list of complex compounds called polyphenols. The most significant ones are hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, rutin, verbascoside, oleuropein, apigenin, quercetin, caffeic acid: and many more. This extract has a unique yet complex combination of different compounds making it an extremely healthy extract for human beings’ consumption as a supplement. Below is a detailed explanation of the health benefits of olive leaf extract:

1. A Great Antioxidant:

In terms of health benefits, the most significant compound found in olive leaves is metabolite, hydroxytyrosol. Both are involved in antioxidant activity and pose great health benefits to the human body. It also contains caffeic acid, quercetin, verbascoside, and many other anti-oxidants which all are responsible for high anti-oxidant activity.

2. Improves Heart Health:

Oleuropein can also significantly reduce blood pressure. It helps lower both the systolic and diastolic blood pressure when injected intraperitoneally or intravenously. The historic use of olive leaves in the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension may be justified by oleuropein's capacity to reduce blood pressure.

Research has also backed these claims as it is shown to reduce narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis) which is the highest risk factor for heart disease. It is also observed to reduce low-density lipoprotein in blood and also lower inflammatory biomarkers. 

3. Beneficial for Diabetic patients:

It is also beneficial for diabetes type 2 patients by helping them with blood sugar control and is considered one of the primary health benefits of olive leaf extract. It does that by reducing starch absorption in their bloodstreams.

Early research has also found that olive leaf extract helps insulin production and boost glucose absorption by cells. This prevents glucose from remaining in circulation and changing blood sugar levels in diabetic patients, thus helping reduce hyperinsulinemia.

4. Great for Weight loss:

Recent research on olive leaves suggests that its extract helps in weight loss. It does that by regulating the expression of genes that control weight gain in humans. Its regular intake can also significantly help in reducing food intake altogether. The result of the research studying its impact on weight loss has conducted trials on animals but not humans. So, human trials are awaited to confirm if it can work for us or not.

5. Solid anti-viral Activity

One of the health benefits of olive leaf extract is that it can help recover against viral infections thanks to its strong antiviral properties. It was also used against SARS-CoV-2 viral infections and resulted in significantly positive results.

Early trials on young athletes showed that the group of athletes who were introduced to this extract showed shorter bouts of upper respiratory illness. Again, more research is needed to confirm its role in antiviral activity.  

6. Control Cholesterol in blood:

Trials on rats have shown that this extract helps them lower cholesterol levels in their blood. The subjects were made to have higher levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) which is considered bad cholesterol for bodies.

Although these results are just based on preliminary studies conducted with a small number of subjects, the extract still can be considered a great potential remedy for controlling cholesterol in our bodies.

Wrapping Up:

To conclude the health benefits of olive leaf extract, it can be stated that this extract is loaded with complex compounds that can offer strong benefits to humans, especially concerning heart health, control of sugar in diabetics, viral protection, and helps in weight loss.