Olive Leaf Extract Helps Prevent Cardiovascular Disease and Hypertension

We are all familiar with the benefits of olive oil, but few realize the powerful benefits of olive leaf extract (OLE). Also known as oleuropein, the name of its main compound, olive leaf extract is derived from the leaves of the plant that grows olives, a tree called Olea europaea. It is believed by many to help prevent cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and other illnesses.

Olive leaf extract has been shown to be safe and has been widely used as a traditional medicine in countries such as Greece, Spain, France, Turkey, Israel, Morocco, and Tunisia. In Egypt, it has been used for hundreds or even thousands of years. It is typically consumed as a supplement and as a tea.

Olive leaf extract for cardiovascular disease

Heart disease is a major killer in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Unfortunately, as more and more countries adopt Western lifestyles in place of the diets of their ancestors, heart disease will continue to grow. In the US alone, nearly a million people die each year from heart and vascular disease, which is unnecessary. The formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) is linked to cardiovascular disease. A study conducted in 2016 by Dr. Mata Navarro and colleagues at Food Research International found that olive leaf extract inhibits the formation of AGEs, which helps prevent heart and vascular disease.

Olive leaf extract for high blood pressure

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is one of the main risk factors for heart disease. Over one billion of the 7.6 billion people in the world have high blood pressure, which occurs when the systolic blood pressure is 140 or higher and/or the diastolic blood pressure is 90 or higher. A study published in 2016 in Food and Function found that olive leaf extract helps lower blood pressure. A study published in Phytomedicine in 2011 found that a dose of 500 mg of olive leaf extract taken twice daily can reduce blood pressure, similar to 25 mg of the drug captopril taken twice daily. No side effects have been found with supplements.

Olive leaf extract for antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial uses

In a study published in Current Medical Mycology in 2015, olive leaf extract was found to have antifungal activity against Candida albicans. Candida albicans is a pathogenic yeast that is present in the skin and human gut microbiota. In another study, the antiviral activity of 150 plant extracts, including olive leaf extract, was analyzed. The results showed that olive leaf extract has potent antiviral activity and may help treat viral infections. In addition, a study published in the Journal of Food and Medicine in 2017 found that olive leaf extract has antibacterial properties against Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus and Streptococcus.