When it comes to a tree that can also bear fruit that help to improve health and well-being, olive trees are a godsend! Olives are a staple in the Mediterranean diet, which is widely considered to be the healthiest diet on the planet. The best part of this diet is that you can enjoy wine with your meals and you don’t have to worry about having too much fat, because the diet is abundant with good fats, like olive oil. Even though olive leaves are far less well-known than the fruit of the tree and the precious oil derived from it, a steadily growing body of science points to the leaf as highly valuable, and worthy of its ancient medicinal reputation. Prized for centuries as a medicinal herb, olive leaves were first used medicinally in Ancient Egypt. In addition, they are also used to treat different skin conditions and can promote healthy beautiful skin. Can Olive leaf extract, a natural botanical supplement, replace collagen supplements to promote healthy skin and joints? If it was good enough for the likes of Cleopatra, it’s good enough for us! Olive Leaf Extract Benefits What does the olive leaf possess that ancient Egyptians prized so highly? Olive leaves are rich in the antioxidants oleuropein (1) and hydroxytyrosol. They also are a good source of the anti-cancer compounds apigenin and luteolin, and are a source of the anti-malarial agent cinchonine. In case you don't know the powerful benefits of Oleuropein, it has multi-functions provided by nature. Oleuropein is anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-viral and anti-microbial. Hydroxytyrosol (2) is also well documented as a disease-fighting compound. What is olive leaf used for? There have even been references to using the olive leaf as medicine in the Bible: “The fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.” (Ezekiel 47:12) In traditional Moroccan medicine, it was used to help stabilize blood sugar and control diabetes. In the early 1800's, people were using crushed olive leaves in beverages in order to reduce fevers, and about the mid-19th-century, they were used in tea to treat malaria. With all its amazing benefits, it should not come as a surprise that olive leaf has been made into powder and even better, that olive oil leaf extract can retain all its powerful antioxidant and healing properties. Oh, there’s more. Studies show that taking an olive leaf extract supplement can help to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, protect against oxidative damage, and prevent cancer. More helpful reading on oxidative stress and skin problems related to liver disease. 5 Benefits of Olive Leaf Extract for Health Health benefits of olive leaf extract includes healing and prevention. 1. Prevent and treat diabetes Diabetes is a life-altering condition that impairs your body’s ability to process blood glucose, or blood sugar. Without careful management, diabetes can cause sugar to build up in the blood, which increases the risk for dangerous complications like stroke and heart disease. Olive leaf extract is promising for treating diabetes because it has been shown to help lower blood glucose levels and limit the damage done by spikes in blood sugar. A study (3) performed in Israel showed that olive leaf extract has a beneficial hypoglycemic effect in patients with diabetes. Diabetes patients are likely to develop conditions like neuropathy, retinopathy, and nephropathy due to free radical damage and oxidative stress. But there’s hope. One study (4) showed that the antioxidants in olive leaf extract could prevent diabetic complications from oxidative stress. 2. Improve arterial health Your arteries carry oxygen-rich blood throughout your body. Healthy arteries have smooth inner walls and blood flows through them with ease. Arteries can get clogged, however, by a substance called plaque. Arterial plaque can reduce or even block blood flow completely, causing a condition known as atherosclerosis, a hardening and narrowing of the arteries. Atherosclerosis is usually the cause of heart attacks and stroke. Studies have shown that olive leaf extract inhibits (5) atherosclerosis by suppressing the body’s inflammatory response and decreasing blood lipid levels. The polyphenol compounds in olive leaves have also been shown to prevent the formation of arterial plaque. (6) 3. Lower blood pressure High blood pressure, or hypertension, increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. For many people, high blood pressure develops over time as you age. There are a number of factors that increase your risk for high blood pressure, including smoking, obesity, lack of exercise, stress, and genetics. While making lifestyle changes is often crucial to getting your blood pressure under control, you can also lower your blood pressure by supplementing your diet with olive leaf extract. Multiple studies have shown that olive leaf extract can prevent the development of hypertension. In short, taking olive leaf extract can help you lead a heart-healthy lifestyle. According to a clinical trial (7) performed in Belgium, there was a statistically significant decrease in blood pressure after three months of treatment with olive leaf extract. Another study compared the effectiveness of olive leaf extract in treating hypertension with the prescription drug captopril and showed that they were similarly effective. In other words, you can get the powerful effects of a pharmaceutical without the questionable side effects! 4. Reduce the risk of cancer Move over, olive oil! There’s a new super ingredient in town. Olive leaf extract contains a higher quantity and wider variety of polyphenols than olive oil. The polyphenols in olive leaf extract have a similar structure to oestrogens, so it is hypothesized (8) that they interact with oestrogen receptors to reduce the risk and progression of hormone-related cancers. Hydroxytyrosol, a polyphenol antioxidant compound in olive leaf extract, has been shown to inhibit the growth of human breast cancer cells (9) at an early stage of the growth cycle. Another study showed that olive leaf extract has anti-leukemia effects. (10) 5. Protect against neurodegenerative disease It takes no genius to recognize that olive polyphenols are good for brain health. Olive leaf extract has been shown to prevent neurogenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s by suppressing inflammation and reducing oxidative stress. (11) 5 Benefits of Olive Leaf Extract for Skin Olive leaf has proven health benefits. What is olive leaf extract good for, besides its anti-cancer and healing properties? Healthy and beautiful skin! Italian ladies long ago discovered that olive leaf extract benefits for skin include wound healing, protecting against sun damage and reduce hyper-pigmentation. Here are 5 clinically proven benefits of taking olive leaf supplements and applying olive leaf extract on your skin. 1. Rapid wound healing Whenever your skin gets injured, your body works to heal the wound. A scar may form as a part of the natural wound healing process. The appearance of the scar will depend on how well the wound heals. You can improve your body’s wound healing process by supplementing with olive leaf extract and a good liquid collagen drink.Studies (12) have shown that oleuropein, the main component of olive leaf extract, accelerates wound healing. Olive leaf extract can be applied to rashes and wounds to facilitate their healing. 2. Protect against sun damage UV exposure is responsible for most of the visible signs of aging skin but fear not. Olive leaf extract can help to protect the skin from sun damage. One study (13) suggested that olive leaf extract had preventative effects on UVB-induced skin damage, and can help heal sun damaged skin. The extract has been shown to slow melanin production and inhibit an enzyme that breaks down skin tissue. 3. Prevent skin cancer When it comes to skin cancer, olive leaf extract doesn’t play around. According to a 2011 study (14) performed on the skin cancer cells in mice, olive leaf extract inhibited the proliferation of cell reproduction, induced early apoptosis (i.e., programmed cell death), and reduced tumor volume in late phase tumor treatment. 4. Treat hyper-pigmentation Got dark spots on skin? Whenever you see dark spots, brown spots and age spots, they all fall under skin conditions known as hyper-pigmentation. Hyper-pigmentation is the darkening of skin due to the over accumulation or uneven distribution of melanin in the skin. Some causes of hyper-pigmentation include sun exposure, hormones, medications, and skin trauma. The keys to treating hyper-pigmentation are to protect the skin from UV rays and use products that brighten the skin and inhibit the production of melanin. A double-blind placebo-controlled study in Japan (15) showed that the oral ingestion of olive leaf extract could reduce pigment spots induced and exacerbated by UV light. 5. Reduce the signs of aging The breakdown of collagen and elastin in your skin, as well as factors like stress, sun exposure, and pollution, all have a profound impact on your skin’s appearance. Wrinkles might be a map of your life journey but premature aging doesn’t have to be a fact of life.You can’t stop the clock from ticking, but you can reverse or slow down the signs of aging with olive leaf extract. Because of olive leaf extract’s antioxidant properties, it prevents skin cell damage caused by oxidation. A study conducted in Japan showed that olive leaf extract and oleuropein helps prevent skin damage. The results of the study suggested the preventative effects of olive leaf extract and oleuropein on UV-B-induced symptoms of aging skin. How to Take Olive Leaf Extract Supplements: Dosage and Side Effects As you can see, olive leaf extract is effective in treating a laundry list of different conditions. However, chewing or eating olive leaf can be challenging unless you grind the leaves into powder or chop them into tiny pieces and add to a shot of water every time you want to take it. The health supplement industry has made this easy for us and it is always beneficial to know exactly how much to take daily. Currently there are 2 options available for olive leaf extract: 1.) topically and 2.) orally. Olive Leaf Extract Dosage Olive leaf extract supplements are typically available in dosages between 500mg and 1,000mg and usually come in capsule or liquid form. There is no standard dosage for olive leaf extract supplements. With its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties, topical olive leaf extract can be used to protect the skin and treat conditions like acne, eczema, and cold sores. Olive Leaf Extract Side Effects There are no known negative side effects to taking olive leaf extract. It can be used safely on a long-term basis. That being said, there have been some reports of people experiencing headache and other mild symptoms due to the detoxification effect of taking olive leaf extract. More helpful reading by Renew Alliance: https://www.renewalliance.com/blogs/i/detox-cleansing-tips-for-your-skin-and-body To Target Skin Issues with Olive Leaf Extract, Try Taut® Bright Taut® Bright- Bye Bye Dark Spots, is a supplement designed for your skin that contains the best olive leaf extract along with L-Glutathione, L-Cystein, Vitamin C, Grape Seed Extract, Artichoke Leaf Extract, and Alpha Lipoic Acid. These powerful antioxidants help to protect against cellular damage and inhibit melanin production. Developed in Japan, Taut Bright’s proprietary formula protects the skin against cellular damage, fades hyper-pigmentation, and lightens the skin naturally. Taut® Bright neutralizes free radicals and helps you achieve fair, flawless skin from the inside out. Olive Leaf Extract Reviews Promising ResultsI have been using Taut Bye-Bye Dark Spots for almost a month now and have noticed a slight difference in my skin tone. I am optimistic that results will be more visible after another month of use. Feeling positive here!-Maribel F. Taut Bye Bye dark spotsI can see my spots getting lighter. I love addressing problems from the inside out! Thank you Taut!-Angela R. Love this productAfter using Taut Bright for a while, I have noticed the dark spots on my face and the dark circles under my eyes are fading and improving. I will continue taking the pills and really enjoying this product.-Thi N. Read more reviewsWant to see and experience the benefits of olive leaf extract for yourself? Try Taut Bright today! [recommended product="magnifique-taut-collagen-bright-masks" product="taut-bright-illuminate-brighten"]
