I recently discovered some of the many wonderful health effects olive leaf extract can have while researching its use as an antihypertensive agent.  I have been impressed with the results so far for mild to moderate high blood pressure.  But the multitude of other uses is staggering.  First, let’s explore the effect on blood pressure.

There are several studies of animals and humans indicating that the use of olive leaf extract has decreased both systolic and diastolic (upper and lower) values.  In a human study published in Phytomedicine in 2011, olive leaf extract taken in a dose of 500 mg twice daily, decreased blood pressure by about 11.5 and 5 mg systolic and diastolic respectively.  These decreases matched a typical dose of captopril, another antihypertensive medication.  Although this was not a large decrease, it was accompanied by other additional benefits, such as a significant decrease in triglyceride level, which was observed in this study. The captopril group, one of the ACE inhibitors, did not have this decrease.

Studies have shown additional benefits of olive leaf.  It not only decreases total cholesterol, and LDL, but lowers inflammatory markers, and protects against plague formation in arteries, and helps to regress already-formed plaque.

In Phytomedicine, 2011, olive leaf extract showed a potent neuroprotector effect when given to animals with an artificially induced stroke.  The animals who were taking the olive leaf, had less toxins produced from the damaged nerves, and an increase in detoxifying substances to eliminate the toxins that were produced. The brain cells were less damaged due to the strong antioxidant effects of the olive leaf.

Olive leaf extract is so impressive, I just had to add a few more tidbits of information from other studies.

Olive leaf demonstrated anti-cancer effects on leukemia cells by stimulating them to kill themselves.

The Journal of Medical Food in 2011 noted olive leaf can help heal damaged cartilage.

Type II diabetics had a decrease in their HbA1c and fasting insulin levels.

Olive leaf extract was found to protect rats against lead-induced toxicity to nerve and brain cells.

Finally, olive leaf extract has been found in some studies to decrease swelling and inflammation of arthritis in rats.

In conclusion, olive leaf extract seems almost too good to be true for its many health effect.  All I can say is, “Thank you Italy!”