Are Olives a Miracle Drug?

The reading and research I've done over the past few days would lead me to believe so.

One of my clients is about to launch a new product that contains olive leaf, so to give "proof" to our claims of it's effectiveness, I started reading.

I learned that the use of dried olive leaf dates back to the ancient Egyptian and Mediterranean cultures, and is even cited in the Bible. That's a pretty long history of healing!

Clinical evidence has proven the blood pressure lowering effects of carefully extracted olive leaf extracts, and bioassays support its antibactrial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory effects.

But the benefits don't stop with the leaf. Olive oil offers protection against heart disease by controlling LDL cholesterol levels while raising HDL (good) cholesterol levels. It's protective function in the stomach has a beneficial effect on ulcers and gastritis, and because it activates teh secretion of bile and pancreatic hormones more naturally than precription drugs, it lowers the incidence of gallstone formation.

Studies on rats are now showing that olive oil reduces the risk of colon cancer - rating almost as high as fish oil in that regard.

Every report I read recommended taking two tablespoons of virgin olive oil daily. Of course, they recommend using it to replace other oils in your diet rather than just adding olive oil.

While all olive oil is good, the best is Extra Virgin - because it has not been overly processed and does not contain any other oils. Thus it has higher levels of antioxidants.

I also learned that your olive oil should be kept in a cool dark place, tightly sealed.

Contrary to popular hype, canola oil does not have the beneficial properties of olive oil - and may even contain a dangerous fatty acid. (I've been trying to stay away from that one for years - which unfortunately limits eating out.)

Olive oil burns easily, so for frying, nutrition experts recommend coconut oil. Because of its composition, the heat won't transition the oil into dangerous trans fatty acids.

Yours for good health - and good eating!
Marte