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Olive Leaf for a
Healthy Heart
Lower Cholesterol and Blood Pressure
Reduce Hypertension
Studies have consistently demonstrated
that the Mediterranean diet—of which
olive leaf is a large part—is correlated with a lower
than average risk of coronary heart disease. Heart disease seems to
respond well to the introduction of olive leaf tea and extracts. According
to laboratory and clinical studies, olive leaf alleviates numerous
disorders related to insufficient arterial blood flow, including angina
pectoris and intermittent claudication. It helps eliminate arterial
fibrillation (arrhythmia), lowers high blood pressure, and inhibits LDL
cholesterol from oxidizing, it relaxes the blood vessels and prevents
buildup of plaque in them, all of which lower blood pressure.
Olive Leaf for a Healthy Heart
Like the polyphenolic component of red
wine, resveratrol, oleuropein imparts some important antioxidant benefits
that may help prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol and support healthy
heart function. The oxidation of LDL cholesterol—the so-called "bad"
cholesterol—can severely damage the walls of arteries. Along with
resveratrol, oleuropein is high on the list of beneficial components of
the acclaimed Mediterranean Diet (which includes olive oil), believed to
be responsible for the reduced incidence of heart disease in those who
habitually partake in the Diet.
Scientists believe olive leaf’s
potential ability to support cardiovascular health is linked to four main
factors. First,
olive leaf contains an antioxidant that may help
prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. The oxidation of LDL
cholesterol—the so-called "bad" cholesterol—can severely damage the walls
of arteries and it is one of the chief contributors to atherosclerosis.
Another compound in
olive leaf may support healthy blood flow by lowering
its viscosity and making it less "sticky." Third,
olive leaf may have the ability to dilate blood
vessels, thus lowering blood pressure.
Naturally Lower Cholesterol
Levels
olive leaf causes bad cholesterol to slip off
platelets in blood vessels, preventing it from sticking to them and
causing health problems like coronary artery clogging. This wonderful
plant has broad spectrum antibiotic and antiviral properties, benefits
overall immune system functioning and is also a vasodilator that lowers
blood pressure, reduce inflammation and prevents angina attacks.
Olive Leaf to Treat Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) and high
Cholesterol?
Study
Shows the benefits of Olive Leaf Extract, and that it is effective in
lowering blood pressure
An extract of
Olea europaea
L. (olive leaf)
can be used to reduce both mile hypertension and low density lipoprotein (LDL)
according to the results of studies.
Hypertension is one of the
most common and important disease risk factors imposed by the modern
lifestyle. Many people would therefore benefit from finding ways of
reducing blood pressure.
The ancient
Egyptians revered the leaves. Ancient Greeks used them to clean wounds,
and the original Olympic athletes were crowned with a wreath of olive
leaves. The olive leaf is even mentioned in the Bible for its purported
healing properties.
So it's no
wonder that scientists today are looking at ways to use olive leaf,
specifically for one of modern society's biggest and sneakiest health
problems -- high blood pressure.
High blood
pressure (hypertension) often develops quietly and without symptoms. Ways
to curb it include lifestyle and diet changes -- cutting salt and fat and
getting the body moving.
Research and interest in olive leaf extracts has moved forward, primarily
in Europe. Among the most recent findings are these:
In a
series of experiments, oleuropein was found to inactivate bacteria by
apparently dissolving the outer lining of microbes.
At the
University of Milan Pharmacological Sciences, researchers found that
oleuropein inhibited oxidation of low-density lipoproteins, the so-called
"bad cholesterol" involved in heart and aterial disease. This revelation,
if confirmed by further research, suggests that oleuropein may contain
antioxidant properties similar to other phytochemical compounds. Medical
researcher Morton Walker, D.P.M., writing about olive leaf extract in the
July 1996 issue of the Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, comments
that the intake of flavonoids "is correlated with a lower incidence of
cardiovascular disease indicating that the daily intake of olive oil
and/or olive leaf extract containing phenols will likely bring on a
similar result." At the present time, the cardiovascular research
community is excited about such actions. Studies have shown that some
phytochemicals can reduce the harmful oxidation of cholesterol as well as
slow down the accelerated clumping of blood platelets that can lead to
dangerous clots.
At
Spain's University of Granada, pharmacologists determined that olive leaf
extract causes relaxation of arterial walls in laboratory animals. Such
results suggest a possible benefit for hypertension, an effect first
mentioned by researchers more than 30 years ago.
In
Tunis, researchers found that aqueous extract of olive leaves reduced
hypertension, blood sugar, and the level of uric acid in rodents. This
finding again indicates potential in the treatment of hypertension, as
well as diabetes and heart disease. An elevated uric acid level is a risk
factor for heart disease.
An earlier study
showed that when rats were given olive leaf extract, their blood pressure
dropped.
Now researchers
in Germany and Switzerland have looked at how sets of identical human
twins with borderline hypertension responded to taking olive leaf extract.
Identical twins were used to help keep the data consistent, because
genetic differences can make people respond differently to the same
treatments.
The extract was
obtained from dry olive leaves and put into capsule form.
Two experiments
were carried out. One compared twins who took 500 milligrams of
olive leaf
extract a day at breakfast with a comparison group of their siblings who
didn't. A second compared a group who took 500 milligrams a day to those
who took 1,000 milligrams a day. A total of 40 people participated, aged
18 to 60; 28 women and 12 men.
Here are the
results:
Those who took
the highest daily dosage of olive leaf extract (1,000 milligrams) received
the highest benefits -- "significantly" lowering their cholesterol and
blood pressure when compared to the group that took 500 milligrams.
At the end of
the eight-week study, the group that took 1,000 milligrams per day had
dropped their systolic blood pressure (the "top" number) by an average of
11 points.
The participants
who received 500 milligrams of olive leaf extract dropped their systolic
blood pressure by five points, and those who took no supplements saw their
blood pressure edge up by two points. Neither one of these changes was
felt to be statistically significant.
Researchers, led
by lead author Tania Perrinjaquet-Moccetti of Frutarom (a Swiss
manufacturer of the olive leaf extract), note that they were not looking
for what dosage might be most effective, but rather whether there was a
blood pressure lowering effect at all.
The authors also
note a "significant" reduction in LDL ("bad") cholesterol in those twins
who took the
olive leaf
extract, but the specific data regarding these results was not presented
in the paper.
The authors call
for more investigation into the possible benefits of olive leaf extract on
both blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Results are
published in the September issue of Phytotherapy Research. The
research was funded by Frutarom.
Recently, I was diagnosed with high blood pressure. My average blood
pressure was about 195/98, and sometimes reaching as high as 250/148. My
wife forced me to go to a conventional doctor and of course I did!
(happy wife = happy life!) He put me on blood pressure medicine and I
began to reluctantly take it.. after the first 30 days I saw no
improvement so I went off for several days before returning to the doctor.
Upon my return my pressure read 198/99 and he then placed me on a higher
dosage of another medicine.
I was on this
medicine for three weeks when I decided that I must be crazy! Here I own
and operate an alternative health website and I am taking conventional
medicine for something…. I stayed up all night researching and decided to
begin a regimen that I put together; the principle part being
olive leaf
capsules of 20%
oleuropein and
Coenzyme Q10, Garlic, Cayenne,
Vitamin C, Vitamin E and
Magnesium. Because of the high dosages I am
taking, I will not post the complete regimen as of yet, but will within 8
weeks. I will state however, that I stopped the blood pressure pills one
week ago and today my pressure read 131/91.. this is only after one week!
I truly believe I will achieve consistent optimum blood pressure levels
within the first month…
I am writing this two months (8 weeks) after I began
and since then I changed to the 575 MG olive leaf rather then the 20% that
I was using all along. What I noticed id that my pressure elevated
slightly so I changed back to the 20% and my pressure has been fluctuating
near 130/88. My doctor is now starting to ask me questions about what I am
doing as opposed to telling me that I am crazy!
email me for
the complete regimen or visit us here again soon for the posting and my
final 6 month posting and results!
Read on to find out some
other known natural cures
for hypertension
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