Have you tried the olive drink?

The olive tree is a blessed tree. We used to hear it, but every day we discover a new part of this blessing. We care for the olive tree and do agricultural services to obtain fruits that are used for pickling or pressing to obtain olive oil. I don't know what is olive oil!

However, we notice the presence of by-products, the most important of which are olive leaves. Over time, a real treasure was discovered in these papers. We had mentioned in previous article How to extract antioxidants from leaves to extend the life of olive oil, but today we are talking about the direct benefit of leaves, which is the “olive leaf drink”. Let's learn about it together.

What is olive leaf drink?

It is a herbal drink made from the leaves of olive trees, which are characterized by containing (polyphenols), the most important of which is a compound OleuropeinIt is the cause of bitterness in olive leaves.

Preparation method:A cup of olive tea is prepared by boiling dried olive leaves, sweetened with sugar or honey due to their bitterness, or eating it without additives.

Health benefits:Olive leaf drink is known for its multiple benefits, including:

• Lowering blood pressure and sugar.
• Boosting immunity thanks to antioxidants.
• Relieve flu symptoms.
• Relieve pain.

ATTENTION: You should consult your doctor before using it to avoid interference with medications or side effects such as headache or nausea.

Compared to green tea

GREEN TEA: It is made from the leaves of the camellia plant (Camellia Sinensis) It is grown in China and Japan. It contains volatile substances (polyphenols and catechins). It is believed to have multiple benefits, especially in fat breakdown and slimming.

Japanese study: olive leaves and anemia

A Japanese study conducted an experiment to compare the effects of long consumption of olive leaf tea and green tea on blood indicators in 31 volunteers aged 40 to 70 years.

Results of the study:

• The researchers found that the number of red blood cells, hemoglobin and hematocrit It has increased significantly In the olive tea drinking group compared to those in the green tea drinking group in the sixth and twelfth weeks.
• The within-group comparison showed that hematocrit was significantly increased in the olive tea group at 6 weeks.
• In contrast, Iron has dropped In the blood, there was a significant increase in the green tea group at 12 weeks.

Scientific explanation:Unlike olive tea, green tea contains a substance caffeine which has been shown to prevent iron absorption. Therefore, it can be assumed that olive leaf tea is less likely to cause anemia, the most common blood disease that affects nearly a third of the world's population.

People who are most at risk of anemia are women in puberty, reproductive age, during pregnancy and after childbirth, as well as children and the elderly. Blood loss or iron deficiency due to malnutrition are among the most common causes of anemia.

In recent years, there has been increasing interest in using nutrients in the form of complementary and alternative medicines derived from natural resources. Therefore, olive leaf tea may be a promising candidate for a natural approach to preventing and treating anemia and other red blood cell disorders.

How are olive leaves used?

The uses of olive leaves vary to include therapeutic, nutritional, and cosmetic purposes:

1. Therapeutic use: Preparing olive leaf tea to boost immunity, lower blood pressure, and regulate blood sugar.
2. SKIN CARE: Its extract, along with other ingredients, is included in skin care creams to reduce inflammation, signs of aging and wrinkles.
3. In the kitchen: Used as a powder (spice) in Chinese and Japanese dishes.

The evolution of commercial products:Companies have offered olive leaves in modern and varied forms:

• Ready drink (Tea Bags): The leaves are dried and packaged to be placed with boiling water, and sweetened with sugar or honey to overcome their bitterness.
• Herbal blends: Types have been introduced in which dry olive leaves are mixed with other herbs that have an acceptable taste to improve the taste, such as mint, anise and other healthy herbs.
• Coffee alternative: In Italy, dried olive leaves were served with boiling milk as an alternative product to “Nescafe” in order to encourage a shift to the use of healthy products in daily habits and practices.

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