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Head of the Oils and Fats Department at the Food Industries and Nutrition Research Institute, National Research Centre.
Not all treasures are extracted from the ground... some grow on sand. Among the branches of the blessed tree, olive oil and leaves shine like a green food and treatment system that carries in every drop and leaf the promise of life, health and immortality.
Investment in olive oil is not limited to being a high-end food and preventive medicine; it is an integrated system that goes beyond the limits of oil to include other equally valuable treasures. Olive leaves — to which we will single out this article — are one of the most important by-products of the blessed tree. They have proven their value as a dietary and therapeutic supplement that combines the roots of folk medicine and the foundations of modern science.
The matter does not stop at the leaves only, but extends to the backward income after the afternoon (Pomace), another treasure that hides great industrial, health and economic secrets. We will publish an independent article to reveal its added potential for the olive industry.
The blessed olive tree is not just a religious or heritage symbol, but a great store of food and medicine. Its extra virgin oil has been known since ancient times as one of the finest and most beneficial foods for health and prevention. However, although oil is the most popular product, the tree has another equally valuable gift: olive leaves, which have proven to be a unique dietary supplement that supports the benefits of oil and adds a therapeutic dimension that was known in ancient folk medicine and confirmed by recent research today.
Olive oil has never been just a fat for food. It is an integrated system of food, prevention and treatment. It is a source of healthy energy thanks to its monounsaturated fatty acids. It has antioxidant compounds that protect the heart and arteries and slow aging. It is both a daily food and a preventive medicine. It embodies the meaning of “green therapy” that combines the pleasure of taste and the philosophy of sustainable health.
- Ancient Egyptians used it in embalming because of its antibacterial and antifungal properties. It was also included in therapeutic recipes.
- Ancient Greece: Hippocrates prescribed it to treat fever and digestive problems.
- Arab and Islamic medicine: Ibn Sina referred to it as an aid to control blood pressure and regulate sugar.
- Oleuropein: a powerful antioxidant that helps protect cells and stabilize blood pressure.
- Hydroxytyrosol (Hydroxytyrosol): one of the most powerful natural antioxidants. It has anti-inflammatory properties.
- Flavonoids and terpenes: enhance immunity and fight microbes and viruses.
This formula makes olive leaves more than just an herbal tea; it is a dietary supplement with a significant biological effect.
Early laboratory and clinical studies suggest promising benefits:
1. Cardiovascular support: lowering blood pressure and bad cholesterol.
2. Regulating sugar: improving insulin sensitivity and glucose control.
3. Enhance immunity: antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal activity.
4. Anti-oxidation: protecting cells from damage and reducing inflammation.
⚠️ Warning: Scientific tests on humans are limited, so it is considered an auxiliary factor rather than a substitute for medical treatment.
Unconsidered use may cause serious problems:
- People with diabetes: may lead to a sharp drop in sugar with antihypertensive drugs.
- Hyperbaric patients: the risk of low pressure increases when combined with pressure medications.
- Anticoagulants: increases the risk of bleeding.
- Before surgery: You should stop at least two weeks in advance.
- Patients with liver and kidney disease: there is insufficient data to confirm its safety.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: the absence of sufficient evidence makes it imperative to be cautious.
For dietary or therapeutic use, it is preferable to choose healthy middle-aged green leaves, which are the richest in effective compounds such as olurobin. Very small or large, aged leaves, as well as leaves that are yellow or affected by pests or mold, are excluded from use. Leaves should be from trees that have not been exposed to harmful pesticides or chemical fertilizers. After collecting them, they are washed well in running water to remove dust, with the possibility of quickly soaking them in a mild vinegar solution and then rinsing them.
As for drying, it is preferable to do it in the shade in a well-ventilated place to maintain effective compounds, while avoiding direct sunlight. After that, it can be prepared by soaking or boiling to be used as a safe herbal drink.
- Source: clean leaves from trees not sprayed with pesticides.
- Preparation: 1—3 g of dry leaves (1 teaspoon—2 tablespoons) in 250 ml boiling water, soak for 10—15 minutes.
- Dosage: half a cup at the beginning, and no more than two cups per day.
- Duration: 8—12 weeks maximum with breaks.
Olive leaves are not just the remains of a blessed tree. They are a living symbol of the integration of natural products with science. Between its phenolic compounds and the memories of its use across civilizations, it stands on the dividing line between treatment and disease. It is a small paper but it has great power. If used with knowledge and wisdom, it becomes a real support for health. If taken randomly, it may cause a serious relapse.
- May God grant us these priceless natural treasures.
- Then the science of scholars came to reveal its secrets and establish laws and standards that ensure good use of it without harm.
- Finally, the doctor remains the key to safety. He guides us to the correct practical application and determines for each person what suits him according to his condition and circumstances.
Let olive leaves be a green medicine that leads us to better health, not unknown risks.
