Top 10 Health Benefits of Olives

Historically a symbol of peace and abundance, this sacred fruit tree also has a vast amount of health benefits! Did you know that the oldest fruit trees in history, the olive tree, has also been considered to be one of the most symbolic? At one point in time they were even reveled as providers of the majority of food supply and wealth in many ancient civilizations. Some even say that empires such as Greece and Rome flourished because of their olive tree orchards. Keep reading below to find out the top 10 health benefits of olives.

Heart Healthy 

The amount of antioxidants present in these briny fruits is truly astounding. The phenolic compounds hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein are particularly helpful in helping rid your body of harmful free radicals. These amazing antioxidants have proven to protect the heart by lowering the bad cholesterol that is present in your body, which helps protect the arteries and prevent heart attack.

Read here if you’d like to know more about these findings.

Cuts Cancer

Regularly consuming olives, and the olive oil extract, oleuropein, also helps target and destroy cancerous cells. Oleuropein has been especially proven to decrease the viability in specific leukemia, melanoma, amongst other forms of detrimental cancers.

Keep reading here if you’d like to find out more about how this plant can help prevent cancerous cell mutations.

Skin Saver

The components within olive oil help protect your largest organ against sun damage. This study proves that olive oil extract helps maintain healthy skin elasticity and even shields you from the harmful UV rays that are emitted through sunlight. Remember it’s so important to protect your face and body by wearing sunscreen that has an SPF of at least 30, and including more olives or olive oil in your life can be a great supplement to your daily sunscreen regimen!

Antimicrobial

This super fruit is also able to defend your body against several different types of harmful bacteria. It does this by damaging the cell membrane of the bacteria and prohibiting it from flourishing within your body. Research has provided “oleuropein and hydrolysis products are able to inhibit the development and production of enterotoxin B byStaphylococcus aureus, the development of Salmonella enteritidis” along with other infectious bacteria.

Covers Your Cranium

The antioxidants in olives protect you from the damaging effects that free radicals can have on your brain. They battle age-related neurodegenerative diseases by preventing and decreasing the severity of dementia, and “one study has reported that oleuropein decreases or even prevents Aβ aggregation, which is inherent to Alzheimer’s disease”.

Antiviral

Olives are also antiviral by nature, and harbor the ability to improve your body’s defense against “herpes mononucleosis, hepatitis virus, rotavirus, bovine rhinovirus, canine parvovirus, and feline leukemia virus” amongst others. The plant extract does this by acting on a molecular level, and can even inhibit the entry of HIV into normal cells.

Hair

Some even state that ingesting more olive products stimulates hair growth and improves the health of the hair shaft. You can also place it upon your hair topically and notice shinier, more durable hair if it was previously dry or damaged.

Bone Benefits 

Did you know that ingesting olive oil extract could inspire your bones to make more bone marrow? Recent research has proven that oleuropein, a potent extract of the olive tree, has the power to enhance the development of osteoblasts, which are the stem cells that generate bone marrow in your body.

Anti-Inflammatory

Not only does this powerful plant fight cancer, it can also ameliorate several inflammatory diseases such as arthritis. The compounds do this by protecting the DNA against damage that is carried out by free radicals within the body.

Pain Relief

As it turns out, the anti-inflammatory properties present in olive oil may even have the ability to relieve pain in achey muscles and joints. Thanks to the calming effects of a specific enzyme found in olive oil, name oleocanthal, you can combat chronic inflammation and muscle aches, which my be signs of more serious health conditions, if you regularly consume olive oil. Research published in Nature, states that a “50 gram (1.75 ounce) daily dose of olive oil is equivalent to about 10% of the ibuprofen dose recommended for adult pain relief”.