Prof. Dr. Erdem Yeşilada, Head of Yeditepe University Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy Department, explained:

It has been experimentally proven that olive has anti-inflammatory, blood sugar lowering, blood pressure lowering, atherosclerosis preventing, blood lipid level lowering, bone loss repairing, anti-microbial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties, and many other effects.

What makes olive so effective is its rich polyphenolic content, hydroxytyrosol, oleuropein, oleocanthal, etc. The strong antioxidant effect of green tea is always mentioned. However, hydroxytyrosol has an antioxidant effect that is 10 times stronger than green tea. However, because their taste is bitter, when we put the olive fruits in water, we also lose these beneficial substances in the black-colored water that comes out. Purification of olive oil also means the removal of these components. The olive leaves that are pruned and thrown away are the most important source of polyphenolic compounds.

Applied to Overweight Individuals

In a study published in 2012, it was reported that olive leaf extract is effective in sugar metabolism in type-2 diabetics and reduces the level of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) after 14 weeks of administration.

In a clinical study carried out in 2013, the effect of olive leaf on 'insulin resistance', which is one of the main factors of obesity in humans, was investigated. In the measurements, it was observed that olive leaf extract improves insulin sensitivity by 15-20 percent. This value is reportedly the same as some known diabetes medications…

In experiments on the mode of action, it was suggested that olive leaf extract exerts its effect by stimulating the secretion of factors that regulate insulin sensitivity (IGFBP-2) and prevent excess insulin secretion (IGFBP-1).

How Safe Is Olive Leaf Extract?

No adverse changes were observed in the liver and kidney values of the subjects with the administration of the extract. In this regard, the olive leaf extract is reported to be safe.

Olive Leaf Tea Is More Beneficial

As for the residence time in the body, oleuropein was found to reach its highest blood level in an average of 80 minutes after oral administration and is excreted from the body in 240 minutes. However, it was observed that the olive leaf extract preparations in liquid form are absorbed quite quickly (23 minutes), while the absorption time in tablet form reaches 80-90 minutes.

Another interesting observation is that the hepatic metabolite of hydroxytyrosol (hydroxytyrosol glucuronide) has a five times higher antioxidant effect.

In this case, drinking tea of appropriate quality containing olive leaves before meals or taking capsules containing olive leaf extract should be considered as one of the effective measures to be taken against insulin resistance.