Free US Shipping for orders $49+
Oleuropein

The Benefits of Oleuropein (another reason to love olives!)

Chances are, you’ve heard of the Mediterranean diet, which proponents say can help reduce the risk of a wide variety of ailments. One of the staples of this diet is olive oil, which comes from the olive leaf. Turns out, the active compound found in olive leaf extract, known as oleuropein, has been associated with many different health benefits. Take a look at the evidence, and then decide whether increasing your intake of oleuropein could be right for you.

What is Oleuropein?

If you’ve ever eaten olives, you know they have a distinct, slightly bitter taste. Well, oleuropein is the compound that gives olives their wonderful flavor.

But this incredible substance does a lot more than give olives their zip. Oleuropein has been shown to support your body in many ways. Processed oleuropein is available through not only food, but supplements as well.

Oleuropein belongs to a family of plant compounds known as polyphenols, which are chemicals found in plants. Polyphenols are not only found in vegetables, but also in fruits, grains, and certain beverages, such as red wine and coffee.1

Polyphenols are antioxidants – substances that help protect the health of your cells. Antioxidants fight free radicals. These are dangerous molecules that attack the cells that make up your muscles and tissues.2

Here are just some of the benefits associated with oleuropein:

Oleuropein | GundryMD

1. Supported Blood Pressure

There is evidence that the oleuropein in olive leaf extract could help keep blood pressure healthy. In one study, researchers found that participants who received supplements containing the extract not only enjoyed lower blood pressure, but also reduced LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol.3 This is the type of cholesterol that can accumulate in your arteries and lead to severe cardiovascular problems.Read more about olive leaf extract benefits.

2. Maintaining the Health of Your Arteries

Another one of the significant benefits of this extract from the olive leaf appears to be arterial health. The cells along the walls of your arteries, known as endothelial cells, help to ensure that blood flows smoothly.5 Research shows that oleuropein may help keep these cells healthy.

Polyphenols, such as oleuropein, have potential when it comes to maintaining artery walls — and keeping them clean from plaque. They do this in two ways. One is by inhibiting the development of molecules that cause platelets and white blood cells to adhere to arterial walls.6 The second is by reducing the clumping of platelets, in hopes of preventing clots.7 More research is required to determine if oleuropein is one of these artery-maintaining polyphenols, but scientists see great potential for it.

3. Keeping Blood Sugar Levels Healthy

Studies show that supplements containing olive leaf extract may help keep blood sugar levels in check.8 For people who have high blood sugar, there’s evidence that proper blood sugar- management may help to reduce the chances of further complications.9

4. Antimicrobial PropertiesOleuropein | GundryMD

It also appears that oleuropein may help fight harmful microbes. For example, testing shows that two substances found in oleuropein, aglycone and oleanolic acid, inhibit the growth of lactic acid bacteria.10 If too much lactic acid develops in your body, you may experience severe muscle discomfort or weakness, as well as a decrease in appetite.11

5. Joint Support

Oleuropein may also help protect your joints. That’s because it is thought to inhibit the development of proteins known as cytokines. And in some cases, cytokines have been linked to joint discomfort.12,13

In addition, research shows it helps improve the health of affected tissues.14 Research also shows that a specific enzyme in oleuropein may help to keep the uric acid crystals from forming.15

The Bottom Line

As you can see, the humble olive contains powerful ingredients that have been shown to help deliver substantial health benefits. There are a lot of reasons why you should think about either including more olives in your diet, or taking supplements that contain oleuropein, the compound responsible for most of these benefits. However, you should never change the way you eat or take any supplement without first talking to your doctor. That way, you’ll know it will be completely safe for you to do so.

Learn More About Olives:
Olive Leaf Extract: 6 Reasons Why This is Essential
5 Amazing Olive Oil Benefits (Eat more. Now!)


DisclosureThe GundryMD team creates these articles as a way to provide you with the latest information on health and nutrition. Unfortunately, we cannot make specific product recommendations for our website visitors, such as “Gundry MD Olive Oil” or “Polyphenol Pearls” Please consult with your healthcare provider to determine the best products for you.



Sources
1.https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319728.php
2.http://www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/antiox.html
3.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18729245
4.https://medlineplus.gov/ldlthebadcholesterol.html
5.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK26848
6.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12615669
7.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17346951
8.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1484890
9.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20554237
10.http://aem.asm.org/content/26/5/777.short
11.https://www.healthline.com/health/lactic-acidosis
12.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21745095
13.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4254338
14.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0271531707001315
15.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0944711310003442

2 Responses

  1. I have low platelets. They suspect that it is because my spleen, which is enlarged, is holding them. The #2 paragraph speaks of platelets and makes me wonder if that means that olive leaf extract would be bad for me. What do you think?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Deals and offers
Make Gundry MD a part of your health and wellness lifestyle

Gut Health Starter Kit

Three of our bestselling gut-supporting Gundry MD formulas join together to create this digestion-boosting bundle.

Available for My Health Account members only!

Save Sticker

Save immediately with your free My Health account

Exclusive discounts, early access, free US shipping, Subscribe & Save!​
Your Health magazine

Subscribe to Your Health magazine

Lectin-free recipes, health tips & tricks, and magazine-only discount codes!
Calendar Sticker

Save time & money with subscriptions

Choose items, choose frequency, enjoy savings!​

You may also like

Some of our other customers liked these articles as well

Our most popular products

The Premier Gundry MD Prebiotic Blend

Retail Price $79.00

Member Price $49.99

Supercharged Olive Oil For Optimal Wellness

Retail Price $49.95

Member Price $39.95

The Perfect Daily Pick-Me-Up

Retail Price $69.95

Member Price $49.95

Most Popular Gundry MD Articles

5 Ways to Remove Lectins From Your Favorite Foods

Dr. Gundry Diet Food List: A Comprehensive Lectin-free Diet Plan

Is Wheatgrass Really Good For You?

What is Leaky Gut Syndrome and What Does It Mean for the Digestive Tract?

What To Eat When You’re Starting A Lectin-free Diet

A Comprehensive List of “Deadly” Nightshades

How to Reduce Histamine in the Body

Dr. Gundry’s The Longevity Paradox (3 Longevity Myths Revealed)

Oat Products All Test Positive for Glyphosate

The Benefits of Taking Biotin Supplements (it’s known as a beauty booster!)

The Ultimate High-Fiber Produce Shopping List (recipes included)

Charity Water
Health is a Human Right
Gundry MD is a proud sponsor of charity: water, a charity providing safe, clean drinking water to people in developing countries.
Join the Text Club​
Sign up for exclusive access to major sales (up to 70% off), product releases & insider tips.

By texting GUNDRY to 51246, you agree to receive recurring automated promotional and personalized marketing text messages (e.g. cart reminders) from Gundry MD at the cell number used when signing up. Consent is not a condition of any purchase. Reply HELP for help and STOP to cancel. Msg frequency varies. Msg and data rates may apply. View Terms & Privacy.

Or text GUNDRY to 51246

Save with a free My Health Account!

Updated Privacy Policy

We've revised our Privacy Policy pursuant to GDPR.
Please take a moment to review.

Search

Gut Health Starter Kit

Three of our bestselling gut-supporting Gundry MD formulas join together to create this digestion-boosting bundle.

Available for My Health Account members only!

Log in to Your Account

Get immediate deals on everything in our store and access to even lower prices with Subscribe & Save!

Don’t have an account?