Do Olive Leaves Make Sense in Skin Care Products?
Let me tell you a quick story. Olive leaves come from the trees Olea europaea. The tree is native to the Eastern Mediterranean Basin, which encompasses parts of three continents; Europe, Asia and Africa. The area is sometimes referred to as “where the olive tree grows”.
The trees have an incredible lifespan. Some specimens are believed to be 4000 years old. Scientific studies have confirmed that dozens of ancient trees in Israel are between 1600 and 2000 years old.
Unlike other trees that might have been cut down and used for wood, one of the reasons that these trees live long is because they are cultivated for their fruit. Olives and their oils have been and continue to be a major source of nutrition and they support a thriving industry throughout the Mediterranean region.
Over the years, the trees have been introduced to other continents. In the US, there are groves in California. Plantations exist in some parts of Australia and South America. The big requirement for continued growth and production is a tropical or sub-tropical climate.
Although the tree is naturally resistant to many types of viruses and bacterial infections, there is one type of fungus that does a great deal of damage to plantations. In addition, one kind of bacteria causes the growth of tumors on the shoots.
So, when you read that olive leaves have “some” anti-fungal and anti-bacterial activity, it is because they are not like broad-spectrum antibiotics. The extracts are only effective against some kinds of bacteria and fungi. They seem to be more effective in inhibiting the replication of viruses.
One of the compounds that keep away insects and other predators is oleuropein. The taste of the carbohydrate is very bitter. The fermentation process used to make olives more palatable removes or reduces the oleuropein. California olives have been cultivated to produce fruit that is lower in oleuropein. That makes the taste less-bitter, but it also means they are not as healthful.
Oleuropein is a potent antioxidant. It is one of the biologically active compounds found in olive leaves. Others include oleocanthal and Hydroxytyrosol. Of the three, research indicates that the oleuropein has the most antioxidant activity.
The leaf has been used as medicine throughout recorded history. The extracts are found in modern-day anti-aging health supplements and the oils are found in some of the better skincare products. Some of which are also anti-aging.
The hope is that olive leaves will help us live longer healthier lives and the oils will make us look younger, regardless of our real age. Whether or not these benefits can be provided by a single ingredient is questionable. Personally, I take a good multi-nutritional supplement that contains the extract, along with many other fine ingredients.
The body lotion that I use contains a lipid fraction of the oils, which was developed to penetrate more deeply than the oils would naturally. I could try to find some fresh olive leaves and grind them up for my daily tea or rub extra virgin oils on my body. I prefer to use products researched and developed by health experts. That’s what makes sense to me.
Visit my site to learn about more amazing natural skin care substances you have probably never heard of.
Laurel is a long time user and passionate advocate of natural skin care products. Visit her site now to discover cutting edge, anti-aging skin care products she recommends after extensive research: . Article Source:
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