If you grew up in a Mediterranean country, then you've probably, not only heard of olive leaf tea, but you've drunk it as well. You may have known, but the rest of us had no idea that it was used for centuries as a health tonic; and a tea for healing fevers, coughs and colds. Of course, now, we know that the olive leaf has remarkable antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, which means it's worth paying attention to.
You can be forgiven, though, if you've never heard of olive leaf tea. It's not quite as bad as "hen's teeth" but it's not that easy to find either. You would think that the growing body of scientific knowledge about the beneficial, active ingredients in olive leaves, would spark a greater interest in this wonderful life-sustaining tea.
Yet, we are rarely encouraged to take a natural approach to illness. Instead, we have developed an ever-increasing dependence on synthetic drugs, and visits to the doctor. Well, just maybe, in-between those visits you could start having a cup or two of this unique beverage. You'd be doing your heart, and your immune system a great favor.
I know you might be thinking...
There are so many different teas, and so many choices of drinks, so why would I bother with tea made from olive leaves? I'd have to have a pretty good reason to do that! And anyway, I already use olive oil...the really good stuff, and I eat lots of olives, so why would I need the tea as well?
Well, here's the thing! Olive oil and olives go through a fair amount of processing that reduces the quantity of phytochemicals (like oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol), that they start out with. While these foods are still good for us, a lot of the precious water-soluble polyphenols get leached out during the transformation from bitter fruit to edible produce. Even before harvesting, the leaves contain a far greater amount of polyphenolic antioxidants and other healing chemicals, than the olives. This makes the leaves an ideal choice, from a medicinal point of view.
Granted, the scientific studies done on olive leaves have mostly been animal or laboratory tests and there are, to date, few results from human trials, but do we really want to wait for science to catch up with centuries-old herbal lore? So, if you take this with the proverbial grain-of-salt, this is what olive leaf tea (and other olive leaf products) could do for you.
Reduce inflammation and therefore pain
Help control elevated blood sugar
Support your immune system by killing many 'bad' bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites
Improve your circulation by relaxing the muscles in your blood vessel walls
Improve your circulation by decreasing cholesterol that clogs arteries
Improve your circulation by reducing platelet aggregation (thinning your blood)
This is great news for your heart!
Protect your body against free radical damage
Might even help you lose weight (there have been some encouraging trials recently)
And probably lots more that we have yet to discover.
Many health conditions are linked to chronic inflammation, poor circulation and a weakened immune system, so anything that helps with all of these has got to be a winner.
So, back to the olive leaf tea. It really is a great tea for healing, and it tastes pretty good too, sort of mellow and green tea-ish, unless you need a strong brew, which can be fairly bitter. A light amber-colored tea, brewed for 3 to 5 minutes, should contain enough of the beneficial olive leaf chemicals to act as a health tonic. However, if you are really sick, or have a chronic health problem, then you will need a stronger, darker-amber brew and more cups a day...up to five, instead of one or two.
Unless you grow your own 'right variety' of olive leaves (they are not all suitable), then you will have to find a supplier of dried olive leaves. It's best to go with organic because there's no point adding a pesticide load to the job you're asking the leaves to do.
You may be lucky enough to find a local health food store or other outlet that stocks olive leaf tea, (loose-leaf or as teabags), but otherwise, your best bet is online.
If you are ailing in some way right now, then I'm sorry to hear it, but it's just possible that a simple thing like brewing yourself some olive leaf tea will help to set you back on a path to wellness. I know, there are many ways to achieve good health, including a visit to your doctor, but maybe now that you know what the olive leaf can do for you, you'll be inspired to give it a go.
If you're well, and I hope that you are, then now is a good time to start protecting that wellness, by drinking a daily cup of olive leaf tea, filled with nature's blessing.
(C) Copyright Angela Lamb All Rights Reserved Worldwide
Angela Lamb is a writer with a health background, who is interested in empowering people to help themselves. One of the ways she does this, is by freely sharing her knowledge so that others can make informed choices. To find out more about brewing Olive Leaf Tea For Healing and where to purchase the tea, have a look at her Olive Leaf Extract website.
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