Did you know that alternative practitioners sometimes recommend taking olive leaf for cold symptoms? Compounds within the leaves have anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant activity.
The anti-oxidant capacity of the liquid extract is about four times higher than that of vitamin C.
Of course, the extracts on the market vary in potency.
Some manufacturers make it easy for you to judge the potency of their products, by listing the concentration of oleuropein on the ingredients label.
There are many active compounds in the leaves, including hydoxytyrosol and other flavonoids, but oleuropein is credited with having the most medicinal activity.
A good extract will contain a 20% concentration of the antioxidant.
The medicinal activity of herbs and other botanicals, as well as the nutritional value of plant foods, varies due to soil conditions, rainfall, climate and other factors.
That is one of the reasons that mainstream healthcare practitioners are wary of recommending herbal remedies.
If the potency is correct, the remedy may be effective.
Otherwise, it might not.
Prescription and over-the-counter drugs are standardized to deliver the same dosage, every time.
So, they can be counted on.
But, there are no pharmaceuticals available today that are effective against common viruses.
That's why a practitioner might recommend olive leaf for flu or other viral symptoms.
It is one of the best anti-viral remedies available.
The dietary supplement is also recommended for prevention.
People frequently exposed to viruses and other "at-risk" individuals need extra immune system support.
Some of the better immune system "boosters" on the market contain a variety of extracts with anti-bacterial, anti-fungal or anti-viral activity.
Because the supplements are beneficial for the immune system, they are beneficial for the skin, too.
The skin is the largest organ of the body and an important part of the immune system.
So, in addition to taking olive leaf for cold prevention or symptom relief, there are many other reasons to take a small amount on a regular basis.
The antioxidant activity can help protect your skin from free radical damage caused by exposure to UV rays of sunlight.
The anti-inflammatory activity can help reduce acne breakouts, dermatitis and allergic reactions.
Some of the better body lotions contain an extract created from the oils of the olive pit.
It's a little different than the olive oils that we use for cooking, but it contains the same essential fatty acids that are beneficial for dry skin, eczema and dandruff.
A 2007 study published in the Alternative Medicine Review looked at the benefits of taking olive leaf for flu symptoms.
The Thorne Research group suggested that andrographis paniculata (Indian Echinacea), vitamin A, vitamin C, zinc and n-acetyl-cysteine could also be beneficial for the treatment and prevention of common viral infections, such as colds and influenza.
In other words, there are many beneficial compounds found in foods and plants.
With the right dietary support, you may feel better and look better, too.
Although the benefits of taking olive leaf for cold have not been proven emphatically, we can confidently say that it's good for you.
You can learn more insights by visiting my web site and discovering more natural ingredients I personally use daily.