An olive leaf herbal tea is a candidate to be a precious health ally, thanks to its anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and neuroprotective properties and, as we will see today, also useful for improving tissue oxygenation and preventing and combating anemia. This emerges from two recent scientific studies published by the same Japanese research group at the University of Tsukuba (Nutrients, Kondo et al, Sep 2023 – Ferdousi et al., Clin Nutr, 2019).
Olive leaves, propertiesOlive leaves are a concentrate of antioxidants, among which oleuropein stands out. Olive leaves can be found in the form of a supplement or, even better for prolonged intake, in dried form to prepare herbal teas. These products obtained from olive leaves have shown anti-inflammatory, but also antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-thrombotic, hypoglycemic, anti-hypertensive, cardioprotective and even neuroprotective action.
Previous studies have shown a possible beneficial action of olive leaves on some blood parameters. Japanese scientists therefore tried to verify this effect and a possible action of olive leaves to combat anemia, this is what emerged. Olive leaves and blood health study took place both in the laboratory on a population of mice and on humans, all aged between 20 and 70 years old and healthy.
The volunteers drank 500 ml of olive leaf tea per day while the mice received aqueous extracts of olive leaves. Well, what emerged is that after a month and a half of treatment, it was possible to observe important improvements, with an increase in red blood cells and hemoglobin, which is a protein present in red blood cells that binds to oxygen and leads it, through the blood flow, to the various organs and tissues. Not only that, the circulating iron values had also improved.
The results were observed without side effects or damage, even to the liver and kidneys. Scientists believe that the effects observed are due to the ability of olive leaves to stimulate the intestinal absorption of iron and the use of iron stored in the spleen, thus facilitating the formation of red blood cells and optimizing their function of transporting oxygen in healthy people.
Furthermore, thanks to these properties, olive leaves also prevent and combat conditions such as anemia and its effects such as tiredness, shortness of breath, and weakness.
ConclusionsOlive leaf tea is therefore a very interesting herbal tea to take care of our health. This infusion is rich in antioxidants, protects the heart and brain, reduces chronic inflammation, counteracts aging processes and, from today, we also know that it can help prevent anemia and iron deficiency, supports the production of red blood cells and hemoglobin for optimal blood oxygenation, to ensure energy and counteract tiredness.
As for the preparation of the herbal tea, bring a cup of water to a boil, remove from the heat, and add 5-6 dried olive leaves. Leave to infuse for 10 minutes, then filter and drink.