Olives101.com

The olive tree is a traditional symbol of abundance. Its cultivation is economically significant in the Mediterranean region, with attention focused on olives and olive oil. At the same time, uses are being sought for other parts of the olive tree. During pruning and harvesting, many olive leaves and small branches are collected. Given the [...]

By Sheryl Walters, Our bodies and immune systems are constantly fighting off foreign things such as pollution, bacteria and viruses. Stress from our fast paced lives is a leading cause of the further weakening of our body’s ability to combat illnesses. Using drug substances, that act as an antibiotic, can actually weaken our immune systems [...]

A new study has discovered that if olive oil has been sitting on the shelf for six months, it can lose up to 40 percent of its health benefits. The research was carried out an analysis on several varieties of extra-virgin olive oil produced from groves in the Italian countryside at production and during storage. [...]

By Dr. Connie Peraglie Guttersen, R.D., Ph.D. In Sonoma County each year, there’s a special festival called the Blessing of the Olives. That’s how central olive trees and the foods they yield are to the economy and the eating habits of the region. And olive oil is the most treasured gift of these blessed trees. [...]

By Stephen Daniells, Hydroxytyrosol, a natural polyphenol from olives, may extend the shelf-life of fish products to the same extent as synthetic preservatives, suggests new research. Fish is notoriously difficult to incorporate into formulations since the oil is highly susceptible to oxidation. The result is a fishy taste and smell which can be off-putting for [...]

By Linda Hoffman, Olive oil is delicious and healthy, containing a monounsaturated fat, needed antioxidants and enzymes. We need to look for expeller first cold pressed oil, which means it has been produced without damaging heat and chemical solvents. The term “extra virgin” by itself is no longer sufficient to guarantee quality, as some imports [...]

By Charlene Laino, If you or a family member are scheduled for heart bypass surgery, stock up on the olive oil. That’s the advice of Greek researchers who found that an olive-oil-rich diet may lower the risk of having a heart attack or stroke or dying from cardiovascular disease in the month after heart surgery. [...]

By Caroline Bellamy, Olives lower blood cholesterol and are also full of antioxidants which protect the heart, the therapeutic benefits of olives and olive oil have been known for centuries, Mediterraneans have long prized the small fruit of the Olea Europaea for its health-boosting properties. Now, those properties are being harnessed for use in supplements, [...]

By Laura Kurtzman, After the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, the University of California, Davis established a research department that led to the flowering of the California wine industry now, it hopes to do the same for olive oil. The challenges to the emerging industry are significant. They include finding economical ways to produce fine [...]

By Katie Bird, An extract from olive leaves and oil could be useful as a soothing ingredient after UV exposure say scientists. Oleuropein exhibits antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities which may go some way to explain the soothing qualities of the compound say scientists led by P. Perugini from the University of Pavia, Italy. [...]

Earthquake sensitive Orey forecasts during turbulent times ahead people will forego fancy processed foods and go back to Mother Nature’s finest staple–olive oil. “This ancient elixir has been used for everything from cooking, health ailments to beauty aids and natural pet care,” she said. ‘The Healing Powers of Olive Oil’ author-intuitive Cal Orey isn’t surprised [...]

By Shane Starling, Australian olive leaf extract pioneer, Olive Products Australia (OPA), has gained a European-first distribution deal in the UK for its high-antioxidant liquid supplement. While olive leaf extracts already exist on the European market – predominantly in cosmeceutical formulations as well as teas and pill-form food supplements – OPA’s offering is one of [...]

A research group of the University of Granada has found out that maslinic acid, a compound present in the leaf and the olive skin wax extracted from alpeorujo (crushed olive pulp), has the capacity of preventing cancer as well as regulating apoptosis in carcinogenic processes. Maslinic acid is a protease inhibitor that, among other features, [...]

By Stephen Daniells, A polyphenol from olives may protect against macular degeneration associated with age or the damaging effects of chemicals in tobacco smoke, suggests a new study. The potential benefits hydroxytyrosol (HTS) for eye health were demonstrated in an in vitro lab study using cells from the human retina, with mitochondria – the cell’s [...]

by Dross, Consuming extra virgin olive oil helps to combat degenerative diseases, such as cancer or osteoporosis In the 1960s, Ancer Keys, a US expert on nutrition, studied the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet for the first time. Since then many studies on the benefits of olive oil have been conducted. According to several [...]