Olive Leaf Extract and High Blood Pressure, What is the Relationship?
By: Valerie Rosenbaum
Submitted: 2009-03-05 22:18:41 | Word Count: 496
A scientific study concerning olive leaf extract and blood pressure was published in Germany in 1955. The benefits of botanical and herbal extracts were largely ignored for the next 40 years. But between 1996 and 2008, there were at least eight different scientific studies that concerned olive leaf extract and high blood pressure. In recent years, the trend towards naturalism has become a more conventional viewpoint, rather than an alternative one.
Even though the studies concerning olive leaf extract and blood pressure are promising, it will be years before opinions concerning treatment change much. Reducing hypertension is important for the outcome of many other diseases, including type II diabetes and heart disease. If you are a relatively healthy individual, your goal should be prevention. Healthy diet and lifestyle are extremely important, but the importance of striving for optimal nutritional intake cannot be overstated.
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In addition to recent studies concerning olive leaf extract and high blood pressure, researchers have shown that magnesium supplements help reduce hypertension, as well. Magnesium is an essential mineral found in spices, nuts and green leafy vegetables. But, the nutritional value of these foods has dropped dramatically in the last 50 years, due primarily to over farming and the use of modern day fertilizers, which contain no magnesium. However, most vitamin and mineral supplements on the market contain magnesium oxide, which is very poorly absorbed by the human body. The better supplements contain magnesium citrate, which is more readily absorbed.
If you wanted the benefits of olive leaf extract and blood pressure reduction, you would need to choose your supplement carefully. As with magnesium, most manufacturers do not include the best extracts. The potency varies greatly. In addition, anyone with chronic hypotension should be wary of taking the extract for immuno stimulation or other purposes, since the studies concerning olive leaf extract and high blood pressure have shown an overall reduction. It could cause a serious problem for someone with hypotension.
The latest study concerning olive leaf extract and high blood pressure made use of a 1000mg dose. That dose could be too high for a healthy person. Most naturopaths recommend 50mg per day to stimulate the immune system and support long term health.
Besides the studies concerning olive leaf extract and blood pressure, there have been others concerning its antioxidant activity. Antioxidants provide natural production from free radical molecules, which are primary contributors to cellular aging and age related diseases. The leaves contain several different antioxidants. One of them is twice as strong as coenzyme Q10 and more powerful the catechins found in green tea. Although the gallic acid found in green tea is still considered one of the most potent antioxidants.
Research will likely continue concerning olive leaf extract and high blood pressure. In the meantime, you could do adopt a healthy lifestyle and diet plan, take an excellent multi nutritional supplement that contains the right form of basic nutrients plus olive leaf extract and blood pressure reduction might not ever be a concern for you.
Author Resource:-
Valerie Rosenbaum has spent several years researching every anti aging supplement she could find. As a result of that effort she has found what she believes to be the best anti-aging supplements available. Learn about what she discovered at her website http://www.NaturalBalanceSupplements.com