To add some va va voom to your cooking spoon in some olive leaf powder to increase your intake of this phenomenal antioxidant. There are lots of recipes on the internet using matcha tea powder so you can substitute in olive leaf powder and have fun turning everything a beautiful shade of green.

Here’s why you need olive leaf powder in your life:

• Powerful Antioxidant: Olive leaf is exceptionally high in antioxidants, with some sources claiming it has a significantly stronger antioxidant effect than traditional green tea or even more than several servings of blueberries. These antioxidants combat free radical damage, which contributes to aging and various chronic diseases.
• Cardiovascular Health:
  • Blood Pressure Regulation: Studies suggest olive leaf extract can significantly lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, making it beneficial for preventing and treating hypertension. This effect is partly attributed to oleuropein’s ability to relax blood vessels by boosting nitric oxide production.
  • Cholesterol Management: It may help reduce “bad” LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels, improving overall lipid profiles and potentially reducing the risk of atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries).
• Blood Sugar Regulation: Olive leaf extract has shown promise in improving glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity, making it potentially beneficial for individuals with type 2 diabetes or those at risk. It may help regulate appetite and cravings.
• Antimicrobial and Antiviral Properties: Oleuropein exhibits strong antimicrobial effects against bacteria, fungi, and viruses, acting as a natural antibiotic and potentially aiding in fighting infections like candida, pneumonia, and shingles.
• Immune System Support: It’s believed to stimulate phagocytosis, a process where immune cells engulf and destroy harmful foreign particles.
• Brain Health: Its antioxidant properties help combat free radical damage to the brain, potentially protecting against memory loss and offering benefits for neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
• Anti-inflammatory Effects: The polyphenols in olive leaf possess significant anti-inflammatory properties.
• Weight Management: Some animal studies suggest olive leaf extract may help prevent high-fat, diet-induced obesity by regulating genes that affect weight gain and potentially reducing food intake.
• Skin Health: Oleuropein and other phenolic compounds in olive leaves may help heal skin wounds and scars, and reduce signs of aging and UVB-induced skin damage due to their anti-inflammatory properties.
• Caffeine-Free: A significant advantage for those sensitive to caffeine, as olive leaf powder contains no caffeine.

I’m going to bake Claire Ptak’s rhubarb pudding cake switching in olive leaf powder instead of the matcha tea powder in her recipe, and I’ll use olive oil instead of butter.