subject: Fight Bacteria And More With Hydroxytyrosol [print this page] Hydroxytyrosol is a tyrosol ester and phytonutrient that can be sourced from olives, olive leaves and olive oil. Studies have shown that it can prevent the growth of bacteria, strengthen the immune system and more. In this article I will be taking a detailed look at hydroxytyrosol and outlining its main health benefits.
1) DISCOVERY:
People have been aware of the benefits of hydroxytyrosol and olive oil since ancient times where it was classed as a miracle food. However, there is very little information available on who discovered this phytonutrient or when it was discovered.
2) HEALTH BENEFITS:
Hydroxytyrosol is 1 of the strongest antioxidants around and can offer significant protection to your body's cells against free radicals. Free radicals are nasty substances that are released into your body's cells during oxygen based reactions. They are believed to cause cancer (a health disorder where your body's cells start to grow in a rapid, uncontrollable way), cause diabetes (a health disorder where your blood glucose levels become dangerously high), increase the visible signs of ageing and weaken the immune system. It is also acts as an antibacterial (a substance that kills or slows down the growth of bacteria) and can strengthen the immune system.
In addition to the confirmed health benefits above, provisional evidence suggests that this tyrosol ester may have even more health benefits. For starters, it may prevent atherosclerosis (a condition where hard plaques form in the artery walls, restrict the flow of blood and increase your heart disease risk), Alzheimer's disease (a mental disorder which leads to the loss of memory, thought and speech), cancer, heart disease and Parkinson's disease (a disorder which leads to the loss of mobility and speech). It may also minimise the damage caused by smoking, protect the nervous system from damage and reduce blood levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (a type of cholesterol that causes blockages in the arteries and increases your heart disease risk).
3) FOOD SOURCES:
Hydroxytyrosol can only be found in 3 foods - olives, olive leaves and olive oil. It can also be sourced from certain herbal supplements.
4) SUMMARY:
Hydroxytyrosol is an extremely powerful antioxidant that also has a lot of other promising health benefits. Olives make a great snack food that can also be added to salads whilst olive oil can be added to almost any meal. So make sure you enjoy all the benefits of this tyrosol ester by eating plenty of olives and olive oil.
