Olives, oil and leaves: A Natural Way to Have Good Health

Anyone who has read any of my health articles will tell you one of my main cures is with olive leaves. They are natural anti-biotics and will knock out a flu or the cold in only a few hours when you catch the illness at the onset.  I grow, harvest and dry the leaves yearly and there is always a bag, a jar or capsules sitting around my home.  This is another one of my home grown articles with my tried and true remedies.

Fresh olive oil is ideal for internal cleansings and for use as a natural health tool. What better way to start than with some freshly pressed olive oil? Olive oil has been used for centuries for its anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties and for its many vitamins and nutrients. Olive oil is used to treat candida albicans, flu, and viruses. It is also helpful in treating patients with cardiovascular problems. It is commonly used in liver and colon detox protocols.

The Olives are Ready to be Picked:

When creating olive oil, the olives are picked and shortly thereafter, the fresh olives are pressed to extract the oil. The olives are cold pressed to retain the photochemicals that are normally lost in the regular refinement process. Before using freshly pressed olive oil, it must be allowed to age for three weeks in a dark location such as a cabinet. Once the olive oil is ready to use, remember to store the olive oil in the dark. Olive oil must be kept away from the light so it does not turn rancid. Olive oil will last for six months once opened or up to two years in an unopened bottle.


Extra virgin olive oil is pressed once and is used for salads, dipping and very light sauteing. It turns rancid at 320 degrees, so extra virgin olive oil should not be used for cooking. Virgin olive oil, which is created by pressing the olives twice, may be used for cooking. It is essential that both types of olive oil are cold pressed. There are many oils on the market and prices can vary significantly depending on quality, so seek the best quality oil that you can afford.

How to Prepare the Olive Leaves:

After you have picked your olives, it is time to prepare the leaves. Remove all the leaves from the trees and place them in the shade to allow the leaves to dry. The dried leaves will store for up to two years in a glass container. If you do not have a glass container, a plastic jar will suffice. When the leaves are needed, grind them and use as an ingredient in a healthy smoothie or place olive leaves in vegetarian capsules.

How to cure olives:

http://www.wikihow.com/Cure-Olives