Just Olive – The Story of Wellness

Symbolic: 

The olive tree, or more specifically an olive branch, is a symbol of peace and friendship dating back to ancient Greek mythology.

In addition, the Greeks used olive branches to crown their heroes and winners in the ancient Olympic Games. These wreaths were known as kotinos and were said to have been gathered from the sacred wild olive tree in Olympia.

The Romans, too, incorporated the olive branch into their traditions. Victorious commanders and emperors were crowned with olive wreaths, symbolising triumph and the restoration of peace. This historical connection established the lasting symbolism of the olive branch.

It is often called the “Tree of Life" due to the biblical story of Noah, which describes how, after the flood, a dove returned to the ark with an olive branch in its beak, signalling that life was starting again on Earth. 

Olive trees hold a special significance in Christianity. Their slow growth means that faith in God is a lifelong journey of devotion and commitment. The olive tree’s biblical meaning is one of blessing, peace, and purity. The plant represents the beautiful relationship between God and the people. As mentioned numerous times in the scriptures, the olive tree also represents the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Tree:

The olive tree, or Olea europaea, is a versatile plant that can be grown indoors and outdoors. It thrives in warmer climates, in hardiness zones 8 to 10. These gorgeous trees are renowned for their beautiful, silvery-green leaves and delicious fruit. If planted in the ground, olive trees can grow up to 30 ft tall.

Olives are the fruit of the tree and are a source of vitamin E, monounsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants. These nutrients have linked olives to potential health benefits. Olive oil is extracted from the fruit by compression. Who can forget the film “Lorenzo’s Oil", where the benefits of the fatty acids contained in olive oil were shown to be beneficial for neurological disorders?

The leaves of the tree have been associated with health benefits. The leaves are a rich source of various nutrients and polyphenols. The chief polyphenol unique to olive leaves is oleuropein. Oleuropein has been extensively studied and is now thought to be responsible for numerous health benefits.

Food:

A Greek salad is just not Greek without olives. A Four Seasons pizza would just not be the same without the olives.

Olive oil is a key and essential ingredient in the preparation of many Mediterranean dishes.

One hundred grams of cured green olives provide 146 calories, are a rich source of vitamin E, and contain a large amount of sodium. Green olives contain 75% water, 15% fat, 4% carbohydrates, and 1% protein.

One tablespoon (13.5 g) of olive oil supplies 500 kJ (119 kcal) of food energy and contains 13.5 g of fat, including 9.9 g of monounsaturated fat (mainly as oleic acid), 1.4 g of polyunsaturated fat (mainly as linoleic acid), and 1.9 g of saturated fat (mainly as palmitic acid).

Medicinal:

Most of the health benefits are associated with the high polyphenol content of the olive plant.

Olive oil is considered outstanding due to its high polyphenol content, and it is well-known for its nutritive and health-promoting potential. In addition, the olive fruit, from which olive oil is derived, is also a rich source of phenolic compounds. Data from several studies suggests that olive leaf extracts reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to their anti-atherosclerotic, hypotensive, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cholesterol-lowering effects. The phenolic compounds from leaves also possess antimicrobial and neuroprotective activity. Nevertheless, limited data on the effects of olive leaf polyphenols in humans is available in the scientific literature. Still, some randomised clinical studies indicate that olive leaf polyphenols are favourable modulators of blood pressure, plasma lipid profiles, and insulin sensitivity in overweight people.