What olive leaf capsules are the most suitable and cost-effective for you?

Now you've decided on Olive Leaf Capsules, the last thing to do is unravel the confusion and pick the best one for you.

Skim through these three types and then you'll find links at the bottom of the page where you can compare some brands.

Olive Leaf Capsules come in a variety of sizes and potencies, generally 400mg to 750mg and have a shelf life of about 2 years from date of manufacture. The size of capsule is less important than what it contains.

The following three variations will help you choose a suitable capsule:

• Capsules containing only powdered olive leaves.

  

  Suitable for health maintenance, mild health problems and children, these may also be useful as a gentle start for people with heavy microbial loads and chronic illness before progressing to a more aggressive olive leaf extract.

  These capsules contain powdered olive leaf usually with no flowing agents or fillers. They often use organic leaves and cellulose capsules for vegetarian or vegan customers.
  Their effectiveness depends on the quality of leaf used as they are not concentrated. A producer who uses top quality leaves will likely inform you as they cost more.

  Note on organic leaves

  Organic leaves are potentially but not necessarily superior to conventionally produced leaves.

  A conventionally grown tree in nutrient-rich soil, and harvested at the right time will produce leaves containing good levels of active ingredients.
  They must however be tested for pesticide and other harmful residues.

  A tree grown organically in poor soil will not produce phytonutrient-rich leaves.
  If the soil is healthy and well established the leaves should be better than conventionally grown leaves.
  They will have the added advantage of being pesticide-free with no artificial fertiliser residues.

  In both cases, capsule strength could vary noticeably from batch to batch and hugely from brand to brand depending on the passion and aim of the manufacturer.
  To compare brands observe the weight of olive leaf used, whether the leaves are organic or not and whether they contain fillers. A company that takes special care in selecting its leaves should have a better quality product.

• Capsules containing only pure powdered olive leaf extract.

  These are at the opposite end of the scale. A range of potencies is available, suitable for aggressive treatments and prevention.

  Standardised olive leaf extract powder is based on oleuropein content. As this is a principle active ingredient it is used as a marker for the strength of the extract.

  There are other very important active ingredients in olive leaves. If these are missing or deficient the oleuropein content could be misleading as to the efficacy of the product for certain conditions. Some constituents are lost in the extraction and drying process.

  Extract powders are usually standardised in levels between 6% and 20% oleuropein.
  With these olive leaf capsules you can be fairly sure of the oleuropein content, although it slowly degrades over its shelf life especially if it has been in direct sunlight.

  Some people find the highest strength extracts irritate the stomach and opt for a lower strength or mixture, discussed next.

  The capsules may be made of animal gelatine which are cheaper or cellulose for vegans and vegetarians.
  The contents usually contain fillers and flowing agents, especially those with higher oleuropein concentrations.
  This is because they are extremely hygroscopic (absorb moisture from the atmosphere) and tend to form clumps which clog up the capsule-filling machines.

  Some of these agents are believed to be harmful so a few companies exclude them altogether.
  As this makes filling more difficult they will make a point of telling you and the capsules may cost more.

Compare brands by the total quantity of oleuropein present per capsule and take note of the fillers (excipients) to avoid.

• Capsules containing a mix of dried leaf and powdered olive leaf extract.
  
  A good and effective solution for all uses and more suitable for children.

  This is probably the best of both worlds as it has the potency of the concentrate, the balance of the natural leaf and it is milder on the stomach.
  You are guaranteed a certain amount of oleuropein from the standardised component while benefiting from the whole leaf whose concentrations of active ingredients will vary from batch to batch.

  Compare brands by the amount of extract and strength of the oleuropein content as well as the amount and quality of the raw dried leaf.
  It should be divisible into children's doses and there will be less need for fillers and flowing agents.

To recap, the advantages of capsules are:

• For intestinal disorders.
  Olive leaf capsule contents will reach further down into the digestive tract than tinctures before being absorbed into the bloodstream. If a gut infection is to be tackled, this can be an advantage over tinctures.
• Olive Leaves and their extracts have a slightly fruity bitter taste. While some people get to enjoy the taste many prefer to bypass it.
• Olive leaf capsules are generally packed in plastic containers and can easily be transported in a handbag or pocket without fear of leakage or breakage.
• Taking capsules will likely result in a slower, more sustained release of active ingredients. If they are being taken to support the cardiovascular system this may be an advantage over tinctures. Having said that, highly successful clinical trials for lowering blood pressure have used tinctures.
• Olive leaf capsules can be formulated to contain more active ingredient quantities than tinctures.
  They will however have lost volatile components and will not absorb into the body as well as a tincture whose constituents are transported into the bloodstream through the mouth, and stomach lining by the alcohol in which they are dissolved.

Olive leaf capsules should work well for infections susceptible to oleuropein and its metabolite hydroxytyrosol.