Health and Fitness Corner

The tyrosol esters are a group of powerful phytonutrients (plant based chemical compounds that have various health boosting properties in humans) that can be found in olives and olive oil. They are believed to be responsible for the many of the health benefits associated with the Mediterranean diet. In this article I will be taking a deeper look at 2 tyrosol esters and outlining their key health benefits.

1) HYDROXYTYROSOL:

Hydroxytyrosol is a powerful antibacterial (a substance that inhibits the growth of bacteria) and antioxidant (a substance that keeps your body's cells safe from the dangerous free radicals which are released during oxygen based reactions) which can also strengthen the immune system.

Early studies on this tyrosol ester have revealed that it may also keep your blood healthy by preventing atherosclerosis (a condition where hard plaques form in the artery walls and restrict the flow of blood) and reducing blood levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (a type of cholesterol that causes blockages in the artery walls and increases your heart disease risk). Additionally, it may fight mental disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (a mental disorder that leads to the loss of thought, memory and speech) and Parkinson's disease (a mental disorder that inhibits mobility and speech). Finally, hydroxytyrosol may protect against the damage caused by smoking, prevent cancer (a health disorder where your body's cells start to grow in a rapid, out of control way) and protect the nervous system from damage. However, additional research is required before these provisional health benefits can be confirmed.

2) OLEUROPEIN:

Oleuropein is a potent antioxidant. Early studies suggest that it may also be an antibacterial, antifungal (a substance that treats fungal infections), anti-inflammatory (a substance that prevents unnecessary inflammation in the body) and antiviral (a substance that prevents the growth of viruses). Additionally, oleuropein may fight a number of nasty diseases including cancer and diabetes (a disease which causes your blood glucose to reach dangerously high levels). It may also boost your heart health by reducing high blood pressure and lowering blood levels of LDL cholesterol. Finally, this tyrosol ester may also boost your immune system and keep the skin cells safe from ultraviolet (UV) damage. However, additional studies are required before these possible health benefits of oleuropein can be confirmed.

TYROSOL ESTERS SUMMARY:

There is still a lot more research to be done on the tyrosol esters and their potential health boosting properties in humans. However, the current research is very promising and shows that these impressive phytonutrients have great potential when it comes to human health. So next time you have a salad, add some olives or drizzle some olive oil over it and start enjoying these tyrosol ester benefits.

Tom Parker owns Free Fitness Tips - a fantastic source of free, impartial fitness advice. You can learn more about the tyrosol esters and the many tyrosol ester benefits by visiting Free Fitness Tips.

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