Olive Oil: A Natural Painkiller?

Could a traditional food have pain- and inflammation-reducing effects similar to over the counter pain medicine like ibuprofen?

Scientists from Italy, Spain, the U.S. and Australia have discovered that extra virgin olive oil can provide significant health benefits, including the ability to help reduce pain and inflammation.

This robust, flavorful oil is an example of the food as medicine concept, that foods can have a powerful impact on health.

A Mythical, Sacred Oil

From ancient Greece to the Holy Land, olive oil has been treasured. Celebrated as sacred in Greek mythology, the olive branch symbolized peace in Hellenic culture. Evidence of this ancient oil was discovered in 1901 at the "Room of the Olive Press" at Knossos on the island of Crete in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. From there olives were pressed into oil over 4,500 years ago and the olive oil was exported to North Africa and mainland Greece.

Cultivation of olive trees spread around the Mediterranean where olive oil flourished along with many early civilizations. The bible speaks of olive oil, and it has been used by Christianity and Judaism as a holy anointing oil.

Today, the major producers of olive oil are Spain, Italy, Greece, Tunisia, Turkey, Morocco and Syria.

But the growing popularity of olive oil can be seen in the spread of cultivation around the world to countries such as the U.S., Chile, and South Africa. Australia has become an energetic olive oil producer and exporter, and has just announced a record crop.

During travels with my family from the south of France to Tuscany to Greece I have witnessed the special beauty of the olive tree and tasted its fruit. Able to withstand heat, sun and survive on only a little moisture, the hardy olive tree became an icon of the Mediterranean region. Freezing temperatures, however, can harm the trees and the crop.

Eating Healthy With Olive Oil

Extra virgin olive oil can contribute nutritional support in the fight against such health problems as arthritis, cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, and in pain management.

A research study from Spain has shown that higher olive oil consumption is associated with leaner body weight, an important factor in prevention of chronic conditions.

Another study from the universities of Navarra and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in Spain looked at how diets including olive oil might offer protection against depression: Bad Fats Linked to Depression

Natural Painkiller Discovered in Olive Oil

Recent research has identified the antioxidant called oleocanthal, which is only found in extra-virgin olive oil. Scientists at the Monell Chemical Senses Center, in Philadelphia, found that oleocanthal in olive oil has a potency strikingly similar to that of the drug ibuprofen in inhibiting the cyclooxygenase (Cox) enzyme that causes pain and inflammation. Their findings were published in the science magazine Nature.

Given the side effects of common pain relieving drugs, finding a nutritional way to reduce pain and inflammation could be a solution for people suffering from pain.

In another study Italian researchers explain that the characteristic pungent and bitter taste of virgin olive oil have been attributed to phenols in the oil that have potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, chemopreventive and anti-cancer benefits.

Research on Health Benefits of Olive Oil

At the meeting of the "International conference on the healthy effect of virgin olive oil" that took place in Spain in 2005, numerous benefits of virgin olive oil from the research were outlined. They looked at the consumption of olive oil from the perspective of issues such as cardiovascular health, cancer and longevity. With respect to anti-aging they noted: "The more recent studies consistently support that the Mediterranean diet, based in virgin olive oil, is compatible with a healthier ageing and increased longevity."

Consumption of olive oil has been associated with:

• Reduction of total cholesterol and an increase in the high-density cholesterol (HDL-C), which has a protective effect on blood vessels.
• Improved sensitivity of cells to insulin, which helps to prevent the Metabolic Syndrome. Preventing Metabolic Syndrome is important, because the syndrome increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.
• Decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and Alzheimer's disease.

Potent Antioxidant Power of Olive Oil

Phenolic compounds are potent antioxidants found in virgin and extra-virgin olive oil. These compounds give unrefined olive oils their distinctive flavors and high degree of stability.

Studies indicate these compounds may be able to:

• Turn off the activity of genes that produce the kind of inflammation that causes coronary heart disease.
• Decrease production of inflammatory chemicals called thromboxanes and leukotrienes.
• Decrease the production of the most damaging form of cholesterol, oxidized LDL cholesterol.


• University of South Australia researchers note that compounds from the olive were found to be antimicrobial against various bacteria.

And olive oil is just the beginning of anti-inflammatory foods. Learn more about fighting pain and inflammation in my article: Natural Anti- Inflammatory Foods and Supplements That Help Arthritis

Enjoying Olive Oil

The research studies focus on the benefits of extra-virgin olive oil, so this is what I always buy. I look for organic oil that has been grown without pesticides. Freshness counts, so I like shop where they sell a lot of oil, such as a big health food store. Store it in a cool place.

The amount of olive oil associated with protection against inflammation is only two teaspoons a day, which is easy to achieve. A sprinkle of olive oil makes a simple salad dressing, and a little oil can be used for dipping bread, instead of butter. Olive oil can also be used in baking.

Here is a popular tangy and sweet recipe from my book The Fat Resistance Diet, an anti-inflammatory dietary program.

Pomegranate Lime Dressing

Pomegranate juice is an outstanding source of flavonoids which help to reduce inflammation.

1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
Juice of 1/2 lime
1 tablespoon unsweetened pomegranate juice

In a jar, shake together the extra virgin olive oil, lime juice, and pomegranate juice. Serves 1.

Get more free recipes at fatresistancediet.com

Now I'd like to hear from you:

Do you use olive oil?

What is your favorite type of olive oil, and from which country?

Where do you shop for it?

Have you noticed any benefits from olive oil?

Please let me know your thoughts by posting a comment below.

Best Health,

Leo Galland, MD

Important: Celebrate Healthy Eating with your friends and family by forwarding this article to them, and sharing on Facebook.

Leo Galland, MD is a board-certified internist, author and internationally recognized leader in integrated medicine. Dr. Galland is the founder of Pill Advised, a web application for learning about medications, supplements and food. Sign up for FREE to discover how your medications and vitamins interact. Watch his videos on YouTube and join the Pill Advised Facebook page.

References and Further Reading:

The Annual of the British School at Athens, Coverage: 1894-2007 (Vols. 1-102)

Olive Oil: From Tree to Table, Peggy Knickerbocker and Laurie Smith, Chronicle Books; 2nd edition (October 1997)

Nature. 2005 Sep 1;437(7055):45-6. "Phytochemistry: ibuprofen-like activity in extra-virgin olive oil."Beauchamp GK, Keast RS, Morel D, Lin J, Pika J, Han Q, Lee CH, Smith AB, Breslin PA.
Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.

Inflammopharmacology. 2009 Apr;17(2):76-84. "Phenolic compounds in olive oil: antioxidant, health and organoleptic activities according to their chemical structure." Servili M, Esposto S, Fabiani R, Urbani S, Taticchi A, Mariucci F, Selvaggini R, Montedoro GF.
Dipartimento di Scienze Economico-estimative e degli Alimenti, Sezione di Tecnologie e Biotecnologie degli Alimenti, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Via S. Costanzo, 06126 Perugia, Italy.

Eur J Clin Invest. 2005 Jul;35(7):421-4."International conference on the healthy effect of virgin olive oil."Perez-Jimenez F, Alvarez de Cienfuegos G, Badimon L, Barja G, Battino M, Blanco A, Bonanome A, Colomer R, Corella-Piquer D, Covas I, Chamorro-Quiros J, Escrich E, Gaforio JJ, Garcia Luna PP, Hidalgo L, Kafatos A, Kris-Etherton PM, Lairon D, Lamuela-Raventos R, Lopez-Miranda J, Lopez-Segura F, Martinez-Gonzalez MA, Mata P, Mataix J, Ordovas J, Osada J, Pacheco-Reyes R, Perucho M, Pineda-Priego M, Quiles JL, Ramirez-Tortosa MC, Ruiz-Gutierrez V, Sanchez-Rovira P, Solfrizzi V, Soriguer-Escofet F, de la Torre-Fornell R, Trichopoulos A, Villalba-Montoro JM, Villar-Ortiz JR, Visioli F.
Lipid and Atherosclerosis Unit, Reina Sofia University Hospital, Cordoba, Spain.

Public Health Nutr. 2009 Sep;12(9A):1607-17. "Mediterranean diet and metabolic syndrome: the evidence."Babio N, Bulló M, Salas-Salvadó J. Human Nutrition Unit, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Hospital Universitari de Sant Joan de Reus, IISPV, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Rovira i Virgili University, Spain.

J Nutr Biochem. 2002 Nov;13(11):636-644."Major phenolic compounds in olive oil: metabolism and health effects." Tuck KL, Hayball PJ.
Centre for Pharmaceutical Research, School of Pharmaceutical, Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of South Australia, 5000, Adelaide, Australia

BMC Genomics. 2010 Apr 20;11:253. "Gene expression changes in mononuclear cells in patients with metabolic syndrome after acute intake of phenol-rich virgin olive oil." Camargo A, Ruano J, Fernandez JM, Parnell LD, Jimenez A, Santos-Gonzalez M, Marin C, Perez-Martinez P, Uceda M, Lopez-Miranda J, Perez-Jimenez F.
IMIBIC (Instituto Maimonides de Investigacion Biomedica de Cordoba), Reina Sofia University Hospital, University of Cordoba, Spain.

J Nutr. 2008 Jun;138(6):1074-8. "An extra-virgin olive oil rich in polyphenolic compounds has antioxidant effects in OF1 mice."Oliveras-López MJ, Berná G, Carneiro EM, López-García de la Serrana H, Martín F, López MC.
Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Engineering, Andalusian Center of Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine, CIBERDEM, University of Pablo de Olavide of Seville, 41092 Seville, Spain.

Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2005 Feb;15(1):13-23. "Effect of unsaturated fat intake from Mediterranean diet on rat liver mRNA expression profile: selective modulation of genes involved in lipid metabolism." Eletto D, Leone A, Bifulco M, Tecce MF.
Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università di Salerno, Via Ponte Don Melillo, I-84084 Fisciano (SA), Italy.

Atherosclerosis. 2007 Jan;190(1):181-6. Epub 2006 Feb 20. "Postprandial anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of extra virgin olive oil." Bogani P, Galli C, Villa M, Visioli F.
Department of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy.

J Am Coll Nutr. 2008 Apr;27(2):314-20. "Changes in LDL fatty acid composition as a response to olive oil treatment are inversely related to lipid oxidative damage: The EUROLIVE study." Cicero AF, Nascetti S, López-Sabater MC, Elosua R, Salonen JT, Nyyssönen K, Poulsen HE, Zunft HJ, Kiesewetter H, de la Torre K, Covas MI, Kaikkonen J, Mursu J, Koenbick C, Bäumler H, Gaddi AV; EUROLIVE Study Group.
GC Descovich Atherosclerosis and Metabolic Disease Research Unit, Internal Medicine, Aging and Kidney Diseases Dept., University of Bologna, Via Massarenti, 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.

J Am Coll Nutr. 2007 Oct;26(5):434-44. "A MUFA-rich diet improves posprandial glucose, lipid and GLP-1 responses in insulin-resistant subjects." Paniagua JA, de la Sacristana AG, Sánchez E, Romero I, Vidal-Puig A, Berral FJ, Escribano A, Moyano MJ, Peréz-Martinez P, López-Miranda J, Pérez-Jiménez F.
Lipids and Atherosclerosis Research Unit, University Hospital Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain.

Full Text: "Diet and Inflammation" Leo Galland, MD, Nutr Clin Pract December 7, 2010 vol. 25 no. 6 634-640

Power Healing: Use the New Integrated Medicine to Cure Yourself. Leo Galland, 384 pages, Random House, (June 1, 1998)

Recipe by Jonathan Galland from The Fat Resistance Diet © 2005 Leo Galland, M.D., Reprinted by permission of the author.

This information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not intended to constitute (i) medical advice or counseling, (ii) the practice of medicine or the provision of health care diagnosis or treatment, (iii) or the creation of a physician--patient relationship. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your doctor promptly.

 

 

 

Follow Leo Galland, M.D. on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Pilladvised/

Comments

[Olivefarmer]

06:59 PM on 05/03/2011

I am a producer of high polyphenol,high oleocanthal extra virgin olive oil that grows here way downunder in Marlborough New Zealand.I am a teacher of troubled teens and have been a dairy farmer.We moved here to grow olives. I am now a very proud, happy olive farmer.Why? We are fungicide and pesticide spray free.Our trees are happy in healthy,lively, young soil.They do not need agrichems.Agrichem residue in the human fat chain are neurotoxic.This disrupts brain biochemistry which in turn causes oxidative stress and endochrine disruption,leading to an inflammatory response in the human body. When you work with at risk teens raised on corn syrups and junkfats you see the end product of oxidative stress everyday. The result? Obesity,diabetes,depression,risky self medicating ,disruptive out of control behaviour. The longer I work with kids the more I am convinced we are what we eat.....drink and smoke. Oxidative stress hits the liver.These teens are in a "dirty liver" state permanently.The anitinflammatory oleocanthal in a high polyphenol extra virgin clears brain "fog" along with a high dose fish oil,cod liver vit D,good sun,good sleep. The Mediterranean diet with lots of high antioxidant homegrown greens sure helps behaviour,depression and reduces adipose fat.Gardening get kids outdoors,exercised and when they know where food is"made" they start to eat with appreciation of health.Ask your dealer to tell you how many polyphenols are in the oil.The higher the better.The oil should "kick" you in the throat

[marian hanczarek]

04:12 PM on 04/30/2011

Me and my wife used Olive Oil to eliminate gallstones.
My wife had some as big as an olive, they are all out without surgery.

[Tod Edmondson]

02:08 PM on 04/30/2011

I started taking a teaspoon or so of extra virgin olive oil every night before bed when I read that it helped with snoring, and it works, at least temporarily. All the other health benefits are a bonus. Thanks for the great article.

[MaskedWoman]

11:42 AM on 04/30/2011

I'm Portuguese-American, and we use olive oil as often as the Greeks and Italians do. I can attest to olive oil's validity as a health booster and skin serum. I'm in my forties and female. People often comment on how young I look, and I get hit on a lot by guys in their twenties. When asked "my secret", I always said "I don't hold grudges and I drink a lot of water"... but now I guess I know what it is, and I'll have to start telling people. Olive oil, huh? Who knew? I use olive oil in everything. Brand? Saloio, pois! :D

Thanks for a great article - and IttyBitty, thanks for the brown sugar idea: I'm trying that one today!

[Skagitonian93]

01:49 PM on 04/30/2011

Fanned for your standard response! Women who do hold grudges really look spooky by the time they're about 60. Mean makes wrinkles.

[nothing777]

09:47 PM on 04/29/2011

I've been using extra-virgin olive oil for the sake of fat-soluble vitamins in vegetables such as asparagus. So far, I've gotten it from Trader Joe's, but I've been trying different sorts.

[axiomia biz]

10:33 AM on 05/01/2011

Hi! I'd be happy to send you a trial size organic Extra Virgin Olive OIl I've imported from Spain to the USA. Feel free to contact me at https://www.axiomia.biz where I'll provide you with a discount coupon code. This organic olive oil is made exclusively of Picual olives (hightest in antioxidants and vitamins while tasty because lowest in acidity compared to other olive oils), so it's distinctive enough to be worth a try. It's delicious. Susan

[theittybitty]

09:56 AM on 04/29/2011

Olive Oil is great for more than just internal medicine. I use it on my scalp to help dandruff and my seborrheic dermetitis. It is great for your skin, I've stopped using commercial skin products and replaced them with a brown sugar and olive oil scrub. It works on inflammation from the outside as well, with oil massages on sore muscles and inflammed tendons. I fully believe the ancient civilizations had the softest hair and skin, because they only used non-toxic substances on their bodies...and olive oil was a major player! Thanks for the information!

[William R James]

06:37 PM on 04/30/2011

They had a lifespan of what, 45 years? We romanticize the ancients as if they lead healthy and happy lives in union with nature. But in reality, nature is mean as hell and uncaring, brutal and without compassion. Live was short and harsh back then, even for the rich. And how do you now what their skin and hair felt like? It was more likely greasy and tangled hair and wrinkled and spotted leather from working in the sun until they died young. The main reason they had fewer diseases is that they died before contracting them. An older population, like we have today, sees far more diseases.

[Olivefarmer]

06:25 PM on 05/03/2011

Gidday William greetings from way downunder.Maybe your ancients looked like that and I guess it depends hwere you live but Maori in NZ lived into their 70's were tall,fit and strong with good teeth enviable twitch muscles and good hair.Dr Joseph Banks and James Cook who discovered Aotearoa New Zealand compared Maori to The Anglo Saxon crew he had and the population he had left behind in England and declared"we are the serpents in paradise" How right he was They brought western disease that nearly wiped Maori out and when you look at the obesity staitics among Maori today the American junk food industry has not left a great legacy either.. The Maori diet was high in greens,sweet potatoes,Maori at that time were amazing horticulturalists who knew a great deal about food preservation,ate sea weed,shark liver +whale oil,the diet was high in seafood, poultry and freshwater eels.Maori used many native plants as a natural pharmacy that are proving to hold their own in modern pharmaceutical preperaqtions today..The Polynesian diet was very similar to the optimum Mediterranean diet but possibly even better as you would have to consume large amounts of extra virgin olive oil to equal the squalene found in shark liver or whale meats.

[skatoolaki]

09:00 AM on 04/29/2011

As someone who lives with limited mobility and chronic pain, I appreciate your bringing this to our attention. Thank you.

I am always looking for healthy & natural alternative ways to ease the aches, pains, & swelling that come - for me - as simply part of (already limited) daily living. Too much Ibuprofen & Tylenol have been detrimental to my body over the long-haul, & I became addicted to and fought a two-plus year battle with the narcotic pain relievers I was given by doctors.

In the time since, I have found great relief in practicing light yoga, designed for the elderly & disabled (Peggy Cappy's "Yoga For The Rest of Us" has been a blessed find) & in eating more consciously & healthily. Plenty of water helps, as well.

The result has also been a loss of weight, which helped a great deal as my doctor's told me that the pressure on someone's back and knees is 10 lbs over their actual weight.

The most important (& perhaps the most difficult) was learning to not push myself & to listen to my body. I had to accept, at age 24, that I could no longer do all I could before & that pushing myself to prove I was not "hindered" by my disability, in the end, proved nothing of the sort. The end result was always days confined to bed as I recovered from my over-expenditure!

Right thinking/doing can make a world of difference.

[Paleo Man]

09:41 AM on 04/30/2011

In addition to excellent nutritional advice by functional medicine experts such as Dr. Galland, you might find do-it-yourself myofascial trigger point therapy helpful. One good and inexpensive DIY resource is "The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook: Your Self-Treatment Guide for Pain Relief" by Clair Davies. The principles involved were researched and promoted by former White House physician Janet Travell MD and astronaut doctor David Simons, MD, who wrote a superb two volume 1300 page book on the subject, one of the best books I have ever seen, but overkill for the average DIY patient. I know of quite a number of patients who learned and used the principles to obtain exceptional musculoskeletal pain relief when nothing else worked. No guarantees, but definitely works so often as to be worth investigating, especially when combined with effective nutritional protocols.

[gemzenith]

12:05 PM on 05/02/2011

Wow Age 24.I'm turning 50 and I feel like my body is betraying me with all these new aches and pains.I've gained weight and I know that's a big part of it .Instead of being a whiner, maybe I need to appreciate the years of good heath I have enjoyed thus far.Reading about your situation has adjusted my perspective,and I thank you.I wish you all the best.

[Paleo Man]

09:48 PM on 04/28/2011

Some years ago the Journal of Clinical Cardiology reported on a study that showed that olive oil actually had an adverse impact on blood vessel endothelial health and function. A later study reported in another journal provided an explanation. Not all olive oil, or even all extra virgin olive oil, is the same. Olive oil deteriorates in as little as two weeks with exposure to light, and the beneficial polyphenol content then plummets. Only fresh extra virgin olive oil that has been well cared for, protected from light and air and heat, and that has high polyphenol content, is healthful, benefiting vascular function. Olive oil that has been stored in the light in clear glass bottles or that is old or without a harvest date, is likely degraded and unhealthful. Best to obtain highest quality olive oil in dark or opaque containers that has been protected from light and heat and that bears a recent harvest date stamped on the label. It costs more, but the wonderful taste of such oil, as well as its healthful qualities, makes it worthwhile.

[dotysh]

09:42 PM on 04/28/2011

I loved the article on olive oil for pain. I have using it for more than 6 years for nerve pain from degenerative disc disease. It really helps to calm the pins & needle pain in the skin. Best of all, no side effects or interaction with other meds. I have told this to a dozen doctors & many friends and they think I'm nuts, To find that there is research to back up my home remedy, just made my day.

[WoodyCPM]

09:04 PM on 04/28/2011

I've used olive oil for forty years but I've not noticed any difference in the level of pain I have now with two different kinds of arthritis. How much do you need to consume to make any kind of long lasting impact? Do you need to use it daily? Does the source of the oil make a difference? Greek and Syrian oil is considered by some to be "superior" to Spanish oil. Even though I did not grow up with olive oil, I grew to love it as an adult and use it as the mainstay of all my cooking with oil, even frying.

[Sheila Crook]

06:18 PM on 04/28/2011

I use EVOO for most of my cooking. I don't fry food, but when I fix meat on a low heat I always coat it with EVOO, and the meat has a better taste. I'm Italian and I always use it for all of my Italian cooking. EVOO is also very good for dry skin. When my hands get chapped I put a thin coat of EVOO on them when I'm going to bed and wear light cotton gloves. By morning my hands are not chapped. I'm in good health so I don't know if it has anything to do with that, but I wouldn't be surprised if it does. I have a question; for years I've taken a daily dose of Olive oil leaf extract and I'm wondering if that is as good as the liquid form of EVOO? I buy that at a health store. I take it because I've read up on EVOO and know it's good for health reasons. I usually buy my liquid EVOO at Martin's Supermarket, and occasionally at Wall Mart.

[osculant]

04:31 PM on 04/28/2011

Olive oil heated with a cannabis blend can be particularly pain relieving.

[WoodyCPM]

09:06 PM on 04/28/2011

That's a good idea actually. Cannabis is an excellent pain reliever for joints for up to two days following use.

[Skagitonian93]

01:54 PM on 04/30/2011

Medical marijuana is legal in Washington and arthritis is one of the qualifying conditions.

[Rick Robinson808]

03:15 PM on 04/28/2011

damn...i thought they were goina say THC...

[Claudia Babic]

12:37 PM on 04/28/2011

I'm italian and I basically was born consuming olive oil. I love cooking and I use it for everything. Pastas, rice, soups, even to fry eggs I use a little bit of olive oil. One of the results I attribute to olive oil is having a fantastic skin. I'm in my forties and don't have a wrinkle in my face and never had pimple problems. My skin looks and feels great and I'm convinced that olive oil has done the trick all these years. Of course I've followed the Mediterranean diet for years, and it's very healthy. I didn't know the anti-inflammatory properties of olive oil but now I'll use it even more!

[Disketta]

10:49 AM on 04/28/2011

Love olive oil. Use extra virgin for everything but long cooking or high heat, then I use a different olive oil. Love to saute foods, then drizzle with fresh ev olive oil. Love to dip bread in it, make garlic bread with it. I shop in small local supermarkets, and buy whatever brand looks good or is on sale. I love the different fruitiness and flavors. In my house right now I have Spectrum Organic cold pressed and first cold pressed, from Spain; La Squisita, which is "packed" in Italy, but does not list country of origin; and Filippo Berio, regular and extra virgin which is probably a blend of Italian, Greek, Spanish and Tunisian oils. I use them in the order in which I bought them, except if I feel like dipping bread, then I will open the first cold-pressed oil.