Supporting Proper Immune Responses with Olive Polyphenols

There's a lot of talk these days about boosting your immune system, and for good reason. Everyone wants to stay healthy during cold, flu, and allergy season. But what are some simple things that you can do to support your immune system? Turns out, one of the easiest ways to do this is by increasing your intake of olive polyphenols and a couple other key nutrients. So if you're looking for an easy way to improve your health, consider adding some of the below suggestions into your diet!

The olive polyphenols, hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein found in Proprietary Blendsupplements, including ImmuneHealth have proven activity in supporting a healthy immune and inflammatory response to allergens.

Prolonged periods of inflammation can result in significant health issues
The olive polyphenols, hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein contained in Proprietary Blend ImmuneHealth have powerful properties that help support healthy immune function
Unregulated immune responses are associated with autoimmune diseases and allergies.
Hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein help regulate immune cells and allergen/disease-specific immune responses
Studies suggest that hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein can decrease harmful allergic responses

The immune system has two major types of responses, an early (innate) response and a later response that can involve antibody production and responses from T cells (T means thymus-derived) referred to as adaptive immunity. These two responses closely interact and have substantial cross-over. Innate responses typically happen fairly rapidly and involve cells like macrophages/monocytes, neutrophils and mast cells that can promote reactions such as inflammation and/or allergies¹.

Hydroxytyrosol and Oleuropein Decrease Excess Inflammation

Unfortunately, prolonged periods of inflammation can result in health problems including delayed wound healing, fibrosis, and chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases^2,3. The olive polyphenols, hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein have been shown to have potent activities that can decrease excess inflammation^4,5. This is one of the reasons hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein were included in the patented Olivamine formula. In addition, Proprietary Blend includes other important ingredients with activities that also help decrease inflammation including N-acetylcysteine (NAC), methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), and taurine^6-8.

When immune responses aren’t regulated properly, it can lead to the development of autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or multiple sclerosis (MS)¹. In a recent study, a phenolic fraction from virgin olive oil (VOO) prevented deregulation of human monocytes in a model of SLE. In the same study, the phenolic fraction from VOO counteracted inflammatory pathways using a different model of SLE⁹. In another important study, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) that is known to have a higher content of olive polyphenols, as well as hydroxytyrosol by itself conveyed protective effects against MS (employing a widely used experimental model of MS)¹⁰.

The intestine is the largest immune compartment and intestinal immune processes are increasingly thought to regulate disease development elsewhere in the body¹¹. The main role of the immune system in the intestine is to prevent disruption of the intestinal barrier and entry of pathogens including harmful bacteria into the body. In fact, translocated bacteria and their inflammatory components such as endotoxin that have entered the circulatory system and peripheral tissues have been associated with sepsis and autoimmune disorders^12-14. In an important human trial, phenol-enriched olive oil (OOPC) was shown to increase antibody-coated bacteria indicating that OOPC stimulated potentially protective intestinal immune responses¹⁵.

Olive leaves typically contain even higher amounts of olive polyphenols than EVOO. In an interesting study, olive leaf extract (OLE) was able to boost a healthy human immune response by increasing T cells and natural killer (NK) immune cells associated with anti-tumor (cancer) activity¹⁶. In another important study, olive leaves were found to increase antibody responses¹⁷. Finally, OLE decreased the duration of upper respiratory illness (URI) in high school athletes who had sub-optimal diets, suggesting that dietary intake of OLE supported their immune responses to URI¹⁸.

Hydroxytyrosol and Oleuropein Help Regulate Immune Responses

Allergies (also known as allergic disorders) are increasingly prevalent in the United States and in the rest of the developed world. These disorders include allergic rhinitis (hay fever), allergic asthma, and food allergies. In the extreme, a potentially fatal systemic allergic reaction, known as anaphylaxis can occur within seconds or minutes of exposure to an allergen. Mast cell degranulation can be a significant component of allergic reactions¹. In important studies, hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein were shown to inhibit mast cell degranulation^{19, 20}. In another interesting study it was found that hydroxytyrosol modulated an allergen-specific immune response potentiating a suppressive immune response towards an allergen²¹.

Various reports have indicated that hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein are capable of inhibiting the growth of bacteria, fungi, and parasites, and the results from many of these studies support the conclusion that hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein strengthen the immune system^22,23. In fact, an important study examining the effect of oleuropein against the parasite, Leishmania indicated that oleuropein promoted a specific immune response known to be protective against the parasite in an in vivo model of leishmaniasis²⁴.

Some of the other ingredients in Proprietary Blend ImmuneHealth may also help regulate and/or support immune responses including NAC, taurine, and MSM^25-27. ImmuneHealth with Proprietary Blend includes impeccably sourced ingredients that have undergone rigorous scientific review to prove we renew, restore, and repair cells.

Conclusion

Inflammation is a natural response our body has to protect us from harm. However, when inflammation persists for prolonged periods of time, it can lead to some significant health issues. That’s where Proprietary Blend ImmuneHealth comes in. This supplement contains olive polyphenols, hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein which have powerful properties that help support healthy immune function. Unregulated immune responses are associated with autoimmune diseases and allergies, but hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein may be able to help regulate those responses. If you’re looking for an all-natural way to support your immune system during allergy season, try Proprietary Blend ImmuneHealth today!

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