Biblical Superfoods Series: The Power of the Olive Tree

The olive tree appears throughout Scripture in ways that feel woven into daily life—food, light, care for the body, even moments set apart for prayer. It's there, used, relied on, understood.

Once you start noticing it, it becomes clear how central it was. It was part of the rhythm of the home. It showed up in meals, in lamps, in care for the body, and in moments that carried spiritual meaning.

You see it in the way the land is described in Deuteronomy 8:8, alongside wheat, barley, vines, and honey. You see it in Psalm 52:8, where being like a green olive tree speaks to something rooted and sustained. You see it again in James 5:14, where oil is used in the care of the sick.

How the olive tree was actually used

The fruit was pressed into oil, and that oil carried most of the daily use. It was used in cooking, often generously, not sparingly. It was applied to the skin to protect and soften. It was used on wounds. It fueled lamps, which meant that in a very literal way, it brought light into the home once the sun went down.

Even the leaves had their place. They were used in more traditional settings for their supportive properties, especially when people relied more directly on what was available to them rather than reaching for something manufactured.

What real olive oil offers the body

When olive oil is made well and used consistently, it supports the body in ways that are steady and noticeable over time. It contains fats that help the body absorb nutrients from other foods. It includes compounds that support the body’s response to inflammation and stress. It has been associated with cardiovascular health, digestion, and cellular protection.

When food includes real, stable fats, there’s a difference in how long you stay satisfied. There’s less of that lingering sense of needing something else. Energy tends to feel more even instead of rising and dropping throughout the day. That alone can change how often people snack, how much they think about food, and how stable they feel overall.

How to actually use it in your everyday meals

Olive oil doesn’t need to be treated like a supplement. It works best when it becomes part of how you cook and eat.

If you’ve ever had vegetables roasted properly with olive oil, you know the difference. The edges soften and caramelize, the flavor deepens, and the whole dish feels more complete.

A simple bowl of warm potatoes tossed with olive oil, salt, and herbs is satisfying in a way that doesn’t leave you looking for something else ten minutes later.

Fresh milled bread dipped in olive oil, maybe with a little salt or crushed garlic.

Olive oil drizzled over fresh herbs from the spring garden.

It works quietly in the background of meals like soups and stews, adding richness without making itself the center of attention. Even something as simple as sliced tomatoes with olive oil and salt becomes a different experience.

Using olive oil on the skin

Olive oil has also been used on the body for a long time, and for good reason.

A clean, high-quality oil can be applied after a shower while the skin is still slightly damp, helping to hold in moisture rather than letting it evaporate. It works well on dry areas like hands, elbows, or feet, especially in colder months. Some people use it as a simple way to remove makeup or cleanse the skin when they want to avoid harsh ingredients. It can also be used in small amounts on the ends of dry hair.

As with food, the quality of the oil matters. A clean, well-sourced oil will feel different than something that’s been processed or diluted.

Why quality matters more than people realize

It's important to note that not every bottle labeled olive oil is what it appears to be. Some are cut with cheaper oils. Some go through heavy processing.

That’s why two people can have completely different experiences with what they think is the same thing.

Extra virgin olive oil is the least processed and comes from the first pressing. Cold-pressed oils are extracted without heat or chemicals, which helps preserve what makes the oil beneficial.

A good oil is usually stored in dark glass, which protects it from light. When you open it, it should smell fresh, sometimes slightly grassy or even peppery. If it smells flat or stale, it usually is.

Looking for oils that clearly state their origin and harvest date can also help, especially compared to mass-produced blends that don’t give much information.

The medicinal side: olive leaf

Olive leaf contains compounds that have been studied for their role in supporting the deep immune system functions and helping the body respond to unwanted pathogens. It has also been associated with supporting cardiovascular health and maintaining balanced blood sugar.

It’s commonly used as a tea, tincture, or extract. Tea tends to be a gentler introduction, while extracts are more concentrated.

Because it can have a noticeable effect, it’s worth starting slowly and paying attention to how your body responds. If you’re dealing with specific conditions or taking medication, it’s wise to approach it with some care and, when needed, check with a qualified professional.

How this looks in my kitchen

At some point this stops being something you read about and just becomes part of what you do without thinking too much about it.

There are days I’ll take a spoonful of olive oil on its own, usually earlier in the day. It’s simple, and it’s one of those things that seems small but makes a difference over time. I’ve gone through a handful of different ones over the years, but I tend to come back to the cleaner, more robust oils—I'll link one here that I’ve used consistently and trust.

Most often, though, it shows up in meals. One of my favorites is fresh tomatoes with mozzarella, a handful of herbs, and a good drizzle of olive oil with a little cracked salt. It doesn’t need much else, and it’s one of those meals that feels complete without being heavy. This is usually where you really notice the difference in quality, so I’ll share a couple of my go-to options here that have a good flavor without being overpowering.

I’ll also use it when I’m roasting root vegetables or squashes or making my own tomato sauce from scratch. Cooking it down slowly with olive oil, shallots, and tomatoes is very different from opening something pre-made. The flavor is deeper, but more than that, it’s just more satisfying. I tend to use a slightly more neutral oil for cooking and save the richer one for finishing, so I’ll link both of those options here.

And then there’s olive leaf, which I tend to keep on hand and use more intentionally. If I feel like I’m fighting something off, I’ll usually reach for it then, either as a tea or in a more concentrated form depending on what I have. I’ve tried a few over time, but there are a couple I’ve come back to that feel simple and well-sourced, so I’ll include those here as well.

If you’re looking for a place to start, I’d focus less on trying to change everything and more on choosing one or two ways you’ll actually use it.

What I personally look for

When it comes to olive oil, I’m a little more selective than I used to be.

I look for extra virgin, cold-pressed oils in dark glass bottles, and I pay attention to where it comes from. If it doesn’t clearly say, I usually pass.

I’ve also really enjoyed using Graza. It’s a single-origin olive oil, and they’ve made it pretty straightforward with how they package it depending on how you’re using it.

They have different options for cooking and finishing—one that’s better for higher heat, one that’s meant more for drizzling, and even a lighter one that works somewhere in between. I tend to keep at least two on hand so I’m not using the same oil for everything.

I’ll leave my link here if you want to take a look. You can also use my code for 10% off if you decide to try it. https://www.graza.co/LITTLEHOUSE10 CODE: LITTLEHOUSE10

For olive leaf, I keep it simple and look for options without a long list of added ingredients. The ones I use tend to be straightforward, either a clean extract or something I can use as a tea.

Thank you for coming by today. I pray that you would prosper and be in good health, as your soul also prospers.

Love,

Lea