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36 BACK TO SCHOOL Benefits of olive leaf extract among high-school athletes A 2019 trial tested 32 high- school athletes (hockey, football and netball players) after it was found that high-school athletes reported higher illness rates than professional and sub-elite high- school athletes playing the same sport. The students were given a daily placebo or a dose of olive leaf extract (OLE).6 Participants were required to complete a questionnaire twice a week before their respective training.6 The questions centred on wellbeing, training load and respiratory illness.6 The results revealed that while there was no significant effect on incidence, a 28 per cent reduction in sick days was found among those taking OLE supplements.6 A reduction in the number of days would likely aid in ‘return to play’ and potentially improve performance, the trial found.6 FROM PAGE 34 With a wealth of knowledge at our fingertips and pharmacies in almost every suburb, we’re well equipped to start the year with a fighting chance by staying on top of the most important nutrients, vitamins and minerals, to help defend ourselves against health concerns coming our way. This month Retail Pharmacy Assistants magazine looks at the important nutrients needed for maintaining adequate immunity (for the little and the grown) to ensure health is at its strongest when going back to school. Pharmacist Sylvia Vyoung of Perth’s Midland Pharmacy lists several health issues that can circulate through a school, being quickly and easily spread from person to person. “From getting sneezed and coughed on, to getting touched without appropriate hand hygiene, teachers \\\[and students\\\] are constantly being exposed to various children’s illness at school and day care,” she said. “Some health concerns ... may include coughs, colds, flu, hand, foot and mouth issues, conjunctivitis, strep throat and gastroenteritis. All these illnesses can be caught if their immune system is low.” Ms Vyoung emphasises the importance of prioritising our health through 2021, due to the spread of Covid-19 in 2020. “The challenges of the last year have highlighted the absolute importance of keeping our immune system healthy and strong, as well as practising good hand hygiene.” Keeping shelves stocked with ... Ms Vyoung says she recommends having the following products on hand, because they encourage immunity strength. Andrographis “Andrographis is traditionally used in Western herbal medicine and is used widely to treat symptoms of cold and flu, and other upper respiratory illness,” she said. “It’s excellent to have on hand to take at the first onset of cold and flu symptoms and should be taken on a short-term basis.” Andrographis extract is available in the form of tablets. Additionally, medicinal uses of the leaf from Andrographis include treatments for fever, colic pain, loss of appetite, irregular stools and diarrhoea, common cold, cough, hepatitis, tuberculosis, mouth ulcers, bronchitis gastro- intestinal disorder and sores.1 Olive leaf extract “Olive leaf extract is a natural supplement, high in antioxidants that are used to help support your immune system and protect your body from potential illness – when taken correctly,” Ms Vyoung said. “It also supports heart and diabetes health and reduces inflammation. “Different brands will vary in strength and type, so make sure you check the label and directions before use.” Probiotics “A quality daily probiotic will help reduce the occurrence of common colds and enhance immune system function as well as healthy digestion,” Ms Vyoung said. “In particular, the probiotic strains Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus paracasei and Lactobacillus fermentum have been shown to reduce the frequency of colds as well as the TO PAGE 38 RETAIL PHARMACY ASSISTANTS • FEB 2021