The FDA recommends consuming 2 tablespoons of olive oil a day. Most people meet this requirement by cooking with olive oil or drizzling it on their dishes, but some people choose to consume it all at once -- in a shot. Drinking olive oil straight may sound like an eccentric health fad, but the truth is, many in Mediterranean countries swear by the practice as an elixir of health. Recently, however, it seems it is becoming a trend in the U.S. due to some celebrities who swear that extra virgin olive oil is the key to their health.
Goldie Hawn drinks two tablespoons of olive oil before bed, and uses it to massage her face to keep her skin looking young and healthy.
Kourtney Kardashian drinks a tablespoon of olive oil every other day, according to her website, Poosh, where she extolls the health benefits of extra virgin olive oil.
Dr. Drew Ramsey, clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University, believes that the best way to enjoy olive oil’s health benefits is simply by drinking a shot glass. He convinced Carson Daly on the Today show to drink a shot of extra virgin olive oil while Savannah Guthrie and Hota Kotb looked on.
Selena Gomez reportedly drinks a small glass of olive oil before going onstage - a trick that she learned from Kelly Clarkson.
Screenwriter and producer Shonda Rhimes credits Beyoncé for her new habit of drinking olive oil daily. Beyoncé's enjoys drinking extra virgin olive oil so much that she even invested in an olive oil company that sells their oil with a small shot glass to allow you to savor the flavor of the oil.
Is it safe to drink olive oil?
Yes! According to Healthline, some who live in the Mediterranean drink ¼ cup of olive oil daily. Drinking olive oil is a long-standing practice in Mediterranean countries where olive oil is a staple.
What are the benefits to drinking olive oil?
Aside from the well know heart-healthy benefits, drinking olive oil can offer the following health benefits:
- Drinking olive oil mayrelieve constipation. Multiple studies have found that consuming olive oil works as a stool softener.
- Olive oil can sooth an upset stomach, reduce gas and heartburn.
- Drinking olive oil can aid with weight loss. Even though olive oil is calorie-dense, it has been found to suppress the appetite and regulate blood sugar. A shot of olive oil can help prevent you from a sugar crash that has you reaching for unhealthy snacks.
- Olive oil has been shown to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Some compounds in olive oil have anti-inflammatory effects, including oleocanthal. This compound may offer pain relief effects similar to those of over-the-counter medications.
Finally, drinking olive oil allows you to really taste the olive oil. Drinking olive oil raw, without food, lets the flavor really shine. You will discover that extra virgin olive oils are like wines, each with a flavor profile and qualities to love.
How to get started drinking olive oil
Start small. Start with a teaspoon or tablespoon and work your way up to a quantity that feels good to you.
Choose a high quality olive oil. Flavor matters! When it comes to olive oils, the more flavor, the more potential health benefits. But again, it might be best to start slowly with a good quality, gentle- flavored extra virgin olive oil until you get accustomed to stronger flavors. Olive oil tastes best when its fresh, so buy a bottle that you can consume within a month.
Choose a vessel. You may enjoy the experience more if you make it more of a ritual... put the oil into a small special glass, and be sure to savor the aroma prior to drinking it. Give it a good sniff! Our sense of smell is responsible for about 80%of what we taste.
Feel the burn.High-quality, fresh, extra virgin olive oil is packed with polyphenols. These healthy compounds will cause your throat to tingle and may burn a little. This is a good thing! It's normal to cough, and in fact, premium olive oils are often characterized as one-cough, two-cough or three-cough oil.
If you just can't get behind this trend, there is no need to worry. In truth, you can enjoy the health benefits just as well by using olive oil in your cooking and as a condiment to finish your dishes. The point is to get your 2 tablespoons a day. Some recommendations for people who don't want to drink olive oil:
- Add a tablespoon of olive oil to your morning smoothie.
- Drizzle olive oil over roasted vegetables, soups and pasta.
- Add a tablespoon to yogurt or oatmeal.
- Use olive oil in place of butter when baking.
Whether you want to follow the latest celebrity trend or not, there’s no doubt that extra virgin olive oil has some incredible health benefits. So, if you’re looking for a way to incorporate more olive oil into your diet, downing a shot glass might be the way to go.
FAQs
Certain celebrities of a middle-aged persuasion – Kourtney Kardashian, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Lopez – have reportedly fessed up to drinking extra virgin olive oil every day or so, and massaging it into their skin as a beauty and health aid.
What happens to your body when you drink olive oil every day? ›
Olive oil is a healthy fat that contains anti-inflammatory compounds. Drinking it regularly may benefit your heart, bone, and digestive health and help stabilize your blood sugar levels.
What is the best olive oil to drink every morning? ›
When drinking olive oil for health benefits, you should always choose extra virgin olive oil. This high-quality olive oil contains higher amounts of healthy fats and antioxidants when compared to refined olive oils and thus will provide the most health benefits.
Why do models drink olive oil? ›
There's no doubt that olive oil is full of good stuff. It's high in polyphenols and antioxidants, which have protective qualities for the body's tissues. It's also a rich source of essential fatty acids, including oleic acid, which is known for lowering cholesterol so reducing the chances of heart disease.
What does drinking olive oil first thing in the morning do? ›
The first thing you might notice once you start taking EVOO on an empty stomach is a dramatic improvement in your digestion. Olive oil is said to essentially line your gut, soften the stool and, as a result, relieve constipation.
Who drinks the most olive oil? ›
When looking at total olive oil consumption per capita, Greece leads the world, using about 24 liters per person per year, Numbers vary by year, but generally, it's at least 20 liters -- more than 5 gallons.
Should I drink water after taking olive oil? ›
Usually, the small cup of olive oil is followed by a small glass of warm water with freshly squeezed lemon juice. Some people even suggest that a tablespoon or two of olive oil may be all you need to fully reap its benefits. The consumption of olive oil includes a healthier digestive process as well.
Is it better to drink olive oil in the morning or at night? ›
Sipping olive oil before bedtime is a growing trend that goes beyond its culinary usage to provide several health advantages. Drinking olive oil before bedtime improves digestion, resulting in a smoother digestive process overnight. Its anti-inflammatory qualities may also aid with pain relief.
Is 2 tablespoons of olive oil a day too much? ›
As a general rule of thumb, between one and two tablespoons a day is a good amount of olive oil to consume. This goes for both olive oil that you drink for health benefits and also olive oil that you consume with food as part of your regular cooking process.
How long does it take to see results from drinking olive oil? ›
“If we all had two tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil a day, we'd be at a liter a month,” says Kyriakides. “That's a magnitude of difference.” And you may see some benefits take effect in as little as 3 weeks, according to Flynn.
How to take it? In order to enjoy its many benefits, it is recommended that you drink a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil as soon as you wake up on an empty stomach, or at least half an hour before having breakfast.
Is it okay to drink olive oil straight? ›
The short answer is yes, you can drink olive oil. Fans say that downing a tablespoon of olive oil in the morning clears your skin and helps you lose weight. Some people drink it with breakfast. Consuming small amounts of olive oil won't hurt you.
How do Italians drink olive oil? ›
The most common way to drink olive oil is like a shot. Similar to how people take green grass shots. However, you can also add it to a variety of drinks, the two most popular being coffee and a martini.
Why do people brush their teeth with olive oil? ›
Olive oil has been known to have properties to reduce stains on the teeth. It is especially beneficial for people who have developed stains on their teeth because of excessive smoking and tea or coffee.
Does olive oil make you look younger? ›
Due to its antioxidant content, olive oil may reduce aging skin and wrinkles. The oil can be dabbed around the eye area at night or following sun exposure.
What singer drinks olive oil? ›
— that country western singer Billy Currington drinks a shot of virgin olive oil before his concerts to lubricate his vocal cords. Makes sense to me — until you take a look at the anatomy of vocal cords.
What culture drinks olive oil? ›
While most people are familiar with EVOO's more conventional uses ― cooking, drizzling, and dipping ― drinking it may seem like a foreign concept. And when you consider that drinking olive oil is a widespread practice in Mediterranean countries like Italy Greece and Spain, it turns out it is a foreign concept.
Why do Italian drink olive oil? ›
Just as coffee is an essential part of Italian culture, so is olive oil. Its use in Italy dates back thousands of years. Today Sicilians rely on olive oil not just to prepare and flavor food but to moisturize their bodies, manufacture products like soap, polish furniture and lubricate machinery.
Why do bodybuilders drink olive oil? ›
Olive oil's anti-inflammatory properties help reduce inflammation and promote muscle recovery. Additionally, olive oil can help boost testosterone levels in the body, which is essential for muscle protein synthesis, leading to muscle growth, increased strength, and better athletic performance.
