Featured Image Credit: Donato Fasano/Getty Images
Topics: Health, Food And Drink
Joshua Nair
A woman took it upon herself to try her hand at the olive oil shot craze which has been doing the rounds on the wellness side of social media and document her results.
As a dietician herself, she explained that the food product contains numerous beneficial nutirents, such as healthy fats and antioxidants, with health benefits coming across positive on paper.
Lauren Manaker, M.S., R.D.N., L.D, decided to give the challenge a go, which consisted of taking one shot of olive oil every day for a week, to see the exact effects and benefits it could have on the body.
While she started with a shot taken from a shot glass, the texture and flavour caused Lauren to look for alternatives, eventually finding it easier to pour it into her coffee or drizzling it over popcorn or vegetables.
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Unsurprisingly, this was a lot easier and before she knew it, the one-week mark was hit and she summarised her results in a piece for Prevention.
Lauren said she has continued with the trend due to how good it tasted, but when it came to the results, she admitted that there weren't 'any remarkable changes in my body', unlike claims from those on social media.
"I didn’t wake up easier in the mornings, and my focus at work was pretty much unchanged. My skin didn’t suddenly become luminous, nor did my hair take on any extra shine," the American dietician claimed.
She did admit that she didn't experience anything digestion-wise, this may be due to her not getting the serving in one mouthgul.
"I’d read about people drinking olive oil and making a beeline for the restroom, but my experience was completely uneventful in that department," Lauren said.
The dietician said that while she didn't feel much of a change doesn't mean that the oil wasn't positively affecting her body on the inside.
"You don’t feel your body fighting oxidative stress or reducing inflammation or reducing the risk of cognitive decline, but that doesn’t mean it’s not happening," she pointed out.
So, what benefits can you expect from not just a week of regularly having olive oil, but longer periods of time?
Extra virgin olive oil is made primarily from monounsaturated fat, which is known to lower 'bad' LDL cholesterol and heighten 'good' HDL cholesterol which can improve cardiovascular health.
There are 120 calories in a single tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, say the US Department of Agriculture, as just two of its 14 grams of fat is saturated fat.
Chronic inflammation has a link to several serious health conditions such as Alzheimer's, arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and types of cancer.
Oleocanthal is one of the main antioxidants in olive oils, as it's known to have anti-inflammatory effecs comparable to ibuprofen, a benefit highlighted also by Healthline.
Olive oil has antioxidants such as polyphenols and vitamin E, which help to fight against oxidative stress in the body, helping to protect your cells from being damaged and lower the chances of chronic diseases in the future.
Healthy fats and antioxidants in olive oil can help the brain, with a 2023 study suggesting that a diet that's rich in olive oil could even protect against cognitive decline and support memory.
It's also believed that it can lower the chances of developing neurogenerative diseases later in life, such as Alzheimer's.
This benefit is still up for debate as despite having many calories, olive oil intake may not have a connection to weight gain in certain populations, according to a 2018 study.
The product's health fats can even support your metabolism and the oxidation of fat in the body.