Cardiologist issues warning over olive oil shots after woman showed impact of having one every day for two weeks

A cardiologist has shared her thoughts on a controversial health trend which involves starting the day with shots of olive oil.

Supposedly, lining your stomach with it first thing in the morning can work wonders for your wellbeing - although a lot of experts don't seem sold.

It isn't known as 'liquid gold' just because it costs an arm and a leg to purchase, as it also gets the nickname from the health benefits that consuming it can bring.

Olive oil is considered a healthy fat and it's full of antioxidants, especially if it's the extra virgin kind.

Including it in your diet can help to decrease inflammation, lower the risk of heart disease and help protect you against cancer, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Dietitian Julia Zumpano explained: "We know that there are quite a lot of health benefits to extra virgin olive oil, in particular.

"It has been shown to have antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, specifically from the types of fat it has. No other oils can provide as many benefits as extra virgin olive oil can. It’s the far superior oil."

Although most people use it exclusively for cooking purposes or as a condiment, a host of people have been taking shots of the stuff each morning.

It's one of the latest viral health trends to sweep social media and luckily for us lot, one woman offered herself up as a guinea pig to put the craze to the test.

After taking two spoonfuls of olive oil everyday for two weeks, she said she was left 'shocked by the wide-reaching benefits' - however, this interventional cardiologist has quite a different opinion.

Dr Heather Shenkman, who is better known online as @veganheartdoc, is a firm believer that your diet and the activeness of the lifestyle you lead both play a huge role in your health.

She stays fit by competing in various sports from Ironman distance triathlons to ultramarathons, according to her website, while she has also consumed a plant-based diet since 2005.

And when patients have been coming to visit her with the news that they 'are now drinking a shot of olive oil for their heart health', she admitted that she can't help but laugh.

In a TikTok video shared by supplement firm 1MD Nutrition earlier this year, Dr Shenkman said that although she finds these conversations 'funny', it is also 'frustrating and kind of sad at the same time'.

According to the cardiologist, people 'should not be drinking a shot of olive oil'.

"It is not good for their heart, it's not good for their cholesterol, it's not good for their waistline," Dr Shenkman said.

"Yes olive oil and olives do have benefits... but no, you should not be drinking a shot of olive oil."

Other experts have shared similar thoughts on the trend, with Health.com warning that the practice can come with some side effects.

This can include digestive discomfort and even weight gain over a period of time, given that olive oil is high in calories.

"Overall, taking olive oil as a shot instead of combining it with other healthy foods isn’t necessary," it adds.

It goes without saying, but make sure you consult with a health professional before you make any major dietary changes or start racking up shots of olive oil at the crack of dawn.