Olive oil is one of the healthiest cooking oils, thanks to its properties that can lower “bad” LDL cholesterol levels and boost the production of healthy bacteria in the gut. And lemon juice is high in vitamin C and other antioxidants. Combining them can be the base of a delicious dressing or condiment, but what about drinking olive oil and lemon juice together in a shot glass?
It’s the latest wellness trend on social media, with supporters claiming it can improve digestion and lead to glowing skin in just a few days.
Dr. Cedrek McFadden, a colon and rectal surgeon, weighs in on whether this shot is worth adding to your morning routine.
Are There Benefits to Drinking Olive Oil and Lemon Juice?
If you’ve found yourself considering the health perks of olive oil and lemon juice, you’re onto something. “Olive oil is a healthy fat, and it is a big part of the Mediterranean diet, which we know is associated with lower inflammation and better heart health,” McFadden tells TODAY.com. “Lemon juice adds some vitamin C and flavor,” he adds.
That said, combining them isn’t the health hack the internet is saying it is. “Taking them as a morning shot is not some special medical trick,” says McFadden. “You would get the same benefits by using olive oil in meals and adding lemon to foods like vegetables or salads.”
The various claims that this combination of ingredients will clear your skin, reduce inflammation and boost digestion is “probably a stretch,” too, adds McFadden. “Olive oil as part of a healthy diet can help with inflammation over time,” he notes, “but that is different from saying a daily shot will suddenly improve digestion or skin.”
The true source of these health and beauty gains is a nutritious diet packed with fibrous fruits and vegetables, healthy fats and minimal ultraprocessed foods, McFadden says.
Are There Benefits to Drinking This Shot on an Empty Stomach?
No matter when you take it, a lemon juice and olive oil shot isn’t the cure-all it promises to be. “There is really no good evidence that taking olive oil and lemon juice on an empty stomach does anything unique for digestion,” explains McFadden. “Your digestive system is designed to handle food whether it is the first thing you eat in the morning or part of a meal later in the day.”
He suspects the reason people might enjoy this shot in the morning is that the fat from olive oil can stimulate the digestive tract and the gallbladder, which produces the fluid that breaks down food in the intestines. “Some people may feel like it helps them have a bowel movement,” says McFadden. “But it is not a detox, and it is not cleansing the gut,” he points out.
How Can You Improve Digestion and Reduce Inflammation?
While an olive oil and lemon juice shot likely won’t turn your health around, you can still access real benefits to digestion and inflammation by honing in on a nutrient-dense diet. “Focus on getting enough fiber from fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains. Stay hydrated. Include healthy fats like olive oil, nuts and fish,” advises McFadden.
“Try to limit highly processed foods,” he adds. These foods, which include sugary drinks, sugary snacks, processed meats, poultry and fish, have been linked to poor mental health, dementia, chronic illness, including Type 2 diabetes and obesity, among other conditions, TODAY.com previously reported.
Both olive oil and lemon juice can be a part of a healthy diet. McFadden wouldn’t discourage anyone from consuming them, but combining them into a shot won’t do much for your gut. Your digestive system will respond to consistency and healthy habits, not “quick fixes that trend on social media,” he says.
Dining and Cooking