Viral olive oil shots could lead to weight gain, health expert warns
Taking shots of olive oil has become a popular trend on social media, with celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian and Hailey Bieber touting the practice for its supposed health benefits.
Key points
- "Consuming more calories than your body burns each day leads to weight gain, so taking an olive oil shot or two daily will most likely lead to weight gain over time." "In addition, consuming that much fat on an empty stomach may lead to an upset stomach, acid reflux, bloating or loose stools," she noted.
- "I think health trends like these become popular because they're novel and go viral," Megan Meyer, Ph.D., a science communication consultant based in Durham, North Carolina, told Fox News Digital.
- "The heart health benefits are largely tied to the monounsaturated fat and polyphenols of olive oil," Meyer noted.
"Extra virgin olive oil tends to have more polyphenol content than a light-tasting olive oil that has been refined." When included in a healthy diet, olive oil can support heart health.
Additional details
- However, some health professionals disagree with the claim that shooting olive oil is a viable wellness ritual.
- Produced by plants, polyphenols can help combat oxidative stress and reduce inflammation, which can lead to a variety of health benefits, according to the National Institutes of Health.
- "Instead, I recommend enjoying olive oil as part of your meals — as an oil for sautéing foods, as a base in dressings or finish with a drizzle on soups and sauces.".
- "Taking an olive oil shot or two every day can add several hundred calories to your daily calorie consumption," Meyer said.
- Ultimately, Meyer does not recommend taking olive oil as a shot, but she supports consuming it in other forms.
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