I Drink A Tablespoon Of Virgin Olive Oil Every Morning. Here Are The Benefits

They call it liquid gold. Olive oil has long been a staple of the Mediterranean diet, but it wasn’t until recently that we realised that not only does it make food taste better, it can make your body function better, too.

A few months ago, I started drinking a tablespoon of virgin olive oil every morning on an empty stomach. I know – it sounds a bit intense – but after hearing about all the benefits, it became the first step in my morning routine. And once I gave it some time, it became a habit I decided to keep up with, because of all the beneficial effects I was noticing.

What is olive oil?

Olive oil is a monounsaturated fat made of oleic acid, phytosterols, carotenoids, tocopherols, and polyphenols. It’s extracted from grinding the flesh of the olive fruit and then straining the liquid that comes out.

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What are the benefits of olive oil?

According to Jessica Shand, a naturopathic nutritionist, olive oil is “a prime example of a medicine food. It’s a fantastic source of monounsaturated fat called oleic acid and rich in antioxidants vitamin E, oleacein and oleocanthal which have been extensively studied and proven to have powerful anti-inflammatory effects and the ability to improve brain function, reduce inflammation [and] protect against heart disease,” says Shand. Oleocanthal in particular has anti-inflammatory benefits and has recently, according to Shand, been in the spotlight for acting similarly to a low dose of ibuprofen, and thus being used as a sustainable way to protect against common chronic inflammatory diseases.

Additionally, olive oil has been recognised for its gut health benefits. “It can activate the growth of beneficial bacteria as well as nourishing the gut lining, with studies showing it can even help relieve gut irritations such as bloating and constipation. For such a cost-effective and accessible ingredient, there are endless benefits.”

Other olive oil benefits include

Regular olive oil versus virgin olive oil: which is better?

When it comes to getting the most beneficial spoonful, reach for extra virgin olive oil. Standard variations of olive oil use heat to extract as much juice from the fruit as possible, but virgin olive oil is created using a cold-pressing process and left unrefined, which leaves all the beneficial molecules in tact.

Should you take a spoonful of olive oil everyday?

The disadvantage to this approach, according to Shand, is the taste. She suggests adding olive oil to your dishes, instead. “[To] make it a sustainable habit that sticks, drizzle extra virgin olive oil over your meals as this also boost the absorption of key fat-soluble nutrients from your food such as vitamins A, D, E and K, lycopene, and beta-carotene amplifying your meal and significantly enhancing its nutrient profile with healthy fats, anti-inflammatory compounds, and antioxidants,” she says, “helping you get even more nourishment into your body with all the benefits of the olive oil trend.”

Why take olive oil on an empty stomach in the morning?

There’s something very potent about taking a wellness shot first thing in the morning (just like taking apple cider vinegar or lemon water). In addition to all the benefits of adding olive oil to you diet generally, drinking a tablespoon in the morning on an empty stomach has special benefits:

It lines the stomach to aid with digestion
It improves intestinal transit
It regulates the intestinal microbiota
It serves as a daily shot of antioxidants and polyphenols

I wanted to try this wellness habit because I have a lot of digestive issues, like frequent acid reflux caused by stress and less-than-stellar eating habits. Within a few days, I felt as if the oil was creating a protective layer in my stomach. Within a couple of weeks, I counted fewer and fewer episodes of stomach acidity and less difficulty with digestion. Personally, I’m now all in.