Olive oil has long been known for its health benefits, but should you be swigging it back on the daily if you're looking to improve your wellness?
In recent months, drinking olive oil has become trendy. Whether it's downing shots, mixing it in your morning coffee or chugging straight from the bottle, TikTok is full of videos of celebrities and regular people touting the health benefits of olive oil shots.
Is it safe to drink olive oil, and what exactly are the benefits? Here’s what you need to know.
Several grades of olive oil are found on store shelves, from regular to extra virgin olive oil, which is commonly referred to as EVOO. EVOO is particularly superior in that it is the least processed, contains more healthy fat (unsaturated) than unhealthy fat (saturated), and is also higher in antioxidants than other types of olive oil.
Regardless of the type, olive oil is full of antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties, both of which aid your body in multiple ways, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Major health benefits include:
• Rich in antioxidants -- help protect your heart and reduce inflammation throughout your body
• Contains healthy fats -- help lower levels of LDL (or "bad") cholesterol and reduce blood pressure
• May protect against cancer -- help reduce oxidative damage due to free radicals, one of the main drivers of cancer
• Good for cardiovascular health -- help protect against atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), stroke, cardiovascular diseases and high blood pressure
• Hypothetical elixir of life -- help you live longer by keeping disease at bay
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Experts recommend taking between 1 to 4 tablespoons of EVOO per day for the health benefits, though you don't necessarily need to drink it straight. To get the true benefits, consider adding EVOO to your meals.
"Olive oil has plant compounds in it that are very beneficial for human health. I would recommend people add it to their food rather than just taking a shot of it," Liz Weinandy, lead dietitian at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, told Good Morning America.
"Many foods like tomatoes, carrots and dark leafy greens have fat soluble nutrients in them, meaning they are absorbed better with some fat," Weinandy added. "Olive oil can be that carrier to getting these nutrients into our body."
To be sure you're choosing a high-quality olive oil, the Cleveland Clinic recommends looking for one that's been tested for purity and quality and meets the standards set by the International Olive Council; it will bear the official IOC seal, which has an olive branch in front of a blue globe.
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