Olive oil has long been central to Mediterranean cooking, but its profile has gone well beyond salads and sauté pans.
On TikTok, creators now treat a tablespoon of extra-virgin oil like a pre-breakfast supplement, crediting it with smoother digestion, fewer cravings and noticeably higher energy.
Nutrition researchers do agree that the oil’s monounsaturated fats and antioxidant-rich polyphenols support heart health, but the idea of drinking it straight is a more recent twist.
Those promises were intriguing enough for the writer for Women's Health Lynsey Hope to try herself.
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The first week: Harder than expected
Lynsey Hope followed a common online suggestion: two tablespoons on an empty stomach.
The flavour wasn’t unpleasant, but the sharp, peppery finish caught her off guard.
More challenging was how her stomach reacted. She felt slightly woozy after the first few mornings and found herself reaching for plain toast just to settle things down. Workouts felt heavier, too.
By day seven, the queasiness hadn’t fully faded, so she changed tack.
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The origin of the “empty stomach” rule seemed more anecdotal than evidence-based, so on day eight she took the oil after breakfast instead.
A small shift with a big difference
The effect was almost immediate. Without the morning nausea, Lynsey Hope could pay closer attention to other changes.
Her digestion felt more predictable and she stayed full longer between meals.
By the second week, she noticed her skin looking brighter, and a few friends commented on it without knowing what she was trying.
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Surprisingly, the extra calories didn’t nudge her weight up. Lynsey Hope even avoided a cold circulating at home, though that might be luck rather than olive oil.
Dietitians remind us that you don’t need to drink olive oil to benefit from it, adding it to meals works just as well.
Still, for Lynsey Hope, the quick daily shot is an easy habit to keep when mornings get rushed.
Sources: Woman's Health.
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This article is made and published by Ida-Marie Palm Varbæk, who may have used AI in the preparation.