Can Olive Oil Shots Really Improve Your Skin and Reduce Bloating?

If you’re even a little health-conscious, you’re likely using olive oil to dress salads and roast vegetables. But some people are going further and not just eating olive oil — they’re also drinking it.

On TikTok, @byzareefa says that her daily olive oil and lemon juice shot helps her achieve healthy, glowing skin; @thejenjones says her olive oil-based “elixir” helps with lymphatic drainage, detoxification, and immunity. Extra virgin olive oil evangelist @oliveoilqueen, a new mother, claims that drinking the oil boosts her breast milk quality, postpartum skin, and energy levels.

These claims may have you wondering: Should you drink olive oil shots?

Olive oil has a plethora of health benefits.

Olive Oil and Disease Prevention

“Including olive oil in the diet has been linked to improved heart health and reduced risk of certain types of cancers, as well as promoting satiety and overall digestive health,” says Emma Laing, PhD, RDN, the director of dietetics at the University of Georgia in Athens.

Olive Oil and Nutrient Absorption

Olive Oil and Gut Health

One caveat: Although olive oil has benefits for gut health, claims that it can help reduce bloating are anecdotal. “It might work for some people, but not everyone,” Laing notes. “This is because we all don’t have the same eating pattern, nor do we have the same factors that also influence digestion — like stress, hormonal fluctuations, medications, food intolerances, and physical activity patterns.”

The scientific data doesn’t suggest that you need to throw back olive oil shots to improve your health.

“There isn’t strong research to suggest that any of the potential benefits couldn’t be achieved through incorporating olive oil into recipes, rather than drinking it straight up,” says Maddie Pasquariello, RD, a registered dietitian in Brooklyn, New York.

“If you already eat a balanced diet, it’s unlikely that you need to be adding more oil to achieve benefits for health,” says Pasquariello. “If you’re already using high-quality olive oil in your cooking, and using it in the right preparations, you’re getting the benefits.”

“Drinking small amounts of olive oil should not cause harm or elicit negative side effects for most people,” says Laing. But some might experience gastrointestinal discomfort, since consuming any unfamiliar food in excess can cause stomach distress.

If you have a health condition or you’re taking a medication that alters your absorption of dietary fat (such as a lipase inhibitor, a prescription weight loss drug), speak to your doctor before making changes to your diet, Laing adds.

Another potential concern is caloric density. “Fat sources like olive oil contain about 40 calories in a teaspoon,” says Pasquariello. “So, if total caloric intake is something you’re concerned about, then foods high in fat can be a higher source of calories.”

While dietitians don’t generally recommend drinking olive oil, there are some cases where it could be appropriate, says Kelly Kennedy, RDN, a former Everyday Health staff nutritionist.

“Olive oil shots might be helpful for those who are struggling to get enough calories each day, for instance for those undergoing cancer treatment,” she explains. “In this case, a shot could serve as a concentrated source of calories and healthy fats even when appetite is low.” (That said, the same is true of nut butters, avocado, and calorie-dense smoothies, which are generally more palatable.)

From there, the cooking possibilities are endless. “Salads, stir-fries, roasted vegetables, chicken skewers, and fish dishes are some of my favorite easy ways to enjoy olive oil,” says Pasquariello. “It’s great for raw preparations, as well as pan-frying and sautés, but wouldn’t be ideal for deep-frying or cooking at extremely high heat.”

• Olive oil provides numerous health benefits, with research suggesting it offers protection against heart disease, cancer, and dementia-related death.
• No studies have been done on whether drinking olive oil is better than eating it.
• For most people, drinking modest amounts of olive oil should have no negative side effects, but glugging too much may lead to stomach upset and people on certain medications should talk to their doctor first.

Additional reporting by Cindy Marchionda.