Is oil there for you?
TikTokers claim you can prevent a hangover by taking a shot of olive oil before a night of drinking, but some health experts aren’t so impressed with the gentle approach.
The slick proposal has been around for decades and received widespread acclaim in April when music producer Benny Blanco, 36, tried it out with Jimmy Fallon, 49, on “The Tonight Show.”
“My friend Nino taught me this. These old guys from Italy would come in. They’d say, ‘Before you drink, take a shot of this, you can’t have a hangover. Impossible,’” Blanco explained to Fallon before sipping red wine over a steak dinner.
Blanco has inspired influencers to give the bold tip a try, with one exclaiming: “Worst attempt ever? Yes. Did it work? Yes. Should I do it again? Maybe.”
The idea behind the Mediterranean myth is that olive oil — which is rich in healthy monounsaturated fats — coats the stomach. Fatty foods can slow the process of emptying the stomach into the small intestine and slow the absorption of alcohol.
About 20% of alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream through the stomach, the rest enters the small intestine, where it is absorbed more quickly.
The Association of UK Dietitians ridiculed the gut gimmick in a blog post last year, stating that ‘biologically speaking, there is no such thing as ‘lining your stomach’. If there is any effect, it is by delaying stomach emptying.’
Two registered dietitians told People in May that staying hydrated with water, coconut water or electrolyte drinks is the best way to avoid a hangover.
But Los Angeles anesthesiologist Dr. Myro Figura doesn’t dismiss the olive pit problem out of hand.
“There’s no real evidence that this will actually help your hangover, but olive oil has a ton of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, so why not, I say?” Figura mused on TikTok this week.
A registered dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic recommends consuming 1 to 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil daily. Studies have shown that it reduces inflammation, lowers the risk of heart disease and protects against cancer.
“All forms of olive oil are good for us,” said registered dietitian Julia Zumpano, “but extra virgin olive oil is not heated or altered by temperature or chemicals. It is the closest thing to pressing fresh oil.”