Oil be there for you?
TikTokers are claiming that taking a shot of olive oil before a night of drinking can prevent a hangover, but some health specialists are less than im-pressed with the smooth move.
The slick suggestion has been around for decades — it gained steam in April when music producer Benny Blanco, 36, tested it out with Jimmy Fallon, 49, on “The Tonight Show.”
“My friend Nino taught me this. These old guys from Italy came in. They said, ‘Before you drink, you take a shot of this, you can’t get hungover. Impossible,’” Blanco explained to Fallon before taking a swig of red wine at a steak dinner.
Blanco has inspired influencers to give the greasy guidance a shot, with one proclaiming, “Worst shot ever? yes. did it work? yes. will i do it again? maybe.”
The thinking behind the Mediterranean myth is that olive oil — which is rich in healthy monounsaturated fatty acids — coats the stomach. Fatty foods can slow the process of the stomach emptying into the small intestine and delay the absorption of alcohol.
Around 20% of alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream via the stomach, while the rest is passed into the small intestine, where it is absorbed faster.
The Association of UK Dietitians pooh-poohed the gut gimmick in a blog post last year, arguing that, “biologically speaking, there is no such thing as ‘lining your stomach.’ If there is any effect, it is through slowing your stomach emptying.”
And a pair of registered dietitians told People in May that staying hydrated with water, coconut water or electrolyte drinks is the best way to prevent a hangover.
But Dr. Myro Figura, a Los Angeles anesthesiologist, is not dismissing the olive pit-ch out of hand.
“There’s no real evidence to show that this actually makes your hangover any better, but olive oil has a ton of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, so why not, I say?” Figura mused on TikTok this week.
A Cleveland Clinic registered dietitian recommends consuming 1 to 4 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil a day, noting that it has been shown to decrease inflammation, lower the risk of heart disease and protect against cancer.
“All forms of olive oil are good for us,” registered dietitian Julia Zumpano said, “but extra virgin olive oil isn’t heated or altered by temperature or any chemicals. It’s the closest thing to the pressing of fresh oil.”
