Let's do shots...of olive oil and lemon juice?

With over two decades in the fitness industry, I’ve seen lots of wellness trends burst onto the scene and fade just as quickly. One of these trends was wheat grass.

Advocates said detoxification, improved digestion, increased energy, and immune support were benefits of drinking wheatgrass shots. As with many of these trends, there was little scientific support for the claims.

A gym I worked for had a juice bar, and when they began selling the shots, business was very good. Just like a tequila shot, customers put the small cup of the elixir to their lips, threw their heads back, and quickly gulped it down. With every customer I observed, the pained expression on their faces made any interest I had in wheat grass disappear. Clearly, this stuff tasted horrific, and before long, sales cratered.

Now, a new concoction in a shot glass is all the rage on TikTok and Instagram—olive oil with lemon juice.

Enthusiastically, influencers claim that daily shots of the oil-and-juice combo, much like its wheat grass predecessor, can improve digestion and detoxify the body. Causing the most excitement, however, is the claim that they help make skin healthy and glowing.

The health benefits of olive oil and the Mediterranean Diet are numerous. It contains many antioxidants, reduces bad cholesterol, keeps arteries flexible, and lowers the risk of heart attack and stroke by 25%.

Regarding digestion, research shows that extra-virgin olive oil helps improve constipation, and some studies indicate lemon juice increases gastric juice production, which helps break down food.

But what about the radiant skin? While the Mediterranean Diet may help improve inflammatory conditions like acne, dermatologist Dr. Lauren Kole says that may have more to do with what the diet cuts out, specifically sugary, starchy, and processed foods. She says there’s little scientific support for the claim that specific dietary additions can improve skin health.

For maximum health benefits, dietitian Michelle Routhenstein recommends pouring the shot over a salad. The fat-soluble antioxidants in green leafy vegetables are better absorbed by the body when olive oil is added, and the Vitamin C in lemon juice supports iron absorption from foods like tomatoes and kale.

That said, if doing shots is your thing, it seems to be a low-risk wellness trend with some science-supported perks. However, individuals with gallbladder issues and certain digestive conditions, like Crohn’s disease, might struggle to process the oil effectively.

Personally, I’ll continue drizzling the oil and juice on my veggies and pass on digging into my old shot glass collection.