Morning drink Hailey Bieber and Kourtney Kardashian swear by is 'snake oil', expert says
Some of the most famous women in the world are routinely guzzling inexpensive morning health shots with experts weighing in on the latest wellness trend.
Celebrities have been known to conduct weird and wonderful rituals in the name of wellbeing.
Music producer Benny Blanco recently embarked on an all-pizza diet in an effort to cut his weight down; Gwenyth Paltrow tends to swap diced arugula for dairy in her meatballs, and celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay admitted to employing a two-mouthful rule to stay lean.
Kourtney Kardashian and Hailey Bieber both subscribe to a morning shot, among other health and fitness favourites—and the drink is relatively easy to replicate.
Advert
Every morning, the Rhode Beauty founder, 29, said she likes to have a shot of olive oil and lemon, claiming it helps ‘coat the gut’.
“It really does work,” she informed Time Magazine. “That’s been in my morning musts without fail for like the last few months.”
Kardashian is also a fan of the olive oil shot, with the reality star claiming to slurp down a tablespoon every other morning.
“It’s recommended to consume in the morning on an empty stomach so the oil can coat your system and neutralize your stomach walls for optimal benefits,” the 47-year-old’s brand, Poosh, attested.
BTS icon Jimin has also been spotted enjoying the shot in the band’s Netflix documentary, The Return, directed by Bao Nguyen, according to beauty expert and social media influencer Anna Lee.
What experts think of olive oil and lemon juice trend
If you want to make like Bieber, Kardashian, and Jimin and start including olive oil and lemon shots in your diet, then good news: the wellness drink could not be easier to replicate.
Simply combine a tablespoon of your favourite olive oil and fresh lemon juice from half a lemon.
It’s designed to drink first thing on an empty stomach, with alleged results including improved digestion, reduced sugar cravings, and clearer skin.
However, not all experts are convinced by the health claims, with Dr. Jaishree Sharad, cosmetic dermatologist and founder and medical director of Skinfiniti Aesthetic & Laser Clinic, likening the health shot to ‘snake oil’.
“A daily tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil can absolutely be part of a healthy diet, but the skin benefits are being oversold,” agreed Healther D. Rogers, a Seattle-based procedural dermatologist.
She told Women’s Health Magazine thatt here is ‘no evidence that taking a daily shot of olive oil, by itself, will noticeably improve the skin’.
So, we should probably take those clear skin claims with a pinch of salt.
Benefits of consuming olive oil and lemon juice
Olive oil
However, that’s not to say that olive oil and lemon juice don’t carry some sort of health benefit.
Women’s health expert Dr Navya Mysore told Women’s Health Magazine that olive oil containing polyphenols, a type of antioxidant that has anti-inflammatory properties, has many health benefits.
This includes lowering ‘bad’ cholesterol in the body, supporting memory, lowering the risk of neurodegenerative conditions, and improving insulin sensitivity, lowering the risk of type-2 diabetes.
If you don’t fancy throwing it back like Bieber, then pour it over your afternoon salad, says dietitian Dana White.
“Something like [olive oil] helps you absorb fat-soluble vitamins, so if you were to drizzle that or use it in a vinaigrette, it’s going to help you absorb the fat-soluble vitamins in those ingredients,” she informed the publication.
Lemon juice
Lemon juice is not only an excellent source of vitamin C, but it supports heart health, prevents kidney stones, and may even protect against anemia, according to Healthline.
A few drops in the morning can also strengthen cells, boost collagen production, and help the body absorb iron, Dawn Menning, program director for digital health at Nutu App told Prevention.
However, lemon does come with some side effects, including weakened tooth enamel and acid reflux.
It’s important to remmeber that while olive oil and lemon shots may be popular with your favourite celebrities, its not a ‘magical detox solution’.
Instead, experts advise focusing on overall nutrition, engaging in physical activity, and making healthier choices each and every day.
Ella Scott