{"id":898840,"date":"2026-09-17T06:12:21","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T06:12:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/898840\/"},"modified":"2026-09-17T06:12:21","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T06:12:21","slug":"at-42-angela-scanlons-morning-nutrition-habit-can-reduce-inflammation-and-improve-heart-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/898840\/","title":{"rendered":"At 42, Angela Scanlon\u2019s morning nutrition habit can reduce inflammation and improve heart health"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s not just Hailey Bieber<\/a> that takes a shot of shot of olive oil<\/a> with lemon every morning \u2013 television presenter Angela Scanlon<\/a> admitted on the latest episode of the foodie podcast, Dish<\/a>, that she too \u2018glugs\u2019 a shot of olive oil \u2018down the hatch in the morning\u2019.<\/p>\n

And they\u2019re not the only ones. Kourtney Kardashian routinely drinks a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil when she wakes up, according to her site, Poosh<\/a>. Gwyneth Paltrow\u2019s Goop has promoted the practice on its socials<\/a>. And, a Beyonc\u00e9-backed wellness company sells a $68 bottle of the stuff<\/a> that comes with its own shot glass.<\/p>\n

\u2018Sometimes I’ll do it with lemon, or mix it with lemon, but then I kind of think in hindsight that might be a little curdl-y,\u2019 Scanlon tells podcast hosts Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett OBE.<\/p>\n

As for why she\u2019s gulping down a daily shot of olive oil, Scanlon doesn\u2019t give a specific reason \u2013 and notably, she makes no claims about it helping with weight loss, digestion, skin or immunity. She simply describes it as part of her morning routine. <\/p>\n

When the conversation turns to lemon water, Scanlon says she thinks she\u2019s \u2018a bit intolerant to lemon\u2019 because it makes her \u2018break out\u2019, although she adds: \u2018You can\u2019t duck and dive and swerve lemon. Like, what is life without it?\u2019<\/p>\n

So, is the celeb-loved trend worth the hype? Should we update the old saying to \u2018a shot of olive oil a day keeps the doctor away\u2019?<\/p>\n

To get to the bottom of it, we tapped experts to learn more. Below, they share whether the olive oil shot trend actually works and how you can incorporate a healthy dose of olive oil into your everyday diet. <\/p>\n

\"angela<\/p>\n

Aleksei Vel.<\/p>\n

Is a daily shot of olive oil good for you?<\/p>\n

Olive oil does have some pretty legit health benefits, experts agree. It\u2019s a staple in the Mediterranean diet, which is consistently touted as one of the healthiest diets, linked with heart health, brain health, and longevity.<\/p>\n

In addition to olive oil, the Med diet emphasises foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and fish while cutting down on highly processed foods and added sugar, explains women\u2019s health expert Dr Navya Mysore<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As for olive oil itself, it doesn\u2019t actually matter how you consume the liquid. \u2018You aren\u2019t necessarily getting any added benefit by taking it as a shot,\u2019 she says. No matter how you consume it, these are the benefits you\u2019re getting.<\/p>\n

It may help reduce inflammation<\/p>\n

Olives \u2013 and olive oil \u2013 are packed with antioxidants, which are compounds that help protect cells from damage, Dr Mysore says. Specifically, they contain polyphenols, a type of antioxidant that has anti-inflammatory properties. \u2018Extra-virgin olive oil is particularly rich in polyphenols, which contribute to both its peppery, or slightly bitter taste, and many of its health benefits,\u2019 Dr Mysore says.<\/p>\n

A 2021 study<\/a> found that olive polyphenols contain a host of benefits, such as counteracting ageing and protecting against neurodegeneration, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, and even cancer.<\/p>\n

Moreover, a 2025 study<\/a> found that consuming extra-virgin olive oil not only has strong anti-inflammatory properties, but also modulates gut and oral microbiota, demonstrating a prebiotic effect.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s good for your heart<\/p>\n

More than that, olive oil is excellent for heart health. Olive oil lowers LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, says dietitian Dana White<\/a>. A quick lowdown on the two kinds of cholesterol<\/a>: LDL cholesterol, or \u2018bad\u2019 cholesterol, contributes to fatty buildup in your arteries and heart, while HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, or \u2018good\u2019 cholesterol, takes that LDL away from your arteries and back into the liver, where it can properly be broken up and disposed of.<\/p>\n

According to a 2022 study originally published in the British Journal of Nutrition<\/a>, extra-virgin olive oil polyphenols can improve HDL function, allowing the good guy of cholesterol to do its job better. Plus, another study published in 2025<\/a> echoed similar findings, concluding that a diet high in extra-virgin olive oil, such as the Mediterranean diet, correlates with healthy arteries and a reduced risk of cardiovascular events.<\/p>\n

It, uh, could help get things moving, too<\/p>\n

In Hailey Bieber\u2019s video with Time, she claimed a shot of olive oil each morning helps \u2018[coat] your gut,\u2019 getting the digestive tract started on the right foot.<\/p>\n

While Dr Mysore says olive oil can potentially help get things moving down there, the jury is still out on whether it\u2019s because it\u2019s actually coating the gut or because the high fat content helps trigger a bowel movement \u2013 but it\u2019s looking like the latter. White says, \u2018the \u201ccoating your gut\u201d thing makes absolutely no scientific sense at all.\u2019<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s unclear if olive oil actually helps your skin<\/p>\n

Many celebs \u2013 Bieber included \u2013 have touted olive oil for its skin care benefits, but the science there is a little murkier. \u2018A daily tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil can absolutely be part of a healthy diet, but the skin benefits are being oversold,\u2019 says Heather D. Rogers<\/a>, a Seattle-based procedural dermatologist and owner of Modern Dermatology.<\/p>\n

While olive oil does have many health perks thanks to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, \u2018there\u2019s no evidence that taking a daily shot of olive oil, by itself, will noticeably improve the skin,\u2019 she says. That said, we know olive oil can be an important part of a healthy diet, and \u2018healthier bodies do often have healthier skin,\u2019 she adds.<\/p>\n

How to incorporate olive oil into your daily routine<\/p>\n

If you want to try the olive oil shot trend, Dr Mysore says there\u2019s no harm in doing so \u2013 with a couple of caveats. If you\u2019re prone to nausea<\/a>, frequently experience acid reflux<\/a>, have gallbladder disease, or are pregnant<\/a>, a shot of olive oil could cause some discomfort or exacerbate the condition. But \u2018if you\u2019re otherwise healthy and you want to give it a try, I don\u2019t think there\u2019s any harm in it,\u2019 Dr Mysore says.<\/p>\n

Experts agree that an easier (and just as effective) alternative to the olive oil shot trend is simply incorporating olive oil into your daily diet. The best way, White says, is to eat it raw, like poured over a salad or on hummus. \u2018Something like [olive oil] helps you absorb fat-soluble vitamins, so if you were to drizzle that or use it in a vinaigrette, it\u2019s going to help you absorb the fat-soluble vitamins in those ingredients,\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n

Cooking, roasting, and saut\u00e9ing with it is great, too, as long as you don\u2019t burn the oil, which could compromise some of those nutrients or contribute to a bitter taste, adds White.<\/p>\n

No matter how you do it, here are a few things to keep in mind:<\/p>\n

The amount of olive oil you should consume per day depends on your own caloric intake and goals<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re wondering how much olive oil you need to reap its health benefits, experts say there\u2019s really no one-size-fits-all recommendation. Dr Mysore suggests a good ballpark to aim for is one to two tablespoons per day, but still, it depends on your overall calorie needs, eating habits, and personal preferences.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also worth keeping portion sizes in mind. Each tablespoon of olive oil roughly contains 120 calories, says White. Because it\u2019s calorie-dense, the amount that makes sense for you will depend on your broader nutrition goals.<\/p>\n

\u2018Something to keep in mind is that olive oil has a lot of concentrated calories,\u2019 she explains. \u2018That\u2019s not good or bad. If it\u2019s leading to an excessive consumption of calories, then that could mean you\u2019re adding some extra calories and potentially some weight gain you\u2019re not looking for, versus sometimes people that are actually trying to seek out more calories, adding more olive oil to something is actually a good way to do that.\u2019<\/p>\n

Store it in a cool, dark place<\/p>\n

To help preserve your olive oil\u2019s flavour and quality, keep it in a cool spot away from direct sunlight, says White. A cabinet or pantry is ideal \u2013 just make sure it\u2019s not too close to your stovetop or other heat sources, which can cause the oil to deteriorate more quickly.<\/p>\n

On that same wavelength, it\u2019s ideal to store your olive oil in a darker-colored bottle to protect it from light exposure.<\/p>\n

Quality matters<\/p>\n

The fresher, the better. In the grocery aisle, look for a bottle with a recent harvest date, says Dr Mysore. \u2018Labels such as \u201cextra-virgin\u201d and \u201ccold-pressed\u201d can also be helpful, since these oils undergo less processing and tend to retain more of their beneficial compounds,\u2019 she adds.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll also want to pay attention to flavour and colour. According to White, darker, richer-flavoured olive oils tend to contain higher levels of antioxidants than lighter varieties.<\/p>\n