Olive oil and lemon shots: what the evidence says

Wellness influencers on TikTok and Instagram have been posting shots of equal parts lemon juice and extra‑virgin olive oil, claiming benefits from glowing skin to improved digestion and even “detoxing.” One writer tried a tablespoon of each and found the bitter, peppery mix surprisingly easy to drink, though dietician Michelle Routhenstein cautions that the acidity and sharpness can trigger reflux for some people.

Scientific support is limited and mostly comes from the olive oil. A tablespoon of lemon supplies only about 6% of the daily vitamin C you need. Research linking the Mediterranean diet—which uses roughly four tablespoons of olive oil a day as its main fat—to about a 25% lower risk of major heart events points to olive oil’s role in heart health.

Routhenstein says that is due both to its monounsaturated fats, which help lower LDL cholesterol, and to polyphenols, plant antioxidants.

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