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If anyone were to give Gwyneth Paltrow a run for her well-earned wellness credentials, it’s Hailey Bieber.
Often seen going to and from Pilates, and open about her fondness for rituals like lymphatic drainage massage and facial icing, Hailey’s love of health optimisation is well-known. It’s with this in mind that Time magazine recently asked the Rhode founder about her three “morning musts”.
Hailey Bieber has said she loves having a shot of olive oil and lemon at the start of every morning. Getty Images for Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
One of them, she said, was having olive oil and lemon first thing in the morning. “A shot of olive oil and lemon has been my morning must, without fail, for the last few months,” Hailey enthused, before citing the supposed health benefits of such a practice. “It helps coat the gut, I think it’s a good detox.”
Is it, though?
Numerous studies have demonstrated the health benefits of olive oil. One 2020 La Trobe University study found that consuming two to three tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil daily can have important health benefits, especially for the cardiovascular system.
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Lemon is similarly healthy, rich in vitamin C, and its acidic qualities have been proven to be beneficial for digestion.
These foods are good for you, just not in the way Hailey says.
“Olive oil doesn’t coat the gut as it is a digestible fat (rich in monounsaturated fats) and will be digested by enzymes in the stomach, duodenum and the small intestine and supply energy,” says Professor Catherine Itsiopoulos, deputy vice-chancellor STEM College at RMIT University, who has been researching olive oil for over two decades. “One shot of olive oil and lemon juice is not a magic bullet.”
Likewise, this won’t cleanse you.
“The idea that specific foods or drinks can ‘detox’ the body isn’t supported by evidence,” says Danielle Shine, a dietitian and nutritionist from the University of Canberra. “In otherwise healthy individuals, the body already has highly effective detoxification systems, primarily the liver and kidneys, which continuously process and eliminate waste and metabolic by-products without the need for special foods, juices or supplements.”
Opt for a drizzle of olive oil and lemon over a salad, or incorporate it into a well-balanced meal, before you resort to shotting it. iStock
In fact, drinking olive oil and lemon together doesn’t make best use of their beneficial qualities, says nutritionist and co-founder of Vitality360 Amelia Phillips.
“When we combine olive oil with foods, it’s almost like getting a double benefit because you’re not only benefiting from the extra virgin olive oil, but they’re helping release antioxidants from the foods that you’re eating, particularly things like tomatoes and leafy greens,” Phillips says.
“I would much rather you drizzle that shot glass of olive oil and the lemon juice as a salad dressing later on in the day.”
This method is also at risk of causing physical issues too, says Associate Professor Tom Karagiannis, head of the EpiMed Lab Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute. “Apart from being unpalatable, in many people it can cause gastrointestinal discomfort, which can include embarrassing oily bowel movements,” he says.
“It is also worth remembering that olive oil is highly energy dense. A well-balanced breakfast, perhaps with some protein, could be a better idea.”
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