It’s a fact that when we are desperately trying to shed extra pounds, we literally don’t want to leave any stone unturned, even if means having copious amounts of green tea or trying out some random detox drink that’s viral on Instagram. We look for easy hacks to nudge the body into burning fat and that too quickly. Ideally, your weight loss journey should start from the kitchen, more specifically with the cooking oil. And when we think about healthy cooking oils, olive oil considered as the top choice. Over the past years, a few celebs have popularized a health trend of drinking olive oil shots first thing in the morning, but “drinking” olive oil may not be an ideal solution to lose weight! Here’s why:
What Makes Olive Oil So Good?
Olive oil is extracted from the olive fruits and is best in its cold-pressed variant. Its unrefined version, the extra virgin olive oil variety, is obtained by extracting the fresh juice out of olives without using any heat. What makes olive oil amazing is the presence of healthy fats and antioxidants in it. Olive oil is rich in monosaturated fat, which is great for heart health. Also, oleocanthal and oleuropein, the two antioxidants found in olive oil have anti-inflammatory effect, and cause weight loss by reducing inflammation in the body. Also read: “10 Foods with Healthy Fats That Help with Weight Loss.”
Since olive oil has healthy fats, it curbs your cravings for sugar and suppresses appetite also. Olive oil can boost metabolism, increase fullness after a meal. And when combined with carbs in a meal, would not cause a sharp rise in blood sugar and improve insulin response too. Insulin, as we all know, is a fat-storage promoting hormone and insulin sensitivity can help with weight loss. (How Insulin Makes you Fat and Prevents Weight Loss).
Nutraceutical Value of Olive Oil:
1. Rich in antioxidants, neutralizes harmful free radicals damaging cells.
2. Contains Omega-3 and monosaturated fatty acids for heart and body health.
3. Abundant in vitamin E, beneficial for skin, hair, and overall health.
4. Provides essential nutrients like vitamin K, calcium, potassium, squalene, polyphenols, and more.
So, Can You Actually Drink Olive Oil To Boost Weight Loss?
There’s no doubt about the health benefits associated with the inclusion of olive oil into daily diet, particularly when it is replacing your regular cooking oil. But as with any healthy food, moderation is the key with olive oil because it is a still calorie-dense ingredient (there are 120 calories in just 1 tbsp of olive oil!) Drizzling extra virgin oil on top of your salad or using minimal amount of this healthy oil in cooking will help you reap the benefits associated with this ingredient. Limit consumption to 1-1/2 tbsp per day while trying to lose weight, but beyond that, you would be just adding more calories to your diet, which can lead to weight gain instead. So, drinking lots of olive oil will not help you shed oodles of weight because it’s not a silver bullet that will burn all the fat away on its own. (Also read: “14 Healthy Weight Loss Morning Drinks to Burn Fat.” ) Being in a calorie deficit by following healthy diet plans on the Rati Beauty diet and getting physically active will do the magic. Furthermore, on the Rati Beauty diet plans, you’ll gain insights into the right method of using olive oil to help you lose those extra kgs. To access personalized weight loss meal plans, be sure to subscribe to the Rati Beauty app.
10 Foods with Healthy Fats That Help With Weight Loss
14 Healthy Weight Loss Morning Drinks to Burn Fat
