11 Health Benefits Of Drinking Olive Oil And Lemon Juice

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Olive oil and lemon juice sound like a delicious salad dressing but it’s also a powerful concoction that can benefit your health. Many people don’t realize just how healthy a combination this is and the benefits of adding it to your daily routine. The health benefits of drinking olive oil and lemon juice can help you lose weight, detoxify your body, protect against illness and improve skin tone1.

In the Mediterranean diet pure authentic olive oil and lemon juice play an important role. Olives are native to the Mediterranean region. It was one of the first cultivated fruits. Olive oil is monosaturated fat, so it has many health benefits. While citrus fruits like lemon are loaded with vitamin c and other healthy nutrients2.  

There’s plenty of scientific evidence detailing the numerous health benefits of pure authentic olive oil. The nutritional qualities of extra virgin olive oil include monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA’s) and polyphenols. Both are important aspects of the Mediterranean diet. Nearly 80 percent of the fat in extra virgin olive oil is MUFA3.

Related: 7 Reasons to Put Olive Oil in your Belly Button For Weight Loss

While there are plenty of scientific studies on the benefits of lemon. In ancient times, people who lived in the Mediterranean region often used lemon juice as a salad dressing. Citric acid gives lemons their sour taste, but it is also the kinds of vitamins minerals, and antioxidants that you need to stay healthy. Lemons also contain a compound called limonene, which has been shown to kill cancer cells and prevent them from growing4.  

This Mediterranean drink is a simple and delicious way to improve your health. If you are looking for a way to cultivate good health starting with a spoonful of olive oil with a mixture of lemon juice on an empty stomach could be an easy step in the right direction.

Here are 11 health benefits of drinking olive oil and lemon juice:

1. Increases Metabolism

Drinking a mixture of lemon juice and olive oil will stimulate the hormones that tell your body to burn fat, rather than store it. The insulin levels in your body also decrease which tells the body to use sugar as energy rather than storing it as fat.  Monounsaturated fats in olive oil will also help your body to burn more calories throughout the day5.

Related: Drinking This Apple Cider Vinegar Mix Every Morning Could Give Your Metabolism a Boost

2. Weight Loss

Drinking olive oil and lemon juice can help you lose weight because your body’s metabolism increases, leading to increased energy6. This increased energy leads to more physical activity which will burn excess calories that are stored as fat. You can replace one meal with the mixture or use it as a salad dressing by adding extra virgin olive oil to your existing diet.

3. Detoxifies Cells

Olive oil and lemon juice are rich in antioxidants that detoxify cells in the body by cleansing the blood of toxins that cause heart disease, cancer, arthritis, and other diseases.   The antioxidants found in this mixture also destroy any free radicals that damage cells throughout the body which causes aging7.

4. Good for Heart

The benefits of drinking olive oil and lemon juice are good for the heart because it helps to lower blood pressure, cholesterol levels (the bad cholesterol), and triglycerides while increasing HDL levels (good cholesterol). The antioxidants in olive oil and lemon juice protect against plaque build-up in the arteries that cause atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes8. This reduces the risk of heart disease, improves blood circulation, and even improves blood sugar levels.

5. Prevents Cancer

Olive oil and lemon juice are rich in antioxidants that defend against cancer-causing free radicals that can damage cells throughout the body. The antioxidants found in this mixture protect against cancer by cleansing the blood, boosting metabolism, and enhancing liver function to flush out toxins from the body. These substances also destroy mutated cells that could turn into cancer9.

6. Regulates Digestive System

The benefits of drinking olive oil and lemon juice regulate the digestive system by stimulating gastric juices that aid in a more effective breakdown of food while increasing metabolism, which will decrease obesity and the chance of stomach ulcers. When metabolism increases so do energy levels which lead to more physical activity for increased weight loss results10.   

Oxidative stress in the body can result in inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and irritable bowel syndrome.  Olive oil and lemon juice can be used as a natural remedy to help reduce inflammation of the digestive tract.

Related: 7 Ways to Boost Digestion You Never Knew Existed + [Video]

7. Contains Nutrients

Olive oil and lemon juice contain a powerful mixture of dietary fiber, minerals, vitamins, and phytonutrients that promote healthy skin tone.  The vitamin C from the lemon juice is especially potent because it can penetrate deep into our tissues where collagen is formed for the growth of new cells. Vitamin C is also included in this drink for collagen formation and protection against chronic diseases11.  The seeds in the lemon when ingested help to regulate bowel movements while providing a rich source of fiber that can also protect against cancer. The oil in this mixture coats the colon which makes it an effective treatment for diarrhea and stomach upsets due to its anti-inflammatory properties.  

8. Boosts The Immune System

Olive oil and lemon juice are rich in vitamin C which boosts the immune system to help fight against infections, viruses, fungi, bacteria, and other common diseases.  The antioxidants in the mixture also destroy free radicals that cause illness by destroying mutated cells throughout the body12.   

9. Improves Skin

Clear skin starts from within. The oleic acid and vitamin e in olive oil and lemon juice protect against sun damage, boost collagen production in the skin for a youthful appearance, and help to prevent acne13.  The antioxidants in the mixture detoxify the cells of your body which will cleanse your pores of dirt and oil that can cause pimples. The vitamin C from the lemon juice also brightens skin for a healthy glow.  Monounsaturated fatty acids present in olive oil can also penetrate deep through the skin to strengthen collagen fibers to reduce wrinkles.

10. Prevents Inflammation

Olive oil and lemon juice are effective for reducing inflammation in chronic conditions such as arthritis, asthma, allergies, high blood pressure, Crohn’s disease, diabetes, migraines, joint pain, etc.  The antioxidants in the mixture protect against free radicals which cause swelling in joints and other tissues14.  

Monounsaturated fatty acids also decrease inflammation by suppressing the immune system and reducing blood flow to reduce swelling, redness, and pain. Polyunsaturated fatty acids from the lemon juice also have anti-inflammatory properties.  The antioxidants from both ingredients will fight against swelling and pain by neutralizing the free radicals and reducing oxidative stress in the body.

11. Reduces Risk of Kidney Stones

Drinking olive oil and lemon juice can reduce the risk of kidney stones because it promotes a healthy digestive system.  This mixture helps to eliminate waste and toxins from the body to prevent kidney stones. The antioxidant properties also protect against the development of kidney stones by reducing inflammation and preventing calcium deposits in the kidneys.

12. Boosts Energy and Mood

Olive oil and lemon juice improve energy levels and increase metabolism which reduces obesity and boosts energy for a more active lifestyle.  All of the nutrients in these two ingredients can also reduce symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and depression.  Olive oil contains oleic acid which is known to stimulate the central nervous system.   

 Vitamin C in lemon juice has also been shown to reduce symptoms of depression, inflammation, and fatigue.

13. Increases Longevity

Olive oil and lemon juice contain powerful antioxidants that fight against free radicals which damage cells throughout the body leading to chronic diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, and obesity.  The vitamins and minerals in the mixture also protect against DNA damage that causes cells to mutate into cancer cells.   

Antioxidants from lemon juice also detoxify the liver and gallbladder to remove toxins from your body. Regular consumption of this mixture can boost your health by improving blood flow throughout the body and protecting against chronic diseases.

Daily consumption of olive oil and lemon juice will provide a range of beneficial effects. This mixture can serve as a natural laxative when taken with warm water on a regular basis.

To reap the health benefits of drinking olive oil and lemon juice it’s best to drink this natural remedy first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.

In a tall glass of water, add the juice from half a lemon and two tablespoons of olive oil. Stir in honey to taste if needed. Refrigerate any leftover mixture and drink it the following day.

To increase absorption of nutrients from this mixture, follow with a source of healthy fats such as a spoonful of avocado or almond butter. The key to improving your overall health is through a healthy diet and exercise.