Mixing two of nature‘s golden elixirs – extra virgin olive oil and raw honey – together and letting them sit overnight creates a health potion that can transform your life. I‘m not exaggerating when I say this simple preparation can improve digestion, immunity, heart health, and even help prevent chronic diseases down the line.
As an integrative nutrition health coach, I‘ve seen many fad diets and "superfoods" come and go. But the dynamic duo of olive oil and honey stands the test of time. Modern scientific research continues to unlock the astounding health properties of these ancient pantry staples. And consuming them together magnifies the benefits exponentially.
So why does letting them sit together overnight have such a powerful effect? And what can you expect by drinking this mixture first thing in the morning? Read on to learn the science-backed reasons to try olive oil and honey before breakfast.
Why Overnight Olive Oil and Honey is a Game Changer
On their own, extra virgin olive oil and raw honey have well-established health properties. Olive oil contains beneficial compounds like oleic acid, antioxidants, vitamin E, and more. Honey bustles with enzymes, nutrients, and antimicrobial components.
But the synergy they create when combined and allowed to interact amplifies their individually effects.
Here‘s a look at what happens when these two ingredients meet:
Powerful antioxidants are formed. As the oil and honey sit, antioxidants form through the Maillard reaction. These newly formed antioxidants are even more potent than the natural ones found in honey and olive oil. They help reduce inflammation and oxidative damage linked to chronic diseases.
Nutrients are better absorbed. The viscosity of honey helps the nutrients in olive oil be better absorbed compared to consuming olive oil alone. This means your body can readily take in all those healthy fatty acids and antioxidants.
Toxins and free radicals get neutralized. Both ingredients contain compounds that neutralize toxins and cell-damaging free radicals in the body. Working together, their cleansing and anti-aging effects are amplified.
Medicinal properties intensify. Olive oil‘s medicinal properties team up with those found in honey, like antibiotic, antiseptic, and antimicrobial effects. This makes their germ-fighting and immune-boosting powers even more formidable.
Texture and taste improve. Leaving them overnight lets the texture and flavors meld alchemically. The sharpness mellows out while the sweetness brightens. The end result is a smooth, rich elixir that makes for an enjoyable daily tonic.
Clearly, magic happens when olive oil meets honey! This simple pantry preparation can transform not just your mornings, but also your long-term health, energy levels, and vitality.
Top 5 Scientifically-Proven Benefits of Overnight Olive Oil and Honey
Here‘s an in-depth look at the top research-backed health benefits obtained from mixing extra virgin olive oil with honey and consuming it first thing in the morning:
1. Boosts Weight Loss
Olive oil contains a beneficial fatty acid called oleic acid that has been shown to help burn excess fat. Multiple studies confirm that it specifically helps melt away dangerous visceral fat accumulation in the abdomen, sides, and buttocks area.
Oleic acid also helps regulate hunger hormones. It stimulates hormones like peptide YY that reduce appetite and make you feel full. Meanwhile, it lowers production of the hunger hormone known as ghrelin. In this way, just a spoonful of olive oil and honey before breakfast helps effortlessly curb overeating all day long.
On top of that, starting your day with some healthy fats and sweetness keeps blood sugar balanced. This prevents the energy crashes, cravings, and fat storage that can result from big, carbohydrate-heavy meals later on.
In fact, a study published in the Scientific Reports journal found that having oleic acid at breakfast leads to significant weight loss compared to skipping breakfast or eating carbs and protein alone. After 12 weeks, overweight participants who had oleic acid at breakfast lost an average of over 5 pounds without intentionally restricting their diet or exercise.
2. Protects Against Alzheimer‘s and Enhances Brain Power
The healthy fats and antioxidants in extra virgin olive oil are very brain-friendly. Studies demonstrate that oleic acid helps form strong connections between brain cells for better memory and cognition. Olive oil also contains compounds that prevent the accumulation of plaque and tangles typical of Alzheimer‘s disease.
Meanwhile, raw honey contains unique carbohydrates that give your brain an energizing lift. Within minutes of eating honey, your body converts these carbs into glucose utilized for increased mental focus, memory retrieval, problem-solving skills, and sharpness. The potassium and magnesium in honey also help nerves communicate and prevent anxiety and depression.
Starting your day with the powerful brain fuel in olive oil and honey pays off in the long run too. Together they fight inflammation and oxidative damage linked to dementia and cognitive decline. So a daily dose protects your mental clarity and quick thinking well into old age.
3. Strengthens the Immune System
Honey possesses potent antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antiseptic properties that defend against germs. Its effectiveness comes from hydrogen peroxide released slowly upon digestion. Olive oil also fights harmful bacteria while increasing populations of beneficial microbes.
When combined overnight, these germ-busting powers team up to supercharge your immune defense and prevent infectious illnesses like colds, flus, and food poisoning.
On top of antibacterial effects, olive oil and honey deliver key nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants your immune cells need to function optimally. Consuming them daily provides strength and resilience against foreign invaders you encounter. So you get fewer sick days and recover faster if something does knock you down.
4. Improves Heart Health
The Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil correlates to lower rates of cardiovascular disease. Credible large-scale trails like PREDIMED provide strong evidence that it protects blood vessels and improves risk factors for heart attack and stroke.
Raw honey also boosts heart health thanks to compounds that reduce inflammation in arteries, regulate cholesterol levels, and improve blood flow. paired with olive oil’s ability to lower blood pressure and harmful LDL while raising protective HDL, honey maximizes these cardioprotective effects.
Together they keep blood fluid, prevent dangerous atherosclerotic plaque build-up, and ensure vital oxygen and nutrients reach your entire body – especially your heart. Starting your day with olive oil and honey truly sets you up for lifelong cardiovascular wellness.
5. Fights Cancer
Extra virgin olive oil contains powerful antioxidants like oleocanthal that inhibit cancer cell growth, prevent DNA damage, and trigger programmed cancer cell death (apoptosis). Multiple studies show it protects against breast, colon, skin, prostate and other common cancer types.
The antioxidants in raw honey like chrysin battle cancer as well by seeking and eliminating free radicals before they can harm DNA. Honey also contains protective phenolic compounds generally lacking in processed honeys. So be sure to use raw, unfiltered versions to get the full anti-cancer protection.
By combining extra virgin olive oil with raw honey, their mechanisms work together to hinder cancer cell proliferation and migration. Consumed daily, this simple morning elixir provides firewall-like protection against one of the biggest health threats we face.
There you have it – the top 5 researched-backed ways that enjoying olive oil and honey daily can vastly improve your wellbeing in both the short and long-term. From easy weight loss and brain boosts to fortifying your body against chronic and infectious illness, this overnight mixture truly earns gold stars all around.
How to Prepare Olive Oil and Honey for Maximum Results
Getting the most from olive oil and honey’s synergistic health benefits depends greatly on using high quality ingredients and proper preparation methods. Here are some tips:
Choose extra virgin olive oil – This unrefined grade retains the highest concentration of health enhancing fatty acids like oleic acid and polyphenol antioxidants. Check for a harvest date less than 12-18 months from purchase.
Use raw, unfiltered honey – This preserves beneficial enzymes and phytonutrient compounds lacking in commercial filtered honeys. Manuka honey adds even more antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing bonuses.
Mix in a non-reactive, opaque container – Glass, ceramic, or stainless steel work best. Make sure your container blocks light, which degrades olive oil‘s nutrients.
Combine and let sit overnight (at least 7-8 hours) – This gives time for powerful antioxidant compounds to form, textures to meld, and flavors to blend.
Aim for a 3:1 ratio of olive oil to honey – This strikes the right balance of health benefits from each ingredient. Start with maybe 1-2 Tbsp olive oil and 1 tsp honey.
Drink in the morning before eating – Have it first thing upon waking, at least 30 minutes before breakfast. This maximizes absorption and sets you up for balanced energy and blood sugar regulation all day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much olive oil and honey should I consume daily?
For general health, aim for 1-2 tablespoons (15-30ml) olive oil mixed with 1 teaspoon (5ml) honey each morning. This provides a substantial dose of nutrients without excess calories. Those seeking to lose weight can use less honey to keep calories down. If combating a specific condition, some functional nutritionists recommend slowly increasing up to 1-2 tablespoons (15-30ml) honey paired with at least 1-2 tablespoons olive oil as well.
What’s the best olive oil to use with honey?
Always opt for extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) over more processed refined grades. EVOO comes from the first cold pressing of ripe olives. This retains the highest levels of heart-healthy fatty acids like oleic acids along with polyphenols and vitamin E. Check for a harvest date within the past year or two and store properly after opening. Light, heat, and oxygen degrade EVOO quickly.
Should I mix olive oil with Manuka honey?
Manuka honey adds special health advantages thanks to uniquely potent antimicrobial properties not found most standard honeys. Over 60 bioactive components give Manuka impressive antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing abilities on top of standard honey benefits. So yes – using medical grade Manuka honey supercharges what is already an extremely healthy combo with olive oil.
When during the day is it best to take olive oil and honey?
Hands down, the optimal time is first thing in the morning before eating anything else. A spoonful of honey and olive oil on a totally empty stomach allows for rapid absorption and maximum bioavailability. It’s also the perfect way to start your day with a burst of sustained energy instead of a quick crash later when blood sugar and energy falters.
What happens if I drink olive oil and honey at night?
You can certainly take a spoonful of olive oil and honey in the evening too if you miss the morning. But nighttime consumption on a full stomach won’t offer quite the same brisk energy boost and blood sugar balancing effects. Health benefits differ depending on circadian rhythms and digestive states. The majority of benefits come from getting your daily mixture first thing when waking on an empty stomach and then again before dinner. But even just once a day in the AM offers huge advantages.
While olive oil and honey alone provide independent health bonuses, mixing the two unlocks even greater benefits. By letting them mingle overnight, you create a health-enhancing symbiosis that traditional medicine is only beginning to comprehend.
I suggest making a batch to have on hand for at least week. Keep it stored properly in an opaque container at room temperature. Then each morning, stir up this liquid gold elixir and drink a spoonful or two on an empty stomach.
Within days, you’ll likely notice positive changes in energy, skin clarity, digestion, and more from this simple ritual. After a month, the compounding visual and physical changes will have you feeling like a whole new you!
Meanwhile, know that each spoonful also stealthily works behind the scenes at a cellular level – enhancing detox pathways, reducing inflammation, balancing blood sugar, destroying pathogens, preventing DNA damage and malignant growths, increasing tissue regeneration and so much more!
So believe the buzz and unlock the gold mine of health that awaits in this 60-second overnight preparation. Consume olive oil and honey daily to invest in your vitality now and for many healthy years to come!