Can a shot of olive oil really prevent hangovers?

The search for alcohol hangover cures is as old as alcohol itself . Many cures and remedies are sold , but scientific evidence for their effectiveness is lacking . Recently, the notion that taking a shot of olive oil before consuming alcohol can prevent hangovers has garnered attention.

This idea, popularised by figures like music producer Benny Blanco who discussed it on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon , suggests that olive oil can coat the stomach and slow the absorption of alcohol, thereby reducing hangover symptoms. Despite its allure, this claim lacks any scientific backing and should be approached with lots of scepticism. The theory behind the olive oil trick is that its high-fat content forms a coating on the stomach lining, slowing down the rate at which alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream.

This slower absorption is supposed to lessen the intensity of hangovers. While it is true that fatty foods can delay alcohol absorption to some extent, the effectiveness of this tactic is dubious . Alcohol absorption primarily occurs in the small intestine , with only about 20% being absorbed in the stomach.

This means that even if olive oil slows down the initial absorption in the stomach, most alcohol will still be absorbed later in the digestive process. Also, the body’s metabolism or natural breakdown of alcohol, which involves the liver chemically changing it using its own protein machinery, is the primary cause of hangover symptoms such as dehydration, headaches.