Coffee has properties with health benefits that are proven every year with new studies around the world. But among the numerous options, one appears that is strange: coffee with olive oil.
There are various ways to consume the beans obtained from the coffee plant. It can be prepared from previously roasted and ground coffee beans and thousands of varieties appear that make this drink an experience.
A lot even has to do with the region and maturity it has, local customs and people usually make combinations.
It is known that coffee is an ideal infusion to start the morning and has a bitter taste, so some people prefer to sweeten it with milk, sugar or honey.
However, there are also those who joined a growing trend in recent times: adding a tablespoon of olive oil. What they call oleate.
Coffee, of course, has caffeine, which has many effects on your body’s metabolism. Some of them are:
In turn, olive oil is a highly nutritious fat of plant origin, with notable anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and cardioprotective properties.
This is highlighted on its website by the Spanish Heart Foundation (FEC), which also emphasizes that all these beneficial effects are supported by scientific evidence.
One of the first studies that showed the potential effects of extra virgin olive oil was the PREvention with MEDiterránea Diet (PREDIMED) study published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
One of the main differences between the ingredients is their nutritional values, since coffee is made up of caffeine and oils such as cafestol and kahweol. For its part, olive oil contains saturated fats, calcium and potassium.
Specialist Beata Rydyger assured Healthline that there is no evidence to prove the positive results of the mixture: “Adding olive oil to coffee is not that common, so there is not much scientific evidence to support that it offers any specific health benefits. ”, he warns.
Therefore, before any decision related to food and health, it is always important to consult a doctor first so that he or she can guide the person according to each household.
Beyond that, health portals suggest possible effects that this combination could produce in the body.
The first, avoid digestive problems. Both coffee and olive oil have laxative properties, which help the intestine to evacuate the waste it produces, but when taken in large quantities it can result in stomach problems.
“When olive oil is combined with caffeine, another factor that can promote a bowel movement, people can feel the effects,” specialist Lauren Manaker told Eat this, not that.
Keep in mind that because most coffee preparations with olive oil contain milk, people with lactose intolerance should avoid its consumption.
This is because, according to the Mayo Clinic, this group of people is prone to problems such as gas, bloating and diarrhea when they eat dairy products.
In addition, coffee and olive oil have high amounts of antioxidants. In this way, it is regrettable that combined, their effects could be enhanced to reduce inflammation and protect cells from free radicals.
Calories are also in the spotlight. Specialist Theresa Dvorak told Health University of Utah that “every time a person adds oil or fat to food or drink, they will automatically increase that calorie consumption, but olive oil is a great source of calories because it is one of those unsaturated fatty oils.
According to barista expert Rufus Gideon, there are two ways to add virgin olive oil to coffee:
“I recommend a double espresso, emulsified milk with olive oil and pour over the coffee, and the oil enriches the drink and brings out the flavors of the coffee,” he explains.
And he concludes: “Plus, it makes it look even better. A silkier, creamier texture.”
