Throughout our lives (or at least ours), we have always heard someone say that it is healthy to take a spoonful of olive oil on an empty stomach, but… how much truth is there behind it?
At La Matilla we do not want to leave out any curiosity, relevant information, interesting fact or significant contribution related to the world of AOVE, so we are going to try to clear up what is true in all this. Let's get to it!
How many grams are in a spoonful of olive oil?
And how big is a spoonful of oil? Let's take it one step at a time. Generally speaking, the spoons in our kitchen drawers, as well as those found in most restaurants and bars, follow common standards in terms of capacity.
A tablespoon holds approximately 15 grams or millilitres when filled to the brim. In olive oil, this would be about 120 calories.
However, the dessert spoon, as it is known in our part of the world, holds 10 ml or grams per serving.
How many calories are in a spoonful of olive oil?
But we have already given the approximate calories in a spoonful of oil! Yes, we know, but we don't want to stop at the title of the film, do we?
The calories in all foods serve a purpose or function in our body. They give us energy for the normal functioning of our body, known as the basal metabolism, which is made up of the activities essential for survival, such as sleeping, eating, thinking or everyday movement.
We said that a spoonful of olive oil is around 130 calories. But how many calories do I need each day? Let's look into it a little further!
There is no universal rule or parameter for knowing how many calories we need each day and how a spoonful of extra virgin olive oil fits into them.
To do this, a formula is used that must be adapted to each individual, taking into account factors such as age, sex and activity to give a more accurate result.
Men should multiply their weight by 25 and women by 23. Once you have the number, add or subtract according to your age.
Under 25 years old: +300
If you are between 25 and 45 years old, leave the number as it is
If you are between 46 and 55: -100
If you are between 56 and 65: -200
If you are over 66, subtract 300
The result will tell you how many calories you need per day. Now you will see that a spoonful of olive oil is not as much as you thought, is it? A beer has a very similar number of calories but nutritionally, it has to be said, our premium olive oil comes out on top!
Why take a spoonful of olive oil on an empty stomach?
And now we come to the important part: why take a spoonful of olive oil on an empty stomach?
We are not going to try to steer you or influence your opinion in any way; we will simply share the information so that you can draw your own conclusions.
When our body is fasting, generally the period between dinner and breakfast, nutrient absorption is much higher because the body is in a state of hypoglycaemia.
It is precisely at that moment that the properties of whatever we eat are used most efficiently. So it is important to choose carefully the first food we put into our stomach after getting up.
Several scientific studies, such as the one carried out by PREMIDED, highlight the benefits that consuming extra virgin olive oil has for our health, with particular attention to cardiovascular health.
Is it good to take a spoonful of olive oil on an empty stomach?
Are we saying that it is bad not to take a spoonful of oil on an empty stomach? NO.
Are we saying that you must consume it to guarantee rock-solid health? NO.
Are we saying that there is scientific evidence that AOVE is good for health and that its properties are better absorbed on an empty stomach? YES.
Premium or top-quality extra virgin olive oil contains oleocanthal, an organic compound whose properties resemble those of ibuprofen, but without its side effects.
In fact, a great deal of research is being done on this subject, testing its applications in the world of health.
Olive oil helps you lose weight healthily. Why? Because it has a stomach-emptying effect, and it also contains compounds such as oleoylethanolamide that help speed up the metabolism and therefore burn more calories at rest.
Furthermore, the many benefits of olive oil for our heart are well proven. Among them, circulation and cholesterol are the best known.
In studies involving thousands of people, it has been shown that those who consume AOVE have 30% fewer cardiovascular diseases than those who did not consume our liquid gold during the study period.
Last but not least, extra virgin olive oil is very good for our digestive system, as it is a powerful anti-inflammatory.
Where to buy extra virgin olive oil to take by the spoonful?
You can buy all sorts of AOVE in any shop or online store around you. We cannot speak for them, as the varieties, options and quality vary enormously.
What we can do is tell you about ours and its many benefits.
Our premium extra virgin olive oil is harvested by hand, selecting each olive one by one to choose those in the best condition. They are cold-pressed, which preserves most of their properties unlike other extraction methods, and bottled within a few hours during the early morning to prevent deterioration.
If you would like to start enjoying the benefits of AOVE on an empty stomach with an oil that fully guarantees the properties of extra virgin olive oil, click here and take a stroll through our online shop.
