A standard shot of olive oil (about 1.5 ounces or 44 ml) contains roughly 360 calories. That’s nearly three tablespoons, since one tablespoon of olive oil packs 119 calories. The exact number depends on what you mean by “a shot,” because shot sizes vary, but most people pouring olive oil into a small glass are getting somewhere between 240 and 360 calories.
Calories Based on Shot Size
The word “shot” doesn’t have a universal definition. A standard U.S. shot glass holds about 1.5 ounces (44 ml), which works out to roughly three tablespoons. At 119 calories per tablespoon, that’s approximately 357 calories. If you’re using a smaller pour, closer to one tablespoon (15 ml), you’re looking at 119 calories. Two tablespoons lands you around 238 calories.
For context, shot glass sizes vary widely by country. A UK shot is only about 0.84 ounces (25 ml), which would contain roughly 200 calories. An Australian shot at 1 ounce (30 ml) holds about 240 calories. Most people who drink a “shot” of olive oil for health reasons are actually pouring one to two tablespoons, not filling a full shot glass, so the practical range is 119 to 240 calories.
Why People Drink Olive Oil Straight
Drinking a daily shot of olive oil has gained popularity as a wellness habit, largely because extra virgin olive oil is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. The key bioactive molecules in extra virgin olive oil act as powerful free radical scavengers and help regulate oxygen-dependent processes in the body. These compounds also have anti-clotting and anti-inflammatory effects, improve blood vessel function, and can help lower blood pressure. The European Food Safety Authority recognizes a specific health claim for olive oil polyphenols, though it requires a meaningful concentration of these compounds, something only extra virgin varieties reliably deliver.
Olive oil is also used as a mild, natural remedy for constipation. Taking it by mouth can help soften stools. Some people report that a spoonful before bed improves morning regularity.
How It Fits Into Your Daily Calories
Olive oil is one of the most calorie-dense foods you can consume. Pure fat contains about 9 calories per gram, and olive oil is almost entirely fat. A single tablespoon delivers more calories than a medium banana or a slice of bread. If you’re adding a daily shot on top of your normal diet without reducing calories elsewhere, those 120 to 360 extra calories add up to roughly one to two and a half pounds of weight gain per month.
That doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea. Replacing other fats (butter, processed vegetable oils, creamy dressings) with olive oil keeps the calorie count neutral while upgrading the nutritional quality. The issue only arises when olive oil gets treated as a free addition rather than a substitution.
Timing and Digestion
If you’re going to drink olive oil, when you take it can shape the experience. On an empty stomach in the morning, it gently stimulates digestion and bile flow, which some people find reduces bloating. The fat also provides steady energy and can make you naturally eat less at breakfast. Taken 15 to 30 minutes before a meal, olive oil acts as a natural appetite buffer. The fat triggers satiety signals before you start eating, so you feel full sooner and may consume fewer total calories at the meal. It also slows carbohydrate absorption, which helps stabilize blood sugar and reduces the energy crash that can follow a carb-heavy meal.
At night, a small amount won’t “burn fat while you sleep,” but it can curb late-night snacking and support digestive regularity the next morning.
Olive oil is generally well tolerated, though drinking it straight can cause nausea in some people, especially on an empty stomach or in larger amounts. Starting with one tablespoon and working up is a practical approach if you’re new to the habit.
Extra Virgin vs. Regular Olive Oil
The calorie count is the same regardless of grade. One tablespoon of regular olive oil and one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil both contain 119 calories. The difference is in the beneficial compounds. Extra virgin olive oil is mechanically pressed without heat or chemical processing, which preserves the antioxidants and polyphenols responsible for its health benefits. Regular or “light” olive oil has been refined, stripping out most of those bioactive molecules. If you’re drinking olive oil specifically for its health properties, extra virgin is the only version worth choosing.