Olive oil before sweets may blunt blood‑glucose spikes, new studies suggest A recent experiment led by Professor Daishuke Yabe of Kyoto University’s Faculty of Medicine, published in the journal Diabetes, examined how the timing of olive oil consumption affects post‑prandial blood glucose. The researchers found that taking a tablespoon of olive oil 15 minutes before eating carbohydrates produced a markedly stronger reduction in the glucose surge than when the oil was eaten together with the meal or after it. The team measured gastric motility and found that the 15‑minute interval activates the vagus nerve, which in turn stimulates early release of gut hormones such as glucagon‑like peptide‑1 (GLP‑1). GLP‑1 slows stomach contractions, delaying the entry of sugars into the small intestine. As a result, glucose enters the bloodstream gradually, reducing the need for a large insulin response. The effect was observed independently of the participant’s insulin levels, indicating a robust metabolic buffering mechanism. The Kyoto study builds on earlier clinical work by Professor Francesco Villi of Sapienza University in Rome. In a crossover design published in Nutrition & Diabetes, Villi’s team added extra‑virgin olive oil directly to the diets of healthy volunteers and patients with metabolic disorders. They reported significant post‑prandial glucose lowering and improved insulin sensitivity. The authors attribute these benefits to the high oleic acid content and antioxidant polyphenols characteristic of extra‑virgin olive oil, which both slow gastric emptying and enhance cellular insulin responsiveness. Both studies used a single tablespoon of olive oil (approximately 13–15 g, providing about 120 calories). While the caloric load is a consideration, the research suggests that the metabolic advantages of consuming olive oil before carbohydrate‑rich foods could be useful for people managing blood‑sugar levels. Endocrinologists emphasize that the practice should be viewed as a “smart metabolic buffer” rather than a means to consume sugar indiscriminately.