The 7 Olives and 1 Fig Diet

In short: The 7 olives and 1 fig diet is known as a cure in which 7 olives and 1 dried fig are eaten in the morning and evening. There is no scientific study showing that this cure helps you lose weight or slows ageing. Olives and figs can be part of a balanced diet; however, eating only these foods is inadequate and risky.

What Is the 7 Olives and 1 Fig Diet?

Metallothionein is a protein produced in small amounts in human and animal brains. It binds easily with zinc, iron and phosphorus. It is considered vital for the human body. It is claimed to be quite important for metabolism to work, for cholesterol to be removed and for the heart to be strengthened.

Metallothionein production gradually increases between the ages of 15 and 35. The production level then falls until it stops at around 60. Because of these falling levels, scientists have looked for ways to increase metallothionein.

What Are the Claimed Benefits of the 7 Olives and 1 Fig Diet?

As the basis of this diet, it is claimed that Japanese researchers found that the best ratio for metallothionein can be achieved by eating 1 fig and 7 olives; no peer-reviewed publication confirming this claim could be found. The same sources suggested that metallothionein does not give the same benefit when isolated from olives and figs.

There are several ways the 7 olives and 1 fig diet is used in order to get these claimed benefits, slow ageing and regulate how metabolism works.

One of these ways is to eat 7 olives and 1 dried fig together in the morning and evening alongside a normal diet. In this way, alongside a healthy diet, we can benefit from the health effects that come from olives and figs.

What Are the Effects of the 7 Olives and 1 Fig Diet on the Body?

Figs are high in fibre, which can help with constipation. They have antioxidant properties, which may help the body deal with free radicals. As a good source of calcium, they may be useful for bone development and health. They may support the immune system and may have protective properties for heart health.

Olives also have a number of benefits, such as supporting blood pressure, serving as an alternative source of fibre, and protecting cells by providing antioxidants.

For this reason, eating olives and figs regularly may have a number of benefits for our diet. They may support our digestive system. In addition, when eaten in the morning and evening, they can increase the feeling of fullness and so lower the amount of energy taken in during the day.

What Is the 7 Olives and 1 Fig Diet Good For, and Does It Help You Lose Weight?

Another way of applying it is as a cure. Only 7 olives and 1 dried fig are eaten in the morning and evening. It is recommended to follow this for 21 days. The theory put forward for this diet is that, thanks to the antioxidant properties of these two foods, it improves the body's cell health and clears bad and damaged cells. It is claimed that weight is lost quickly with this cure; however, there is no scientific study supporting this claim.

Eating only 7 olives and 1 dried fig twice a day means a very low-energy way of eating; a significant part of the quick drop on the scales is water and muscle loss, and results vary from person to person. But if very restricted diets with this kind of energy intake are followed, the weight is usually regained quite quickly, because sooner or later we have to return to our normal diet. We cannot continue our lives with such a restricted diet. Quick weight loss methods, by their nature, push us to keep looking for a new method. They do not give long-lasting results. If we want to lose weight quickly, even if we manage it, we will have to keep going back to this kind of method.

What Are the Side Effects of the 7 Olives and 1 Fig Diet?

There is not enough research and scientific evidence that such restricted diets, and especially eating only 7 olives and 1 dried fig in the morning and evening, are particularly beneficial or free of health risks. Depending on a person's health condition, such a restricted way of eating can be quite harmful within 21 days. Serious harm can occur especially for people with diabetes. For this reason, I believe it is better to look for the answer not in restricted cures like this, but in the right eating habits that science shows us.

This article is for general information only; please consult your doctor and dietitian about your own situation.