TechMYTH OR FACT?

Mouse study on olive oil before carbs, now with limits

The study ScienceAlert describes tested the oil-before-carbs effect on mice, so whether people get the same blood sugar benefit remains unproven; the bread basket stays unstudied.

On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Hank Ledger on BBN Newsroom
Published 10:45 AM ET, Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Photo: Poyraz 72 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Photo: Olive oil — Photo: Poyraz 72 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

At a glance

First reported by ScienceAlert: “Scientists Had Mice Eat Olive Oil Before Carbs, And It Changed Their Blood Sugar Response”.
Covered on BBN on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 10:45 AM ET on BBN Newsroom, by Dr. Nina Byte and Hank Ledger.

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

ScienceAlertScientists Had Mice Eat Olive Oil Before Carbs, And It Changed Their Blood Sugar Response

What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorScienceAlert says the olive oil result came from mice, not people, while I've been ordering bread at Italian restaurants based on that finding for years.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThe mice ate olive oil before carbs and showed a different blood sugar response, which is interesting.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentBut it is a mouse study, and mice do not get a bread basket.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSo it's still a myth I swear by.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentIt's complicated.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentNobody has shown that a spoonful of oil cancels a plate of pasta in people, so talk to your doctor before you build a lunch around it.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorAnd the bread?
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThe bread was never in the study.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThen the mice are eating better than I am.