Grape seed oil is a
type of plant oil that can be used for cooking. Grape seed oil can
be used for baking, sauteing, stir-frying or as a base for salad
dressing. Some benefits of cooking with grape seed oil include its
high smoke point and its light, neutral taste. Additionally, grape
seed oil is rich in vitamins and healthy fats, which makes it a
healthier alternative to traditional cooking
oils. Omega*6 Fatty Acid Health
Benefits Grape seed cooking
oil contains a high amount of omega*6 fatty acids, in the form of
linoleic acid, as well as smaller amounts of omega*3 and omega*9
fatty acids. Omega*6 is an essential nutrient that you need to get
from food as the body cannot make it. According to the University
of Maryland Medical Center, omega*6 fatty acids may be useful for
numerous health conditions, including: diabetic neuropathy,
rheumatoid arthritis, allergies, attention deficit/hyperactivity
disorder, breast cancer, eczema, high blood pressure, menopausal
symptoms, mastalgia, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis and
premenstrual syndrome.
Antioxidant Effects Grape seed oil is
rich in antioxidant vitamins E, C and beta carotene. The health
benefits conferred by eating antioxidant-rich foods are many.
Antioxidants protect your body from free radicals *- substances
that can harm cells, organs and other tissues. Antioxidants may
help prevent certain conditions associated with aging, including
cancer and heart disease. The antioxidant vitamins in grape seed
oil also serve other important functions. Vitamin E is needed for
the formation of red blood cells and it may also help the heart,
according to MedlinePlus. Vitamin C serves numerous functions
including collagen synthesis, metabolic functions and disease
prevention. Beta carotene, also an antioxidant, may promote eye
health. Heart Benefits of Cooking with Polyunsaturated
Fats Grape seed oil is a
healthy alternative to traditional cooking oils such as butter or
margarine. Grape seed oil is rich in polyunsaturated fat that
improve blood cholesterol levels, which can decrease your risk of
heart disease. Polyunsaturated fats found in plant oils like grape
seed oil may also help prevent diabetes, says MayoClinic.com. In
contrast, foods cooked in oils high in saturated fat or trans fat
actually raise your blood cholesterol levels and may increase your
risk of developing heart disease and diabetes. Olive oil is another
example of a heart-healthy cooking oil, but grape seed oil may be
preferable to olive oil in some cases as it can withstand higher
cooking temperatures. Considerations Grape seed oil is not
to be confused with grape seed extract, which is sold commercially
in the form of nutritional supplements. While grape seed oil and
grape seed extract contain many of the same substances, such as
vitamin E and linoleic acid, grape seed extract is a different and
more concentrated formulation of grape seed, and it is therefore
associated with different health effects and risks than grape seed
oil. For example, grape seed extract is rich in substances called
procyanidins, which may provide antioxidant effects but may also
act as a blood thinner, potentially posing a drug interaction risk
for people taking blood-thinning medications, according to UMMC.
However, grape seed oil contains only small amounts of procyanidins
and therefore does not carry the same potential drug interaction
risk as grape seed extract.
