Grapeseed oil definitely makes the list of healthy oils to have in your pantry. As with any ingredient, a little
information about how to best use it is helpful. Grapeseed oil is made from the grape seeds after they have been crushed for wine making. (small rant inserted here - I wonder how much of this valuable oil we would naturally consume if people in laboratories hadn’t played with our grapes to remove the seeds. It seems to me that whenever we genetically play with foods, the nutrition suffers and we introduce consequences we could not foresee. end of rant…) Anyway…Here are some facts about this beautiful, pale green oil.
What it is:
- a poly unsaturated fat (more than one double bonded-carbon in the molecule, making it liquid at room temperature and also liquid when chilled)
- high in omega-6 fatty acid
- low in saturated fat
- high in vitamin E
- antibacterial
What it does:
- binds to free radicals (unstable oxygen molecules that can attack normal cells and destroy or mutate them)
- does not change at high temperatures and has a high smoke point (428 degrees)
- lowers bad cholesterol(LDL) and raises good cholesterol(HDL)
- lowers triglycerides* (used by the liver as fuel to make cholesterol)
- stays liquid and emulsified in mixtures
How it is best used:
- High temperature frying
- In a sauce or recipe that you do not want to impart any flavor from the oil
- To make salad dressing or mayonnaise that will not separate or cloud in the refrigerator
- Topically on skin - provides healing and moisture for skin, fights acne, absorbs quickly without feeling greasy. Often used as a lip conditioner, night cream, hand lotion, or massage oil.
Now before you go and throw out all your other oils and exclusively use grapeseed oil, let me remind you that variety and moderation are keys to a healthy diet. There is no one magic answer or one perfect oil. I do not think we should try to compare oils to find the healthiest. Instead, we can identify strengths and weaknesses of an oil and then use it in the applications best suited to its characteristics. And as with any oil, at around 120 calories per tablespoon, use it sparingly.
*For a really facinating look at triglycerides and cholesterol visit ReduceTriglycerides.com. You will notices from the listed causes of increased triglycerides that a healthy Mediterranean type diet will eliminate many of them.
Special thanks for the photo to Aurora Marrero on Flickr.
