Grape seed oil is a vegetable oil that is extracted from the leftover grapes used in wine making; grape seed oil is high in nutrients reported to help in the prevention of a number of health conditions. Today, grape seed oil is produced in California, Spain and Italy.
Components
Grape seed oil's main components are vitamin E, linoleic acid, antioxidants and flavonoids; these components help increase levels of antioxidants in the blood, protect against heart disease and reduce bad cholesterol.
Cholesterol Factor
Grape seed oil helps people with high cholesterol control their cholesterol level because it contains little or no cholesterol, unlike many other oils. And flavonoids present in grape seed oil restrict the oxidation of bad cholesterol.
Flavonoids
Flavonoids may help people with heart problems. Flavonoids found in grape seed oil are of greater nutritional value than those found in red wine and are promoted in protecting heart health and related conditions such as arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, varicose veins and heart attacks.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants help the body destroy free radical compounds. Free radicals contribute to a number of health problems such as heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, alteration of DNA and attacks on cell structure. The presence of antioxidants found in grape seed oil help to control the unnatural growth of free radicals in the body, often influenced by outside environmental factors.
Benefits & Cautions
Grape seed oil supplements benefit a number of health problems, including asthma, heart problems and high blood pressure due to the antioxidant components grape seed oil possesses.
Although relatively safe to use, it is advisable to avoid grape seed oil supplements during pregnancy and also in use with young children. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that there are no current scientific reports relating to the use of grape seed oil for pregnant women and young children, and therefore, there are no safety guidelines on its use.
References
- Len Price 1999 Carrier Oils for Aromatherapy and Massage
- University of Maryland Medical Center
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