Grapeseed oil has not enjoyed a long history of use as a dietary oil, possibly because grape seeds contain less oil than other seeds and nuts, making grapeseed oil extraction a costlier and more time-consuming endeavor. However, as its healthful properties have become more well known, grapeseed oil has become more commonly used for baking and frying and as a common addition to salad dressings and skincare products such as sunscreen, hand lotions and lip balm. Grapeseed oil has a light, clean taste, and its high smoke point of 420 degrees F makes it an excellent all-purpose cooking oil. It is also a heart-healthy oil that may help lower your LDL cholesterol and prevent cardiovascular disease.
Antioxidants
Grapeseed oil contains a wealth of antioxidants, including vitamins C, E and beta-carotene. When consumed in amounts typically used for cooking, grapeseed oil may raise your levels of high-density lipoprotein, or HDL, the "good" form of cholesterol, by as much as 13 percent and lower your levels of low-density, or LDL, the "bad" form of cholesterol, by about 7 percent, according to Dr. Ralph Felder, author of "The Bonus Years Diet."
Linoleic Acid
The essential fatty acid linoleic acid composes 76 percent of the fatty acids in grapeseed oil. Linolenic acid is the only fatty acid with the ability to both raise HDL levels and lower LDL levels, according to Lewis Harrison, author of the book "Master Your Metabolism: The All-Natural (All-Herbal) Way to Lose Weight." Linolenic acid, deficient in most modern Western diets, is an omega-6 fatty acid with anti-inflammatory properties. This essential fatty acid may make grapeseed oil healthier for your heart than olive or canola oil, says Harrelson.
LDL
Grapeseed oil discourages oxidation of LDL cholesterol, a process that leads to the formation of atherosclerotic plaque that clogs your arteries. Compounds called oligomeric proanthocyanidins in grapeseed reduce oxidation of LDL cholesterol by up to 90 percent when used as purified extract, according to Richard Passwater, Ph.D., author of the book "Live Better, Longer: The Science Behind the Amazing Health Benefits of OPC's." Regular use of grapeseed oil in cooking may have a less dramatic, though still beneficial, effect that may prevent atherosclerosis.
Cholesterol Ratio
This heart-healthy oil is included in a list of top foods for lowering LDL cholesterol in Dr. H.K. Bakhru's book "Healing Through Natural Foods." While grapeseed oil's primary contribution to promoting healthy cholesterol levels is its ability to raise HDL levels, in combination with its more modest LDL-lowering ability, grapeseed oil can significantly shift the ratio of "good" and "bad" cholesterol into a highly protective range. Just 2 tablespoons of grapeseed oil per day may improve your cholesterol levels in just a few weeks' time. Other foods on the list include almond, avocado, garlic, onions, olive oil, sunflower seeds and walnuts.
References
- "The Bonus Years Diet"; Ralph Felder; 2008
- "Healing Through Natural Foods"; Dr. H.K. Bakhru; 2000
- "Live Better, Longer: The Science Behind the Amazing Health Benefits of Opc's ..."; Richard Passwater; 2009
- "Master Your Metabolism: The All-Natural (All-Herbal) Way to Lose Weight"; Lewis Harrison; 2003
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