Grape seed oil, derived from the same kinds of grapes used to make wine, is produced by vineyards and wineries as an add-on product to their traditional wine sales. Grape seeds yield less oil than other types of seeds and pits that produce edible oils, such as olive oil or sunflower oil, so its production is more limited than many other oils.
Calories and Fat
One serving of grape seed oil is one tablespoon, approximately 13 grams. There are 119 calories in a single serving and 14 g of fat, including 1 g of saturated fat. The rest of the fat in grape seed oil is made up of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, including 9,395 milligrams of omega-6 fatty acids and 13.5 mg of omega-3 fatty acids. It does not contain any trans fats.
Micronutrients
Grape seed oil is extremely high in vitamin E, containing 3.9 mg per serving. This is 19 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin E. Grape seed oil does not contain any other vitamins or minerals in significant amounts.
Antioxidants
A particular type of antioxidant that is present in grapes is also present in grape seed oil, called oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes, or OPCs, and is anecdotally believed to help prevent cancer, heart disease and aging. These particular properties of OPCs have not yet been scientifically studied, but many people claim to see benefits from using grape seed oil.
Other Healthy Components
In addition to vitamin E and OPCs, grape seed oil is also high in other beneficial components. Flavonoids have been linked to lowered LDL, or bad cholesterol, and higher HDL, or good cholesterol. Grape seed oil also contains linoleic acid, one of the omega-6 fatty acids that is essential to human health and cannot be produced by the body.
Cooking
Grape seed oil is a good choice for cooking because it has a high boiling point of 420 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes it less likely to break down into toxic components during high heat cooking than oils with lower boiling points, such as olive oil.
Recommendations
Grape seed oil is considered a fairly healthy oil due to its low levels of saturated fat and high levels of polyunsaturated fat. As with all fats, it should be consumed in moderation. It is best used as an occasional fat source, as opposed to being the exclusive or main source of fat in your diet.
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