Grape seed oil: benefits and harms

Grape seed oil is a unique product with healing properties. On the one hand, this is just a by-product of the wine industry, but on the other hand, it is a valuable raw material for the food, cosmetic and even pharmaceutical industries. A viscous light yellow liquid with a greenish tint - this is how grape seed oil looks like. It has a pleasant taste and contains many vitamins.

Composition and calorie content

The energy value of this oil largely depends on the properties of the feedstock and averages 884-899 kcal per 100 ml, which is quite comparable with the performance of sunflower and vegetable oils.

However, grape has one important advantage. It contains a lot of linoleic acid, which is responsible for lowering blood cholesterol, prevents high blood pressure and slows down the development of heart disease. On average, this product contains 72% linoleic Omega-6 unsaturated acid. The rest is oleic acid (Omega-9 unsaturated - up to 16%), palmitic, stearic and alpha-linoleic acids.

The combination of linoleic and oleic acids plays an important role, since together they determine the anti-inflammatory effect of this product. It has a beneficial effect on the central nervous system and endocrine system, helps to cleanse the body of various kinds of toxins.

Also, this oil contains vitamins A, E and group B, ascorbic acid, almost the same set of macro and micronutrients, flavonoids, polyphenols and phytosterols, like grapes.

Useful properties of grape seed oil

The composition of this unique product includes many useful components. They help fight swelling, improve night vision, have a beneficial effect on the state of blood vessels and eliminate hemorrhoids. This oil is used in the complex treatment of many diseases. And modern studies have shown that it can, if not prevented, slow down the growth of malignant tumors of the intestine, breast or prostate gland.

For women

For women, this oil is beneficial in the presence of phytosterols. These are hormone-like substances that, unlike synthetic hormone replacement therapy, do not have side effects. The presence of these substances allows the use of grape seed oil in the complex treatment of diseases caused by hormonal imbalance. So, it helps a lot in menopause and in the presence of painful PMS. In addition, the oil has a beneficial effect on blood vessels, which makes it effective in the treatment of varicose veins. Use it directly for the prevention of infectious and inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs. And in general, its reception has a beneficial effect on all organs of the reproductive system.

Also, grape oil helps to care for the skin, nourishes it, makes it smoother and more tender. Studies have shown that the use of this product helps prevent or even remove stretch marks, get rid of small facial wrinkles.

For men

Grape seed oil contains a whole complex of substances that have anti-inflammatory activity, improve spermatogenesis and increase erectile function.This is especially important for modern men, who often suffer from the effects of chronic stress and a sedentary lifestyle. These substances include the above polyunsaturated fatty acids, B vitamins, tocopherol, as well as beta-sitosterol.

It is useful for men as a therapeutic and prophylactic agent to introduce grape seed oil into the diet. It is considered effective for problems such as male infertility, prostatitis, adenoma, and even oncological diseases of the prostate gland (which does not negate the use of potent drugs).

During pregnancy

Omega-6 unsaturated fatty acids must be present in the diet of the expectant mother. And grape oil is considered their best source. In addition, it supplies a pregnant woman with all the necessary vitamins and minerals. Some of its constituent substances even have bactericidal properties, which is also very important during pregnancy.

However, expectant mothers will probably be interested in another property of linoleic acid. She is responsible for the elasticity of the skin and its ability to regenerate. Therefore, during pregnancy, grape oil is applied to the skin to prevent stretch marks.

For children

Children under the age of 12 are not recommended to give grape seed oil, because in the same way as grapes themselves, it can cause food allergies. The exception is cases where there are appropriate medical recommendations - for example, with inflammatory diseases of the joints, it can be used as an external agent, and for diabetes, include in the amount of 1 tsp. per day.

When losing weight

Linoleic and oleic acid contained in this oil normalize lipid metabolism and improve the function of the endocrine system. That is why this product is useful for weight loss - of course, if it is combined with proper nutrition. For example, if a person adheres to a diet, then this type of oil can be used as a dressing for vegetable salads included in the diet. By the way, this contributes to better absorption of antioxidants such as vitamins A and E.

How to take grape oil inside

This product is used as an external and internal remedy. If we are talking about oral administration for medicinal purposes, then the dosage is 20 ml (2 tbsp) per day. The duration of the course is 30 days. To make it easier to take such an amount of oil, it can be washed down with apple juice (if the patient does not have gastritis).

If we are talking about the use inside as part of various dishes, then the norm is 2-3 tbsp. oil per day.

If the oil is taken for preventive and fortifying purposes, then the norm is 1 tsp. fasting agents. The duration of the course is 2 weeks.

Grape Seed Oil in Medicine

In official medicine, grape seed oil is considered a healthy nutritional supplement. It has no independent therapeutic value, but is an important part of an integrated approach to treatment.

With diabetes

It is believed that due to the high content of organic acids and grape polyphenols, this oil is useful not only for obesity, but also for type 2 diabetes, as it lowers blood glucose levels.

Important: glycemic index of grape seed oil - 54 units.

With gastritis

In gastritis with high acidity, this oil is useful in that it relieves inflammation of the mucous membranes of the stomach, and contributes to their regeneration. But you need to use it in small quantities (2-3 tablespoons) as part of various dishes. And while products fried in grape oil, with gastritis can not be consumed.

With gout

This disease is manifested by inflammatory processes in the joints, due to impaired salt metabolism. Inside, with gout, grape seed oil is not used. But as an external agent, it has proven effective.

To relieve pain in the joint, make such a mixture - take 20 ml of grape seed oil, add 4 drops of lavender and eucalyptus essential oil, as well as 5 drops of lemon oil. The resulting product is gently rubbed into a sore joint, wrap it with woolen cloth and provide him with complete peace. Such procedures can be done daily at night.

For the liver

The composition of grape oil is unique in its hepatoprotective properties, which helps restore liver cells. Therefore, if there is no exacerbation of cholecystitis, this oil is 1-2 tsp. can be taken with liver diseases. It should be borne in mind that it also has a choleretic effect, so it can help with certain diseases of the gallbladder, stagnation of bile.

Grape seed oil in cosmetology

This oil is added both to ready-made cosmetics, and to masks and scrubs, prepared at home. Due to its high content of antioxidants, it is used to care for the skin of the face, body and hands, and will also be useful for hair and eyelashes.

For face

In general, grape seed oil is used to nourish the skin of the face, but other products are also prepared on its basis. For instance:

1. Anti-aging mask. For 15 ml of grape oil take 1 tbsp. white cosmetic clay and as much freshly squeezed lemon juice. The mask is kept on the face for no longer than 15 minutes, so as not to lighten the skin too much, then remove with a damp cloth.
2. Cleansing scrub. For its preparation, mix 1 tbsp. grape oil with the same amount of coffee grounds and chopped oatmeal. The product is applied to the skin of the face, massaged a little for literally two minutes, then kept as a mask for another 10 minutes, and then washed off with warm water. Coffee gives a tonic effect due to caffeine, cereals and butter - provide vitamins.

You can also add a little grape oil to a familiar face cream.

For hair

Grape seed oil can be used for a wide variety of masks, as it nourishes the skin and stimulates the hair follicles. For instance:

1. For hair growth and strengthening. 1 tbsp ground oatmeal take 20 ml of oil, mix with 1 tsp. table vinegar (although it is best to take apple cider). The product is thoroughly mixed, then applied to wet hair after washing. The head is covered with plastic wrap and wrapped with a towel on top. The mask is washed off after 30 minutes with ordinary shampoo.
2. Mask against oily hair. Take 4 tsp. grape seed oil, 2-3 drops of thyme essential oil (it is sold in pharmacies), add 4 tbsp. blue cosmetic clay and knead until thick sour cream. The mask is applied to the roots and left for half an hour. Then wash off with cool or warm water. Shampoo does not need to be used.
3. Mask against seborrheic dermatitis. Simply put, this is an excellent remedy for dandruff. For him, take 4 tsp. oil, pour 1 tablespoon to them cognac, then mixed with two fresh egg yolks. The resulting mixture is applied to the hair and rubbed into the skin at the roots and with light massage movements. The rest of the mask can be applied over the entire length of the hair, trying to distribute evenly. After half an hour, you can wash off the product with shampoo.

Since grape seed oil can cause individual intolerance, you must first apply a couple of its drops on the elbow bend or wrist and after a few minutes check the reaction.

For eyebrows and eyelashes

The oil is ideal for eyebrow and eyelash care. Based on it, you can do the following tools:

1. Nourishing composition for eyebrows and eyelashes. Mix 1 ml of castor and grape oil, add 1 capsule of vitamin A. It is difficult to distribute such a composition with your hands, it is better to take a special brush for eyebrows and eyelashes, then you can apply it evenly.The tool holds 10-40 minutes, depending on the tolerability of this procedure. Then it is washed off using the usual makeup remover.
2. Moisturizing mask. Grape seed oil is mixed in equal proportions with juice from fresh aloe leaves. The resulting product is applied to cotton pads, which are used as lotions for the eyes. This composition looks after eyelashes and sensitive skin around the eyes, moisturizes them and helps relieve fatigue.

It is very important to wash off the product completely, otherwise mild swelling of the eyelids may occur. When applying, make sure that the oil does not fall on the roots of the eyelashes. Otherwise, it will fall on the mucous membrane, and this can cause irritation. It is convenient to use cotton pads and sponges to remove oil.

Cooking Grape Seed Oil

This oil is widely used in cooking due to its remarkable consumer properties. Firstly, it has a high smoke temperature (+ 216 ° C), so it is considered ideal not only for frying and baking, but also for deep-fried cooking. Secondly, it has a lower density in comparison with olive oil, and from the point of view of dietetics it is even more useful, so olive is often replaced with grape seed oil in recipes. At the same time, even unrefined grape oil is characterized by transparency, almost complete absence of smell and a light nutty taste. It practically does not affect the taste of other products, so it becomes an ideal basis for salad dressing.

On the basis of grape oil, the so-called aromatic oils are prepared, which are further combined with meat and fish dishes, various side dishes. To do this, take grape seed oil as a base and mix it with chopped garlic and any herbs - parsley, basil, oregano.

Also, grape oil can be used to make mayonnaise at home. Some cooks add a small amount of this oil to vegetables for preservation. And also, as will be discussed below, they use it when frying potatoes to obtain a rich golden color.

Although you can endlessly experiment with this oil, you can use ready-made recipes:

1. Salad with pear, arugula and cheese. For cooking, you will need 150 g of arugula, 2 medium hard pears, sheep’s cheese, juice of one lemon, nuts, sea salt, black pepper and grape seed oil to taste. Pears are peeled, core removed, cut into thin slices, sprinkled with lemon juice. Arugula is laid out on a dish, decorated with slices of pears and cheese slices on top, sprinkled with ground nuts and watered with grape oil.
2. Coleslaw and prune salad. For cooking, you need 300 g of white cabbage, 4 pcs. prunes, 1 medium-sized hard pear, 1 small onion, juice of one lemon, grape seed oil (up to 3 tablespoons). Cabbage is cut into thin strips, onions are divided into half rings, mixed and slightly knead with fingers. Pear is also cut into strips, sprinkled with lemon juice and added to other vegetables. Prune, if it is too hard, pre-soaked, then cut. All ingredients are mixed, seasoned with grape seed oil.
3. Chips with mushrooms. Grape seed oil gives a richer flavor and beautiful color to this dish. For cooking, you will need potatoes (5-6 pcs.), 0.5 kg of frozen honey mushrooms, 2 onions, sea salt and grape seed oil to taste. Onions are sautéed in grape oil in a rather deep skillet, added honey mushrooms and sautéed for 5 minutes, then chopped potatoes to the mushrooms are thrown and cooked in the usual manner.
4. Chicken Breasts with Orange and Ginger. For cooking, you need 2 chicken breasts, 1 orange, 2 tbsp. grated ginger root, 2 cloves of garlic, 1 tbsp. grape seed oil, salt, pepper to taste. Chicken breasts are slightly beaten and cut into small pieces. Orange zest is mixed with grated ginger.The cloves of garlic are heated in grape oil so that the aromatic substances pass into it, and then they are removed. Pieces of chicken are spread on the oil, fry for 5 minutes, then ginger mixed with zest is poured on top. After that, the meat is poured with orange juice mixed with 2 tbsp. soy sauce, and cook another 10 minutes.

Marinades for fish and meat are prepared on the basis of grape oil, adding various spices typical of Mediterranean cuisine. Even mashed potatoes, porridge, couscous or bulgur will benefit from this supplement.

Is it possible to fry grape seed oil

Grape seed oil contains a lot of oleic acid. Its chemical composition provides the product with high resistance to heat. Therefore, it is believed that this oil is ideal for frying meat, fish, vegetables, pies, etc.

Harm and contraindications

In general, there are no side effects when using this oil. However, in large quantities when taken orally, it can provoke discomfort in the abdomen, various dyspeptic symptoms.

Grape seed oil is practically devoid of contraindications. The exception is the individual intolerance of its components both for internal and external use. In addition, due to the choleretic effect, it is not used for cholelithiasis and for cholecystitis in the acute stage.

How to choose and store

Grape seed oil is produced in all wine regions. The highest quality product is considered to be from France, Italy, Spain, as well as Argentina.

Two methods are used for the production of this product in industry - hot extraction and cold pressing. The second option is considered to be of better quality, since cold pressing allows you to save more vitamins and nutrients. However, the yield of the finished product using this method is much lower than during hot extraction, therefore, in practice, this technology is used quite rarely. Nevertheless, if there is such an opportunity, it is better to choose cold-pressed oil. During hot extraction, part of the nutrients are destroyed, but still a large enough amount of vitamins and organic acids remains.

You need to buy oil, spilled in glass bottles. Firstly, this is the only correct way to store it. Secondly, such bottles make it possible to discern its color. It should be yellow with a greenish tint. However, there are also oils of pronounced green color. This does not mean their poor quality, but only that they left a large amount of the plant pigment chlorophyll, which gives them such a shade. Be sure to check if there is sediment in the bottle. In natural oil, it is almost always there, but in small quantities.

Since grape oil contains very little omega-3 acids, it has a high oxidation stability and therefore is stored for a long time with the right approach. Moreover, it can be added to some other vegetable oils to increase shelf life (for example, linseed, olive or sunflower).

Nevertheless, even the highest quality grape oil can be stored for no longer than 12 months from the date of manufacture. If you have not started using it yet, you must keep the closed bottle in a dark place at room temperature. If the bottle has already been opened, then it can only be stored in the refrigerator.

How to make grape oil at home

Making grape seed oil at home is not as difficult as you might think. By its useful properties, this product will be close to the performance of a factory product.

For the preparation of oil, fresh grapes are chosen (red or black, with the second option being considered preferred). The following instructions are followed:

1. Separate the grapes from the seeds.
2. The bones are thoroughly washed under running water.
3. Dry in the oven at a temperature of + 60 ° C, stirring occasionally.
4. The dried raw materials are ground in a coffee grinder in order to destroy the seed coat. The resulting feed is placed in a glass jar.
5. Ground seeds are poured with high-quality refined (this is important) sunflower oil so that it completely covers the raw materials. It is even desirable that its level was 4-5 cm higher. Then the mixture is heated in a water bath. The temperature during this procedure should not be higher than 70 ° C. The duration of the process is about a day.

After that, the upper layer of oil is drained. This will be home-made grape oil, in fact - a seed extract. The described heating in a water bath is repeated three more times. But you need to consider that the highest concentration of nutrients will be in the primary extract.

Interesting facts about grapes

Grapes are a truly unique plant, all its parts, including leaves, flesh and peel of berries and even its bones, benefit. Currently, there are over 5000 varieties of cultivated grapes in the world. Moreover, 85% of this amount was bred for wine production and only 12% are table varieties. The remaining species are seedless grapes from which raisins are made. However, this division is largely conditional. Table grapes are distinguished by larger berries and a sweet taste without tart notes, but you can eat both table and raisins.

From a chemical point of view, grapes are a very complex combination of active substances. There are more than 150 of them. Because of this, even a separate direction in medicine appeared at one time - ampelotherapy, that is, grape treatment. In ancient times, patients drank grape juice according to a schedule just like now Narzan or Borjomi.

Ampelotherapy is developing today, and seeds are playing an increasingly important role in it. They make up 20-30% of grape marc. Interestingly, not all of them are used for the production of grape oil. Some become raw materials for coffee substitute.

Interestingly, the vine can be grown even from ordinary seed. But only in this case will get a little wild. Varietal plants retain their properties only when propagated by cuttings.

Grape oil photo