The jury is still out on whether it will surpass any other established oils such as olive oil, avocado oil, or canola, but grapeseed oil can still give you a run for your money when it comes to boosting health and being a substitute for butter! When butter can be full of trans fats, a fat that can raise LDL cholesterol that in turn increases triglyceride levels and cardiovascular risk, grapeseed oil may offer an alternative.
Grapeseed oil can have as much as 13% of linolenic acid and 26% of linoleic acid, which helps to lower LDL cholesterol along with supporting neuroplasticity, healthy skin, and good metabolism. This oil is also comprised of 63% monounsaturated acid which lowers LDL cholesterol, lowers cardiovascular risks, and can aid in cell development.
Grapeseed oil harbors quite a few beneficial fatty acids such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, which can help with cognitive development, reduces inflammation, lowers cardiovascular risks, supports skin and hair, and supports hormone production. It also has unsaturated fatty acids which helps to lower LDL cholesterol, reduces inflammation, helps cell growth, lowers triglycerides, increases HDL cholesterol, maintains blood sugar, and possibly even reduces the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. Grapeseed oil also has phytosterols which can help reduce LDL cholesterol.
Along with this, they contain antioxidants such as flavonoids! Flavonoids are anti-inflammatory, help our hearts, improve neuroplasticity, maintain blood sugar, have antioxidants, and possibly have anti-cancer effects!
Besides flavonoids, other phenolic compounds in grapeseed oil that are worth noting are carotenoids, tannins, and stilbenes. Carotenoids contain antioxidants, contain Vitamin A, and help our hearts and eyes. Tannins are anti-inflammatory, contain antioxidants, are possibly anticarcinogenic and also protect against cell mutations, harmful microbes, and cellular damage. And stilbenes may be anti-inflammatory like these other phenolic compounds!
Along with providing a boost for the heart and brain, grapeseed oil is great for the skin! It contains lipophilic constituents, also known as Vitamin E, which can be a wonderful asset in maintaining skin health!
In order to receive these benefits, you do need to keep in mind its cooking temperature and induction time which in turn affects oxidative stability. For grapeseed oil, this is 208 degrees Fahrenheit or 98 degrees Celsius. Grapeseed oil can produce lipid oxidation beyond that temperature and the oil will then begin to break down into harmful compounds for the body. To avoid that it’s best to cook at a low temperature.
Grapeseed oil can serve as an alternative to butter for baked goods or for frying, but it should always be done at a low heat. When cooked slowly, grapeseed oil fried or baked goods can produce tenderness in the meal while retaining that crispy exterior!
Do a slow burn for your cooking and you too can have healthy french toast!
