Plants You Should Know: Grapeseed

To me, there is nothing better than a delicious glass of pinot noir, alfresco, on a breezy summer night. I give thanks to the winemakers and wine pickers and the wine grapes themselves for the bounty and the joy that wine brings. But wine grapes are the gift that keeps on giving.

Made from the waste of pressed grapes, grapeseed oil is a healthy alternative to vegetable oils, with the versatility of olive oil or coconut oil. Below, we explore grapeseed and its benefits.

About Grapeseed

Grapeseed is a byproduct of the winemaking process. After the grapes are processed for wine, the seeds are then pressed for oil. While grapeseed is wonderful, there is controversy about how the oil is made. Commercially available, grapeseed is made using hexane, which is categorized as a pollutant and neurotoxin. Additionally, grapeseed is heated to very high temperatures during processing, resulting in the oil oxidizing and going bad.

Because of the processing and the unknown health problems that could result, it is recommended to purchase expelled or cold press oil.

Potential Benefits of Grapeseed

Grapeseed is a little known hero among the natural seed oils. In addition to us enjoying delicious wine, grapeseed’s benefits are:

• High in polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFA), like Omega 6. These are the good fats that reduce the risk of heart disease and lowers cholesterol.
• A great source of vitamin E. Vitamin E is an antioxidant and supports the immune system when ingested. Vitamin E, when used on the skin, moisturizes, and heals the skin. It also fights free radicals. Because grapeseed oil is lightweight, it is perfect to put in hair and on your scalp to moisturize, strengthen and shine tresses.
• Excellent carrier oil. Pair grapeseed oil with your favorite essential oil to reap the natural medicinal benefits of both oils.

Where to find Grapeseed

Grapeseed oil can be found at your local grocery store, health food store, co-op, or online. It is strongly recommended to choose a grapeseed oil that is either expelled or cold-pressed.