Grapeseed oil application and effect

Grape seed oil is healthy and versatile

Grape seed oil has a long tradition and was already considered an effective home remedy in the Middle Ages, for example to treat minor cuts or skin problems. Today, it is one of the noblest and most expensive vegetable oils available commercially and is used in a variety of ways. In addition to the possibilities of external application, grape seed oil comes e.g. Often used as an anti-aging product in cosmetics, it is also ideal for preparing cold and hot dishes. Thus, the increasingly popular oil represents a true multi-talent and offers in many areas a good alternative to olive, walnut or sunflower oil.

contents

• Grape seed oil is healthy and versatile
• Production and effect of grapeseed oil
• Tips for use in the kitchen: Delicious recipes with grapeseed oil
• Grapeseed oil: health benefits
• Cosmetics: Natural skin care with grapeseed oil
• Grapeseed oil for the hair

Production and effect of grapeseed oil

Grapeseed oil is - as the name implies - obtained from the seeds of green grapes. It is one of the finest and most expensive oils available on the market. The reason for this is that little oil is contained in the small, hard cores, so that about 2,000 kilograms of grapes are needed to produce one liter. Like other vegetable oils, grapeseed oil can be produced by both hot and cold pressing. In the first case, it is a traditional chemical process, which requires significantly fewer nuclei compared to cold pressing. These are first heated and pressed hard, then in the course of the so-called "extraction" with the help of chemical solvents (usually hexane) and the smallest oil residues are removed from the seed.

Grape seed oil gives many dishes a special touch, but is also considered an effective anti-aging agent. (Image: racamani / fotolia.com)

However, since the oil changes color and taste as a result of this process, it must be cleaned or refined after pressing in a complex, multi-stage procedure - which is why it is often also declared "refined". In this form of production, the oil can be pressed much easier from the cores due to the strong heat, which is why less effort required and the production is relatively inexpensive. Accordingly, this variant can also be offered relatively inexpensively in the trade. The disadvantage, however, is that due to the heat of the proportion of valuable ingredients such. Vitamins and unsaturated fatty acids is lower, because these are the key factors for the positive effects of the oil on health.

In the case of cold pressing, however, the cores are pressed out mechanically in a gentle way and without the application of heat. In most cases, the resulting oil is then only filtered and dried, removing the remaining naturally occurring water. Since no heat acts on the cores, the yield of oil is significantly lower here. But it is in the end but much more aromatic and richer in valuable ingredients than the hot pressed. Quality has of course its price, so cold pressed grape seed oil of good quality with 15 to 20 euros for half a liter also significantly more expensive than the products from the hot pressing.

Grape seed oil is stable for up to one year, but care should be taken to store it as dark as possible. Especially cold-pressed oil should be protected from too much light and oxygen, because otherwise it quickly gets a rancid taste and is inedible. Accordingly, the oil should be stored in a cool place (e.g., in the basement) in an airtight, opaque container or bottle of dark glass.

Tips for use in the kitchen: Delicious recipes with grapeseed oil

Of course, regardless of the method of production, grapeseed oil can also be used excellently in cooking. Whether for gentle cooking, marinating or salad dressing - the delicious oil can be used in many ways and is now for many hobby kitchen a welcome alternative to olive or rapeseed oil. Cold-pressed grape seed oil has a light green color and is slightly nutty in taste , where the grape usually can still be tasted. Because of these characteristics, it fits perfectly in the cold kitchen, where it can be used, for example, for salads, dips, sauces or instead of olive oil for pickled vegetables. For example, a mixed raw vegetable salad made of vegetables, e.g. Kohlrabi, carrots, fennel tuber, radishes and beetroot a very fine taste when it is dressed with grape seed oil. For the dressing, mix 3 tbsp of the oil with 1 tbsp lemon juice, 4 tbsp buttermilk, a pinch of sugar, a small chopped shallot and half a bunch of chopped (plain) parsley. If you like, you can add half a teaspoon of thyme and season the salad sauce with salt and pepper as needed.

Also for pickling and marinating meat or fish, the cold-pressed vegetable oil is ideal. Thus, e.g. fresh salmon fillet in grapeseed oil marinade will be a delicious appetizer. For this, about 250 grams of very fresh fillet (for 2 people) are first washed, carefully dabbed dry and cut into thin slices. Then the ends of an untreated lemon are cut off and six thin slices are cut, the remaining fruit is squeezed out. With three slices of lemon each you then dress a small dessert glass, stir the juice with about half a teaspoon of honey and a tablespoon of grapeseed oil. Now the fish slices are carefully turned in the marinade, seasoned with sea salt and sprinkled with a few dill tips. At the end, carefully layer the marinated slices in the glasses and let them soak in the fridge for about 20 minutes. Before serving, some freshly ground pepper is added, and it looks nice when the salmon jars are decorated with the "lids" of the lemon.

It also tastes great when drizzled with fresh cheese or used to refine yoghurt, quark or ice cream. There are also fresh fruits such as bananas, pineapple or strawberries and home-made smoothies a very special touch. In addition to being used in the cold kitchen, the oil can also be used well for frying, cooking and grilling, regardless of its production method, as both versions can be heated very high and have a smoke point of about 200 degrees. This indicates the temperature at which the oil begins to smoke - which in no case should be achieved, since this harmful substances such. Acrolein arise.

Cold-pressed grape seed oil is relatively expensive, and is therefore reluctant to "burn off" many amateur chefs. Others, when preparing hot food, consciously opt for the noble vegetable oil to give it a fruity, mildly nutty taste nuance. Especially like it is, for example, used for searing fish or meat. It is also suitable for vegetables and searing desserts such as pancakes or crepes, to present them slightly different than usual. It should be noted, however, that many of the valuable ingredients are destroyed by high temperatures, therefore, should always be gently fried or cooked with virgin oil.

Refined grape seed oil, on the other hand, is the milder option in the warm kitchen, because it is odorless and tasteless due to the hot pressing and has a transparent color. Since the amount of recovered oil in this method is much higher than in the cold pressing, the refined oil is also relatively cheap.

Grapeseed oil: health benefits

Grape seed oil has many positive effects on health. The high content of vitamin E, for example, protects cells and tissues against destruction by so-called "free radicals", which are produced as a natural waste product of the metabolism and in inflammatory diseases. If there is an excess of radicals in the long term, this can lead to serious damage to health, for example, by depositing blood fats in the vessel wall and increasing the risk of arteriosclerosis. The regular intake of vitamin E can therefore reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease such as heart attack and stroke. In addition, vitamin E in grapeseed oil can cause a number of other diseases, such as cataract, age-related macular degeneration, rheumatic diseases or premature aging of nerve and brain cells. In addition, the vitamin is known to have a positive effect on the immune system and to stop inflammatory processes, which can minimize joint discomfort and movement restrictions.

In addition, the oil contains a lot of so-called "unsaturated" fatty acids, especially the proportion of particularly valuable linoleic acid is considerable. The cold-pressed oil contains up to 70% of the diunsaturated fatty acid, refined grape oil still comes up to 10%. Linoleic acid is one of the omega-6 fatty acids and is "essential", meaning it can not be produced by the body itself, but must be ingested in sufficient quantities through the diet. It is particularly beneficial for the health, as it provides, among other things, for the regulation of the water balance of the skin, can strengthen the immune system and help with rheumatic diseases. In addition, omega-6 fatty acids such as linoleic acid have a positive influence on cholesterol levels. Accordingly, grapeseed oil is also very good as a home remedy to lower cholesterol and can thus help to prevent cardiovascular diseases such as a heart attack or stroke.

Cosmetics: Natural skin care with grapeseed oil

Due to the many valuable ingredients, the oil is also used in the field of cosmetics in many ways. It has been proven to be particularly effective for the care of dry skin, as it smoothes and refines the appearance of the skin, eliminates small cracks and brittle spots and promotes wound healing in the event of minor injuries. In addition, the oil is from the point of view of many cosmetic experts due to its high content of vitamin E excellent as a home remedy for wrinkles. Because the vitamin is to keep the skin young longer, by ensuring that it remains firm and elastic and wrinkling is reduced. The popular anti-aging product also contains vitamin K, omega 6 and lecithin, which also have a skin-smoothing and invigorating effect and thus promote a fresh, healthy complexion.

Many users use pure grapeseed oil in facial care or combine this with e.g. with a liquid day or night cream. The advantage of this is that it is equally well-suited to both dry and oily skin and combination skin as it has a light texture and retracts quickly, does not clog pores and regulates the skin's fat balance. Many other oils, e.g. Coconut oil, however, are not suitable for sensitive or oily skin, as they are relatively heavy and clog the pores quickly. As grapeseed oil also cares for stressed skin and can counteract inflammation, it has also proven itself as a home remedy for pimples and impurities. Likewise, the oil is liked by men, e.g. Used as a post-shave care product to treat minor injuries, soothe damaged skin and prevent skin burning and itching. Because of these healing properties, grape seed oil is often used to treat atopic dermatitis or eczema.

If the skin is very dry, it can also be mixed with other moisturizers such as Avocado oil to be mixed. In this case it is also advisable to enrich a nourishing moisturizing mask with a few drops of the cold-pressed oil. Also for body care cold pressed oil can be used wonderfully. However, since this is relatively expensive, mixing with another, cheaper oil (for example, almond or jojoba oil) lends itself. Likewise already finished care oil mixtures can be well combined with a few drops of grape seed oil. A mixing ratio of about one to ten has proven useful in order to obtain a product of high quality at a relatively low price. Also for a nursing bath, massages or a body scrub, the valuable product of grapes can be used well. For this you mix e.g. just a handful of sea salt with a little oil, apply the mass under the shower to the damp skin and let it act for a few minutes.

In addition to the pure oil are also commercially available various care products with grape seed extract. This is characterized by a particularly high proportion of so-called "oligomeric proanthocyanidins" (short: OPC), which are naturally occurring in plants substances that belong to the group of flavanols. OPCs are considered to be one of the strongest known antioxidants whose effects are many times higher than those of vitamin C or vitamin E. OPCs have a variety of beneficial effects on health, including cardiovascular function, improving blood circulation, and providing protection and elasticity of the vessels. In addition, the phytochemicals are considered to be effective anti-aging agents, as they protect our skin from the harmful influence of free radicals and thus prevent skin aging.

Grapeseed oil for the hair

Also for hair care, the oil from grapes is very good. Because it contains many nutrients that have a positive effect on the hair structure and is at the same time much less weight-bearing than other oils. It absorbs comparatively well and is easily washed out, and there is no risk (as in the case of olive oil) that the hair becomes darker as a result of the application. Due to the high proportion of valuable linoleic acid, cold-pressed oil can be used wonderfully against dry, brittle hair. In addition, the contained vitamin E also ensures healthy and beautiful hair by keeping it strong and supple and supporting growth.

A nourishing conditioner can be made quite simply by blending good, cold-pressed grape seed oil with another oil (for example from olive, sesame or avocado) in a ratio of 3: 1. Then the mixture is warmed up in the microwave and carefully massaged into the strained hair lengths and tips. The cure should be in the hair for at least three hours (or overnight), then the oil is thoroughly rinsed out. Alternatively, finished hair care products such as shampoos, rinses or cures can be finished with a few drops of grapeseed oil, just like in skin and facial care. (No)