Grapeseed Oils Contain Heart-Healthy Fats
Not all fats are bad for your health. Some fats are actually good for a healthy, well-balanced diet. Oils such as olive oil, flax oil, walnut, peanut and grapeseed oils contain unsaturated fats which help maintain your weight and fight against age-related diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol and arthritis. Plus, these oils provide a wide range of differing tastes for the gourmet cook.
Heart-healthy Grapeseed Oil: Helps to lower cholesterol
Grapeseed oil contains essential fatty acids, which are necessary for normal cell metabolism and maintenance. Grapeseed oil is also believed to reduce "bad" cholesterol in the arteries and raise the HDL or "good" cholesterol.In two studies conducted by Dr. David T. Nash, a research cardiologist at the State University of New York Health Science Center, it was shown that subjects who included a small amount of grapeseed oil daily in a low-fat diet over a four week period, experienced an increase in their HDL or "good" Cholesterol of 13%, and a decrease in their LDL or the "bad" Cholesterol of 7%.
Benefits of Grapeseed Oil
- contains Vitamin E, one tbs provides nearly the recommended daily allowance
- contains a group of bioflavonoids known as procyanadins.
- is a polyunsaturated oil that is rich in linoleic acid. At 68 – 76%, it contains the highest amounts of linoleic acid among any oil or food source. One of two essential fatty acids that the human body cannot produce.
- Has a very light taste and can be used just as you use olive oil in cooking.
- High flash point - can withstand high cooking heat producing the least smoke and less danger of burning of cooking oils.
Growing in popularity with chefs everywhere, grapeseed oil has a subtle buttery flavor and can be used for baking, grilling, frying or in salad dressings with no after tastes. It allows foods to retain their original flavor. With its neutral flavor, Grapeseed oil serves to enhance the natural flavor of foods and is a great gourmet alternative to olive oil.
Every diet needs heart-healthy oils such as olive, flaxseed, sesame, walnut, peanut and grapeseed oils to replace unhealthy, saturated fats. The key, as with anything, is not to consume too much of these oils because they are high in calories.
For recipes to make your own heart-healthy salad dressings, try these:
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