Grapeseed Oil vs Olive Oil: What to Choose?

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Why do we need to compare grapeseed oil vs olive oil? A healthy diet should contain the right amount of fatty acids. One of its main sources is vegetable oils, among which olive oil is the most popular. But recently the popularity of grapeseed oil has become to grow. It seems to have no less benefit for human health in comparison to olive oil. So which one is preferable? Here are the main arguments on topic “Grapeseed oil vs. olive oil”.

Nutritional value

Both grapeseed oil and olive oil are considered very rich in their nutritional constituents. They are cholesterol-free, high in unsaturated fats and low in saturated fat. They contain a large amount of valuable antioxidants and Vitamin E.

Still there is one significant difference in the terms of nutritional value. The large percentage (72%) of grapeseed oil fatty acids are from Omega-6 group, while olive oil is higher in Omega-3 fatty acids. Medical studies suggest that excessive consumption of Omega-6 acids is not recommended (“American Journal of Clinical Nutrition”, 2006). So the fat profile of olive oil is better than the one of grapeseed oil.

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Smoke point

Smoke point is the lowest temperature at which oils start smoking, their lipids break down, cell-damaging toxins and free radicals come out.

According to Wikipedia, the smoke point of extra-virgin olive oil is 375°F and of grapeseed oil is 420°F. Susan O’Brien, author of “The Gluten-Free Vegan: 150 Delicious Gluten-Free, Animal-Free Recipes”, recommends grapeseed oil for high-heat cooking and olive oil – for salad dressings, marinades, sauces.

Taste and Flavor

Grapeseed oil has lighter, more neutral taste in comparison to olive oil. Besides, olive oil loses its taste when it is exposed to heat for a long time.

Grapeseed oil lets the natural flavor of food you are cooking stay unchangeable. So grapeseed oil is preferred while cooking delicate food, i.e. fish, vegetables, cakes.

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Benefits for skin and hair

Grapeseed oil and olive oil are great moisturizes for skin and hair. At the same time, olive oil is heavier and can grease up the skin and clog pores. So it doesn’t suit people with oily skin. Besides, grapeseed oil contains higher amount of Vitamin E, which is very good for the improving skin’s general appearance. Cosmetologists usually recommend to use grapeseed oil for face and olive oil – for hair (“Better Health Information from Professional Medical Doctors”).

Dr. Deepti Sadhwani, a double Board Certified Physician of Internal and Bariatric Medicine, concludes that both grapeseed oil and olive oil are very healthy. It is a matter of taste and purposes which one to choose. Grapeseed oil is more versatile than olive oil because it is suitable for any kind of cooking and cosmetic applications. But it cannot completely substitute olive oil for intake consumption as it doesn’t contain Omega-3 and it is high in Omega-6 instead.