Wheat Germ Oil

Wheat germ oil is extracted from the germ of the wheat kernel, a small part making up only about two to three percent of the grain's weight but yielding a comparatively high eight to fourteen percent oil by content. The oil is notably rich in vitamin E along with linoleic, palmitic and oleic fatty acids, giving it a strong nutritional reputation, though vitamin E levels decline through oxidation during processing and storage. Its strong flavor and short shelf life once pressed have limited its everyday use as a cooking oil, so it is more often sold as a nutritional supplement or used as an ingredient in cosmetic products.