Dating back as far as 3,000 B.C., sesame seeds were used by the Assyrians and are reported to be the first recorded seasoning in history. For nearly as long, a variety of sesame plants have flourished throughout the Middle East and Asia, where their seeds and oils have been used for culinary, medicinal, health and beauty purposes.
Officially known as Sesamum indicum, the annual plant reaches heights of six feet and sprouts oblong leaves and seed pods. Sesame seeds add a nutty taste to many Asian dishes and are the main ingredient in tahini (sesame seed paste) and the Middle Eastern sweet called halvah.
Sesame seeds contain two unique substances: sesamin and sesamolin. Both of these substances belong to a group of beneficial fibers called lignans, which have been shown to have a cholesterol-lowering effect. Additionally, sesamin has shown to protect the liver from oxidative damage.
Sesame seeds are also a good source of phytosterols; compounds found in plants that have a chemical structure similar to cholesterol. When phytosterols are present in the diet in sufficient amounts, they are believed to reduce blood levels of cholesterol, enhance the immune response, and decrease the risk of certain cancers. According to a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, sesame seeds contain the highest total phytosterol content (400-412 mg per 100 grams).
Sesame seeds are an excellent source of copper and calcium. A quarter-cup of sesame seeds provides the body with 74 percent of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of copper, 31 percent of the RDA for magnesium, and 35 percent RDA for calcium.
Copper is known for its use in reducing inflammation and pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis. Copper also plays an important role in the activity of lysyl oxidase, an enzyme that links collagen and elastin, which provide strength and elasticity in blood vessels, bones and joints.
In addition to being an excellent source of copper and calcium, sesame seeds are also a good source of manganese, iron, phosphorus, vitamin B1 (thiamin), zinc, vitamin E, protein and fiber.
Sesame seed oil has been used as a healing oil for thousands of years. It has natural antibacterial and antiviral properties and has been used to treat common skin pathogens such as staphylococcus and streptococcus, as well as common skin fungi such as athlete’s foot fungus.
Sesame seed oil is a natural anti-inflammatory agent. In India it has been used in experiments to unblock arteries. Ayurvedic physicians in Holland have used the oil to treat chronic diseases such as hepatitis, diabetes and migraine headaches. In an experiment at the Maharishi International College in Fairfield, Iowa, students rinsed their mouths with sesame oil and reported an 85 percent reduction in the bacteria which causes gingivitis.
Sesame seed oil can be used as nose drops for chronic sinusitis and as a throat gargle to kill strep and common cold bacteria. It has proven helpful for sufferers of psoriasis and dry skin ailments and has been successfully used to kill lice infestations in the scalp and hair of children.
When applied to the skin after exposure to wind or sun, sesame oil can calm the burning sensation and provide healing properties to the skin. Sesame seed oil can also protect the skin from the effects of chlorine in swimming pools. Sesame seed oil has shown promising benefits of neutralizing oxygen radicals when used on the skin before and after radiation treatments.
Sesame seed oil can help heal and maintain skin of all ages. Used on babies, sesame seed oil can protect the tender skin area covered by a diaper. Sesame seed oil can be swabbed in the nose of school-age children to protect against airborne viruses and bacteria. Teens can use sesame seed oil to help control acne eruptions and neutralize the toxins which develop both on the skin’s surface and in the pores. Adults can benefit from the skin tightening benefits of sesame oil.
Reference:
- History of Sesame SeedsSesame Seeds – One of the World’s Healthiest FoodsSesame Seeds Food Facts and Trivia
