Sesame Seeds and Sesame Oil

Sesame is a flowering plant that grows naturally in the tropical regions of the world.It is cultivated for its edible seeds which grow in pods. Sesame, which was domesticated over 4000 years ago,is one of the oldest known oilseed crops.It is a robust,drought-tolerant crop and for thousands of years, was common in the Middle East. Sesame seeds have a high oil content and are available in many colours. Off-white seeds,which are what I use,are the most common and they can also be gold, brown,reddish, grey and black.Sesame has a rich, nutty taste and the oil is very popular both for cooking and skin care. It is often used for massage in the traditional practice of Ayurveda. Cold-pressed sesame oil, which is produced from raw seeds and is a pale yellow color, is what is sold in western health shops. This is the kind that is popular for skin care. East Asian sesame oils, which are used for cooking, are usually dark brown as the oil comes from toasted sesame seeds.Unroasted but not always cold-pressed sesame oil is often used for cooking in the Middle East and is sold in the markets there.Sesame is rich in antioxidants, Omega 6 fatty acids, proteins, nutrients and minerals but lacks Omega 3.

What are the Benefits of Sesame Seeds and Sesame Oil?

With all the nutrients and minerals they contain, both the seeds and oil offer many benefits:

Sesame contains vitamin E,magnesium,copper,calcium,iron, zinc and vitamin B6. Zinc is necessary for producing collagen, which gives the skin more elasticity.

Applying sesame oil to the skin helps to prevent skin disorders.

Sesame is great for dental health and can prevent the build up of plaque.

Due to its high magnesium content, sesame can help lower blood pressure.

It contains many properties that benefit the heart.

Sesame seeds contain an anti-cancer compound and they can also protect DNA from radiation damage.

Sesame is great for the bones because of its high zinc and calcium content and can provide some relief in cases of rheumatoid arthritis.

Sesame seeds contain alot of fibre, which benefits digestion and helps in cases of constipation.

Sesame has also been found to help in cases of headaches and migraine.

The oil acts as a natural sunscreen because of its vitamin E content.

Sesame oil is a good moisturizer for the skin and it is easily absorbed.

It helps detoxify the skin after it has been exposed to environmental toxins and repairs damaged skin cells.

It contains an antioxidant called sesamol, which prevents lines and wrinkles and slows the aging process.

A sesame oil massage can improve blood circulation and sesame oil can be safely applied to inflamed or wounded skin to reduce infection.

Sesame oil is also great for the hair. It has darkening qualities and treats premature greying.

It promotes hair growth by increasing scalp circulation.It protects the hair from sunlight.

It can be used with other essential oils to treat head lice.

Sesame oil prevents dryness of the hair and helps improve the condition of damaged hair and give shine to the hair.

It can be used to treat dandruff.

It can help relieve stress as well as combat hair loss brought on by stress.

Sesame oil helps chemically treated hair regain its lustre as it pentrates deeply and strengthens hair shafts at the root, promoting new hair growth.

It also reduces split ends.

What are the Risks of Sesame Seeds and Sesame Oil?

The main risk associated with the use of sesame is that is can trigger an allergic reaction in sensitive people.This is more common in people who already have some kind of food allergy. Allergic people need to avoid all products containing sesame.

How to Use Sesame Seeds and Sesame Oil.

Sesame oil is popular for cooking, especially in Korea, China and some Southern Indian states. Despite its high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids, it is the cooking oil least prone to turning rancid when kept in the open because of the high level of natural antioxidants that it contains. Light sesame oil has a high smoke point and can be used for deep frying, while dark sesame oil, from roasted sesame seeds, has a lower smoke point and is not suitable for deep frying. It is better used for sauteing or stir frying.

Cold pressed, light coloured sesame oil is a good massage oil as it penetrates the skin easily. It has quite a strong fragrance and this can be lessened by mixing the sesame oil with other oils such as castor or almond oil.Some of the environmental toxins picked up by the skin are soluble in oil. To detoxify the skin, apply warm sesame oil to the skin and leave it on for about fifteen minutes and then wash in warm water without soap.Sesame oil can be used as a daily skin treatment and can be applied onto slightly-wet skin after taking a hot shower. This traps moisture and keeps the skin moisturized all day.Sesame oil can be massaged into the scalp before going to bed. Cover the hair and leave the oil on overnight to help relieve dandruff. For dry hair, rub two or three drops of the oil between the hands and apply this to the hair and leave it in. Sesame oil can also be applied to the skin as a sunscreen.To improve dental health, a tablespoon of sesame oil can be swished around in the mouth for about fifteen minutes. This helps prevent tooth decay and cavities, keeps the lips and mouth lining moist and prevents bad breath. 

When using the sesame seeds, I always grind them before eating them or sprinkling them onto my food. I usually use the off-white ones.They can also be soaked for about ten minutes and strained before being crushed to make a paste. They can be mixed with jaggery, which is a sweetener used in Ayurveda, to give a pleasant taste. Soaking them before use enables the body to absorb the calcium that they provide more easily.

How to Store Sesame Seeds and Sesame Oil.

When purchasing sesame seeds, it is better to purchase them in small amounts and use them quickly. They have a high oil content and become rancid rapidly. They should be kept in an airtight container and stored in a cool place. They can be kept in a cool place for up to three months, in the fridge for up to six months or kept frozen for up to a year. Sesame oil, on the other hand, is very stable because of the high level of natural antioxidants that it contains.It can also be kept in the fridge although this is not necessary. Refrigeration can cause the oil to solidify and become cloudy but this doesn't affect its quality. It will return to normal at room temperature. Sesame oil can actually be kept for years, even in a hot climate, with turning rancid. Oils are always best purchased in glass, rather than in plastic containers and kept in cool, dark places away from direct sunlight.