Super Health Benefits Of The Sesame Seeds

Can you imagine a seed so tiny having benefits so magnificent? You might start worshiping these seeds once you will get to know what they can do to your health.

We are talking about the sesame seeds, the seeds that are the key to good health. We all love to add them to our meals, sprinkle them on the buns and breads, coat the prawns with them before frying or add the secret taste to the soups by putting sesame seed oil in them. But have you ever imagined where these seeds come from.

Sesamum indicum is being cultivated for as long as 5000 years. Its use in the field of medicine dates back to 3600 years, during the era of Egyptian civilization. The women of those times used a mixture of these seeds and honey to enhance their beauty and to regain youth (you can try it too). For the Roman soldiers this mixture was used as a tonic to regain strength.

Because of its medicinal properties it is extensively being used in  Traditional Chinese medicine. A lot of scientific discoveries have been made regarding its health benefits for the past two decades.

We will give you some reasons why these magical seeds should always be kept in your kitchen cabinet. First take a quick look at the powerful nutrients present in these seeds.

These super seeds are loaded with essential minerals like iron, manganese, magnesium, calcium, copper and zinc. You get a combination of the B-complex vitamins such as niacin, thiamin (B1), riboflavin and pyridoxine (B6). It contains an important fatty acid known as oleic acid. What oleic acid can do to your health would be discussed later in this article. You keep reading because there is more coming up for you.

The seeds are rich in proteins. 20% of the seed is composed of high quality protein. How do these nutrients work for you let’s find out.

Good for the Heart
The culprit LDL or bad cholesterol is responsible for adversely affecting your heart. Here comes the role of oleic acid present in the sesame seeds. This heart healthy mono-unsaturated fatty acid will lower your LDL, increase HLD or good cholesterol. Therefore, it will support your heart and will also save it from arteriosclerosis and strokes.

Lower High Blood Pressure

Sesame seeds as well as their oil have been found beneficial for lowering high blood pressure. To get the maximum benefits substitute your regular cooking oil with sesame seed oil. The components responsible for lowering your blood pressure are peptides found in these seeds. The use of its oil is also beneficial for lowering stress, which is one of the hidden causes of high blood pressure and heart disease.

Promote Oral Health
Are you worried about your oral health? Sesame seed oil can be your perfect mouthwash. Just gargle with it for a few minutes and get rid of tooth decay, bleeding gums, halitosis and gingivitis and get strengthened teeth and gums. It can compete with any other chemical mouthwash.

Sesame Oil for Healthy Babies
Sesame oil massage can give your baby a sound sleep and also improves the baby’s health. This has been proven by an Indian research where 2000 babies were given sesame oil massage and was compared to mineral oil massage. The babies who were given sesame oil massage enjoyed a sound sleep after the massage and showed improvement in health.

The Power of B-complex
As mentioned earlier the seeds are the best source of vitamin B-complex. These vitamins are vital for the maintenance of your eyes, hair, skin, muscles, nervous system and other organs.

Works as a medicine for the Diabetics
Studies reveal that sesame seeds can lower blood sugar levels to such an extent that it can be substituted with the drug for diabetic patients with Type 2 diabetes called Glibenclamide.

Treats Arthritis and Osteoporosis
Studies reveal that copper is beneficial for treating rheumatoid arthritis. Lucky for you these seeds have reserved a reasonable amount of copper for your body and can help you get rid of this problem. The seeds are also loaded with calcium which is again essential for promoting bone health. The presence of zinc saves you from osteoporosis.

Combat Cancer
Sesame seeds can help you fight various types of cancers. The calcium content present in them fights colon cancer. It has proven effective for some other types of cancers as well such as, lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, leukemia and pancreatic cancer. This is because of the antioxidants present in them, which are 20 times more powerful in killing free radicals than melatonin. These powerful antioxidants also strengthen the immune system.

Works as an Antidepressant
Don’t use sleeping pills or antidepressants when you have sesame seeds. These seeds are not only beneficial for relieving stress but they also help you get rid of depressive feelings.