The seeds of the sesame plant are commonly used in cooking, most notably Asian cuisine, for the nutty flavor that they impart when eaten. Oil extracted from the sesame seeds is also used in cooking and salad dressings in place of olive oil. Additionally, there are several reported health benefits associated with the consumption of sesame oil.
Antioxidants
Sesame oil is primarily composed of fatty molecules and antioxidants. The antioxidant properties of sesame oil extend the shelf life and preserve the flavor over a longer period of time. These antioxidant properties may also contribute to a number of health benefits. According to OrganicAuthority.com, antioxidants are considered necessary for our longevity by reducing the risks of developing serious health complications like heart disease, cancer and arthritis.
Hypertension
When used as a digestive supplement, sesame seed oil may reduce high blood pressure to healthier levels. In a clinical study published in the March 2006 issue of "Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine," patients with high blood pressure, or hypertension, replaced all of the edible oils in their diets with approximately 35 grams of sesame oil for 45 days. Researchers found that the sesame seed oil significantly reduced blood pressure, and when the sesame seed oil was removed from the diet, the high blood pressure levels returned to previous levels. Reduced blood pressure in people with hypertension significantly reduces the risks of cardiovascular disease.
Alzheimer's Disease
Sesame oil may also be able to delay or diminish the deleterious effects of Alzheimer's disease. In a study published in the June 2009 issue of "Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin," researchers examined the effects of a sesame seed additive in diets fed to mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. Their results suggest that the sesame seed diets significantly reduced damaging chemicals and neuronal degradation in the brain, which may indicate a protective effect from neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease.
References
- "Trends in new crops and new uses": Food, Industrial, Nutraceutical, and Pharmaceutical Uses of Sesame Genetic Resources Morris, J.B. 2002.
- Gernot Katzer's Spice Pages: Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)
- OrganicAuthority.com: The Health Benefits of Antioxidants
- "Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine": Effect of Sesame Oil on Diuretics or ß-blockers in the Modulation of Blood Pressure, Anthropometry, Lipid Profile, and Redox Status
- "Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin": Sesaminol Glucosides Protect β-Amyloid Peptide-Induced Cognitive Deficits in Mice
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