Sesame oil, what is it good for?

Composition and nutritional value

Sesame oil, due to its rich composition, including minerals and vitamins, is considered one of the most balanced products in terms of the content of nutrients.

The main beneficial substances of the plant product include:

• Amino acids.
• Vitamins A, E, C, D and group B.
• Oleic acid (monosaturated) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (Omega 9 and Omega 6, respectively).
• Antioxidants, biologically active components: phytosterols, phospholipids, sesamol, squalene and others.
• More than 20 known micro- and macroelements, including potassium, magnesium, iron, silicon, phosphorus.

As for nutritional value, there are practically no proteins and carbohydrates in the product, and fats – 99.8%. Because of this, the calorie content is almost 900 kcal (per 100 g).

The benefits and harms of unrefined sesame oil

In Eastern countries, sesame oil is well known and is used not only for adding to food, but also for the treatment and prevention of various ailments. To achieve the effect and not harm your health, you should use only natural unrefined oil.

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The beneficial properties of unrefined sesame oil are due to its rich composition. It contains:

• B vitamins;
• vitamins A, D, E, K, C;
• antioxidants;
• polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-6, omega-9, stearic, palmitic);
• lignans;
• sesamin;
• lecithin;
• protein.

But there is practically no calcium and other minerals in which sesame seeds are so rich. The squeezing technology is such that when squeezing out, calcium and minerals do not pass into the oil. So, it is better to use sesame seeds directly or a paste made from them as a source of calcium, iron, and zinc.

Unrefined sesame oil should be taken for:

• problems with the heart and blood vessels. It lowers cholesterol levels, strengthens the heart muscle and the walls of blood vessels, improves blood composition;
• hypertension;
• arrhythmias;
• atherosclerosis;
• ischemia;
• colitis;
• stomach and duodenal ulcers;
• gastritis with high acidity;
• hepatitis;
• biliary dyskinesia;
• fatty liver;
• oncology;
• eczema;
• dermatitis;
• psoriasis;
• mastopathy;
• prostatitis.

Sesame oil, taken daily in small quantities, improves metabolism, eliminates waste and toxins, and helps you lose weight or gain muscle mass. The product has a good effect on the nervous system, strengthens bones and muscles, improves immunity, reduces inflammation and relieves pain.

For therapeutic and preventive purposes, you can drink 1-2 teaspoons, but not every day. For children, a few drops are enough.

However, we must remember about the harm that can occur from excessive use of sesame oil, as well as from:

• allergies to sesame;
• high blood clotting;
• thrombosis;
• varicose veins

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Benefits of sesame oil

Regular use of sesame oil can serve as a good prevention and even therapy for some diseases. Beneficial properties of sesame oil when consumed regularly:

1. Used as a prophylactic against atherosclerosis. Restoration of the walls of blood vessels is possible thanks to sesamol and polyunsaturated fatty acids, which prevent the accumulation of cholesterol and, accordingly, reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
2. Helps lower blood pressure. Magnesium contained in the oil has a sedative and antispasmodic effect.
3. Has antibacterial and antiviral properties. Sesame oil was first used as a medicine by representatives of Ayurveda medicine. Modern doctors who support traditional forms of treatment use it as an adjuvant for staphylococcus, stomatitis, acute pharyngitis, and inflammatory processes of the oral cavity.
4. Neurological disorders. Sesame oil has a therapeutic effect in Huntington's disease and multiple sclerosis.
5. Magnesium in sesame oil enhances the effect of hypoglycemic substances, so it can be used as a preventative against diabetes.
6. Used as an adjuvant in the treatment or prevention of osteoporosis. Consumption of sesame seeds in a controlled amount makes it possible to normalize bone density and make bones stronger, which is especially important for older people. This is all thanks to the fact that sesame oil is one of the most calcium-rich products (100 g of sesame seeds contains 1200 mg of calcium). Can be used by people of any age as a means to replenish calcium levels in the body.
7. It is used as an anti-inflammatory agent because it contains a lot of copper. Thanks to this property, inflammatory processes in the joints are reduced.
8. Scientists have proven that sesame product has a redox effect on the nervous system, which is why it can be considered a mild antidepressant that will help fight chronic fatigue.
9. Studies on mice have also proven the protective properties of sesame oil when exposed to UV irradiation on the DNA of living creatures. Due to this, the sesame product is used as a separate sunscreen and added as a component to special creams.
10. What else is sesame oil good for? This is an effective preventive measure for oral diseases. When used, due to the beneficial properties of sesame oil, untreated inflammatory processes in the cavity are eliminated. When you regularly rinse your mouth with it, the number of harmful bacteria decreases, dental plaque noticeably decreases, and the product has whitening properties.
11. Thanks to vitamins B and A and some microelements, regular intake of sesame products can improve vision. If you take vitamin A or D, then sesame oil will be a good healthy addition, since these microelements are practically not absorbed without the consumption of fat.

How to take sesame oil correctly, assessing its benefits and harms? The permissible amount of the product will depend on the age of the person. It is useful for adults to consume no more than 3 teaspoons of oil per day, divided into 2-3 doses. It can be taken as a separate product (which is not so common) or as a means to season dishes.

It is better to start giving it to children no earlier than 1 year and introduce it gradually. Children under 3 years old should take 3-5 drops per day (in 3 doses). From 3 to 6 years – up to 10 drops per day are allowed. Older children (from 10 to 14 years old) can consume 1 tsp per day. From 14 years old, adult dosage is allowed.

In order to experience all the beneficial properties of a herbal product as a prophylactic agent, you need to follow a certain dosage of consumption. Especially pregnant and lactating women should not exceed it.

Sesame oil: application

Sesame oil, which can already be bought in almost every store, has a wide range of uses:

Sesame oil in folk medicine

How will the product help? It is used in the following situations:

• To get rid of coughs and colds . Heat the oil in a water bath and rub it on your chest and back before going to bed.
• From gastritis . Drink sesame oil on an empty stomach, two teaspoons per day.
• To improve blood clotting . Before meals, take one tablespoon three times a day.
• To relieve toothache . Rub the oil into your gums.

Areas of application

Sesame product is used in almost all industries. Let's talk about this in more detail.

Use in medicine

In addition to the beneficial effects on the body that we described above, sesame oil:

• It has a positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract: normalizes the production of bile and gastric juice, eliminates flatulence, and has laxative properties. Its regular use helps normalize metabolism in the body, and is used as part of complex therapy for diseases of the pancreas and stomach ulcers.
• Normalizes blood clotting.
• If you take it, you can strengthen the walls of the heart muscle and normalize the elasticity of blood vessels. It will help prevent strokes and heart attacks.
• The presence of zinc, Omega 3 and Omega 6, B vitamins is beneficial for the functions of the male and female reproductive systems. Regular consumption of sesame oil by women will help relieve symptoms of PMS and menopause. Its use will not only be contraindicated, but also useful during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
• Since sesame oil has antioxidant and immunostimulating properties, it can be used to prevent the appearance of tumors in the body.

The oil can be actively used by athletes and people of mental work.

• In the first case, the natural product helps build muscle mass. At the same time, the composition of sesame constantly nourishes the body and prevents it from becoming depleted after intense training.
• If a man or woman is constantly engaged in mental work, then with constant increased workload, B vitamins, phospholipids, and amino acids will come to the rescue, which will help quickly restore the energy used.

Although sesame oil is considered a harmless product, it should be used as an auxiliary therapy only after consultation with a specialist.

Cooking

The benefits and harms of freshly prepared unrefined sesame oil have long been studied by culinary specialists. The unrefined product is prepared from roasted seeds. It has a richer color, aroma and taste.

Unrefined sesame oil has long been used in Korean, Indian, and Chinese cuisine. It is also used by chefs in Thailand. Today, sesame oil is as popular in these countries as peanut butter (the two may sometimes be used together). Those who love exotic dishes can actively use it together with honey and soy sauce. Most often it serves as an additive to sweets, seafood, pilaf, deep-fried dishes, vegetables, meat and salads. As for the cooking of Russia and Ukraine, unrefined sesame oil is used for preparing pancakes and baked goods, gravy, side dishes, porridges, fish and meat dishes, and purees.

Cosmetology

The beneficial properties and contraindications when using sesame oil are also taken into account by modern cosmetologists. Due to its anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, and antibacterial properties, sesame oil can be actively used to quickly heal damaged skin and improve its condition.

If before use you scrub or steam your facial skin with a herbal decoction, the components of the oil will quickly penetrate the skin cells and saturate them with beneficial vitamins and minerals. It will help to moisturize and soften the skin, making it firmer and more elastic.

When applied regularly to the skin, it helps to quickly restore its protective properties and normalize the water-lipid balance.

If you use it as part of scrubs or peels, this will more effectively remove dead cells, harmful substances and impurities from your face.

Sesame oil is an excellent remedy against skin inflammatory processes, for skin that often flakes, has irritation, and acne.

The herbal product is also used in industrial production for the production of care products for dry, problematic, aging skin.

With the help of sesame, women can restore dry and damaged hair. The microelements it contains will help strengthen the hair follicles.

Carrying out a massage

Both in cosmetology and for massage, you can use sesame oil along with other oils. This will only intensify the effect. For relaxation, you can add a few drops of essential oils. Geranium, bergamot, lemon, incense, and myrrh will be best combined with it.

It can be used for any type of massage for women or men, but is most often used to massage the skin during beauty treatments.

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Features of use for massage: apply easily to the skin and rub in a circular motion. Depending on the part of the body, you can massage for up to 15 minutes, after which you can lie down for another 5-7 minutes and rinse with warm water. To relax during a massage and get a good effect, you can take a bath with herbal infusions.

Before using sesame oil, you should definitely study its beneficial properties and contraindications.

How to choose a quality product?

On the shelves of supermarkets and pharmacies you can find both dark and light sesame oil. The product made from roasted sesame is dark, while the product made from fresh grains is light. If you want to get a product in which all the beneficial substances will be preserved for as long as possible, then it is better to choose cold-pressed sesame.

If the oil will be used in cooking and can be fried, then it is better to buy a light sesame product for this. Thermal exposure is allowed for it.

When purchasing, be sure to pay attention to the expiration date. Usually it should not exceed 24 months, but you need to take into account that after the container is opened, its shelf life will decrease several times. If it will not be used in large doses or frequently, it is better to buy it in a small container. Oil should only be stored in a dark and cool place.

If there is a noticeable small sediment at the bottom of the container, there is nothing wrong with that. This is one of the signs of a natural product.

Storing sesame oil

Sesame oil has a long shelf life and can be stored in its container, with the lid tightly screwed on, in a cool, dark place. Light sesame oil is best stored at room temperature and will last up to a year. Toasted sesame has a slightly shorter shelf life, but will still last for many months under ideal conditions. It can also be stored in the refrigerator, extending its life even longer. The oil will be a little denser when cold, but still pours out easily.

Contraindications and harm

The fact that sesame is safe and has a positive effect has been proven by positive reviews from people who have taken it. But it must be borne in mind that in some cases its use will be inappropriate.

• If a person has problems with bowel movements or frequent diarrhea, it is better not to risk it, since it has laxative properties.
• Patients who suffer from kidney disease are not recommended to consume sesame oil daily, especially in combination with products that contain oxalic acid. You should also not take it at the same time as acetylsalicylic acid. This can cause the formation of kidney stones and cause poor calcium absorption.
• It is better to avoid consumption by persons who suffer from allergies or individual intolerance to sesame oil or any types of nuts.
• Since substances in sesame help improve blood clotting, it is strictly not recommended for people who are prone to thrombosis or have increased blood clotting.

The benefits and harms of sesame (sesame) oil for the body will depend on its quality, correct use and whether all contraindications have been taken into account.

The article was checked by an expert - practicing family doctor Elizaveta Anatolyevna Krizhanovskaya.

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