Health Benefits of Sesame Seeds
My son had dairy allergies as a toddler. He has outgrown them now, thank heavens, but there was a time when I was looking for alternative calcium sources for milk-allergics and found out that sesame seeds can be a suitable option.
Apparently, not only are they rich in calcium (a quarter-cup supplies up to more than a third of the daily value for calcium), it’s also rich in
- calcium, and provides pain relief for rheumatoid arthritis
- magnesium, which is important for managing asthma, high blood pressure, migraine attacks, and sleep in menopausal women
- zinc, a trace element important for bone health and preventing osteoporosis
- phytoesterols (400-413 mg per 100 grams), which help lower blood cholesterol
WH Foods has more about the health benefits of sesame seeds as well as tips and ideas on how to incorporate them into your diet.
Tags: arthritis, calcium, cardiovascular-disease, cholesterol, diet, functional-food, health, health-food, Healthy Eating, menopause, migraine, nutraceuticals, nutrition, osteoporosisRelated Stories
POSTED IN: ~Asthma and Allergies, ~Autoimmune Diseases, ~Cardiovascular Health, ~Muscles and Bones, ~Prevents Other Diseases, ~Spices, Herbs and Condiments
9 opinions for Health Benefits of Sesame Seeds
kathryn
Nov 1, 2007 at 8:44 pm
While I love the taste of sesame seeds, they tend to go straight through you, without giving up their fabulous nutrients on the way. Which is why I eat them ground up - as tahini. I find it such a useful ingredient. I regularly use it in salad dressings, stir fries, mashed potatoes, instead of margarine on toast, etc.
ruth
Nov 1, 2007 at 11:48 pm
Hi Kathryn! Thanks for the tidbit about ground sesame seeds. I’ve also read that hulled sesame seeds may even contain more calcium the unhulled ones, although the bioavailability is much less.
What I like about sesame seeds is the crunch and texture it gives to dishes. But I’d use tahini (tahina) as an alternative to peanut butter and in making humus.
Goji Juice Girl!
Nov 2, 2007 at 6:11 am
I never would have guessed sesame seeds were all that nutritious! I would have been wrong! :)
That’s really very interesting. - I’ve only ever had sesame seeds on breads, but what exactly do they taste like on their own?
kathryn
Nov 2, 2007 at 12:34 pm
Ruth, I thought it was the other way round - unhulled contained more minerals. And that these are lost in the hulling process. Hmm, mind you it’s a long-time since I “learnt” that so I could be wrong.
Agreed, about the crunch, texture and flavour of sesame seeds.
Health Links 11/3
Nov 3, 2007 at 4:33 pm
[…] Ruth from Eating Fabulous offers some nutritional information on sesame seeds […]
Ernesto Martinez
Dec 27, 2007 at 11:44 am
I will be graeatful if you send me information about the ground sesame seed effect on human health
Grinding the sesame seed does it do not loose the healthy components by oxidation?
Thanks,
EM
Linda
Jan 9, 2008 at 8:43 am
Sprinkle them on non-fat cottage cheese. Yummy.
Larry
Jun 17, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Is anyone aware of benefits that sesame seeds have for men’s sexual health? I’ve heard that they aid in production of nitrous oxide, which is key to sexual health.
lame garba
Aug 11, 2008 at 1:05 am
i happen to fall in love with seseme though we used to fry it and i dont know wether we used to loose some beneficial contents of it.please help by notifying me through e mail.
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