5 Reasons Sesame Seeds are Good for you

The sesame seed is one of the oldest oil-seed crops in the world, borne from the sesame plant (Sesamum Indicum), which is native to Asia and East Africa. The seeds are tiny, flat, and oval with a nutty taste, and they come in a range of colours from white and black to red, brown, and tan.

Sesame seeds are versatile nutrient-dense condiments added to various foods, as a paste, toasted or raw, or as sesame oil, to provide a nutty flavour and crunchy texture. They can also be added as ingredients in soaps, cosmetics and medicines.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF SESAME SEEDS

Sesame seeds are a good source of healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals like copper, manganese, calcium, phosphorus, and dietary fibre. They are also rich sources of proteins and antioxidants, which inhibit their high oil content from going rancid.

1. Reduces Blood Sugar Levels

Sesame seeds help manage and control the effect of diabetes by reducing blood sugar and regulating the levels of insulin and glucose in the blood. Research also shows that sesame seed oil enhances the effectiveness of traditional type 2 diabetes medications when they are taken together. 

2. Lowers cholesterol

According to Healthline, some studies suggest that regularly eating sesame seeds may help decrease high cholesterol and triglycerides- which are risk factors for heart disease.

The seeds are high in polyunsaturated fatty acids, lignans, and phytosterols, which lower the bad cholesterol in the arteries and blood vessels. Read on 5 nutrients found in sesame seeds.

3. Boosts bone health

The presence of calcium, manganese, and zinc in sesame seeds helps increase bone mineral density, reducing the occurrence of osteoporosis and bone loss from cases of rheumatoid arthritis or even menopause. These minerals help improve bone growth and facilitate the creation of new bone matter. Calcium and Magnesium are also known to help protect the colon cells from cancer-causing chemicals.

4. Reduces blood pressure

The number of high blood pressure cases has increased over the last two decades. It is one of the contributing factors of heart attack, stroke, and diabetic heart disease. The natural oils and fatty acids in sesame seeds prevent the onset of cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis, while magnesium, a known vasodilator (nutrient known to open blood vessels), helps in lowering high blood pressure.

5. Hair and Skin Benefits

Sesame seeds offer several benefits to the skin, including detoxification as they are rich in antioxidants. The antibacterial and antiviral properties of sesame seeds can help eliminate skin pathogens, and they can also be used to reduce inflammation and treat sunburns.

Sesame seeds also encourage hair growth as they contain essential fatty acids and nutrients vital for the maintenance of a healthy scalp and hair. Sesame seed oil is often massaged into the scalp to reduce premature greying and boost hair growth!

In addition to these 5 major advantages listed above, the dietary fibre present in sesame seeds also helps aid digestion, and the oils present boost oral health. It also serves as a good source of energy and can help fight stress by enhancing serotonin activity.

Sesame seeds are relatively small in size but undoubtedly loaded with many benefits.

KODGAV is an Agtech platform streamlining access to plant-based ingredients. We cater to both retail orders and wholesale supply of sesame seeds.

If you're reading from the UK or EU, find out how you can access sesame seeds without the price spikes caused by Brexit.