The effects of sesame seeds on the body, or why are sesame seeds good for you?
The sesame seed contains a high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids, more than half of its weight is oil. It contains significant amounts of vitamins A, B1, B2, E. It is particularly rich in calcium, but is also an abundant source of other minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and iron, and is particularly beneficial for people with high cholesterol levels.
The sesame oil pressed from sesame seeds also contains vitamins B, D and E, valuable amino acids, phosphoric acid and lecithin. Its high energy content – 570 kilocalories per 100 grams – and its vitamins and antioxidants make it an effective tonic. The benefits of sesame seeds are more than that. It’s richer in calcium than cow’s milk, for example, so eating it can help prevent osteoporosis.
How to consume sesame seeds?
It’s best to always have sesame seeds at home, as they can be used to enrich a wide variety of dishes. It is also often sprinkled on sweet and savoury baked goods and homemade cakes, adding to their enjoyment and nutritional value. It can also be added to pasta, both raw and fried. It’s good to know that the nutrients in the seed are better absorbed by the body if the seed is broken up a little or at least coarsely ground, as otherwise the seed is ‘not enough for half a tooth’ – its small size makes it difficult to chew. When making any kind of stir-fried dish, mixing the paneer into the breadcrumbs can make it more flamboyant and healthier.
As it have a fairly neutral taste, you can add a spoonful to muesli and any salad.
Tips and advice
For all those who need a high nutritional value, energy-dense, vitamin-rich, fortifying food, sesame seeds are a regular source of nutrition: they are useful for children, adolescents, pregnant and breastfeeding women, people recovering from illness, people on a strict plant-based diet, and people of all ages.
A simple, ancient recipe, for example, is sesame seeds mixed with honey, which were used by the soldiers of the Roman Empire (to boost their fighting spirit before battle), but also as the basis for the sweet khalsa, a popular dessert in many Arab countries.
For those who are allergic to nuts, it is important to note that sesame seeds can also cause hypersensitivity: there is a so-called cross-allergy between the two foods.
Sesame oil is very useful for massages as its valuable substances penetrate the skin more easily than any other oil.
