Sesame oil contains a lot of vitamin A, E, PP, B-group vitamins and various antioxidants.
It is also rich in valuable fatty acids – stearic, palmitic, linolenic, oleic and such substances as: selenium, phosphorus, copper, manganese, magnesium, molybdenum, iron, zinc, ascorbic acid.
Let’s take a closer look at what health benefits can be enjoyed when you add this oil to your diet:
Has strong anti-inflammatory properties
Chronic inflammation can be harmful and lead to illness, which is why it’s important to limit it as much as possible. Animal and test-tube studies have shown that sesame oil may reduce inflammation.
Boosts circulation & metabolism
High copper content means that the body can function at its optimal levels, mainly because copper is required for the production of red blood cells. With a significant percentage of copper in sesame oil, it allows your body to work towards an adequate, but not an excessive amount of these minerals, and therefore the blood flow to the organs and tissues, ensuring a healthier lifestyle.
May help treat arthritis
Osteoarthritis affects nearly 15% of the population and is a common cause of joint pain.
Sesame seeds and sesame oil are rich of cooper. This mineral is essential for building red blood cells, making connective tissue and keeping nerves and blood vessels healthy. Copper is also an anti-inflammatory mineral. Therefore, it is said to have positive effects on relieving arthritic pain.
Calcium, magnesium, and zinc present in sesame seeds and sesame oil also aid in strengthening bones, joints, and blood vessels.
Improves bone strength
Maintaining copper, calcium, and zinc levels through dietary sources is critical to bone growth. For improving the growth and development of bone, you should add sesame seeds and sesame oil into your diet because they contain more calcium than a glass of milk. Sesame oil is also found to speed up healing or regrowth of bones.
Good for your heart
A well-established body of research shows that a diet rich in unsaturated fats is good for heart health. Sesame oil comprises 82% unsaturated fatty acids. In particular, it’s rich in omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-6 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat that is essential to your diet and plays an important role in heart disease prevention
Helps in preventing diabetes
Cold pressed sesame oil may support healthy blood sugar regulation. Sesame oil may even play a role in long-term blood sugar regulation.
Owing to the presence of magnesium sesame seeds and sesame oil come handy in combating diabetes. Magnesium alongside other minerals and vitamins lowers blood glucose levels and thwarts the risk of diabetes.
Helps heal wounds and burns
Cold pressed sesame oil may also be used topically for wounds and burns.The oil’s ability to speed the healing of wounds and burns can likely be attributed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
Gives your skin a boost
The significant levels of zinc found in sesame oil explain its role in contributing to better skin when applied topically. Zinc has been shown to absorb well into deep levels of the skin, while decreasing inflammation and bacterial growth of wounds. We often think of zinc when we have a cold or the flu because it may shorten or lessen the severity of the symptoms. But zinc is also used in the body for producing collagen and giving our skin more elasticity.
May improve sleep quality
One study showed that dripping sesame oil on the foreheads of 20 participants during seven, 30-minute sessions over a 2-week period improved sleep quality and quality of life, compared with a placebo treatment.
Cooking with cold pressed sesame oil
Sesame oil is a delicious and healthy fat to add to your diet.
Cold pressed sesame oil is thick in consistency, darker in color, and has a more pronounced flavor. This cold pressed oil has a 177C smoking point and is not suitable for deep-frying, but can be used for stir-frying and raw applications such as salad dressings.