Healthy and Nutritious Sesame Seeds

The sesame plant is native to India and Africa. This pod was very popular in ancient Greece and India, where Hindus used sesame oil in various religious ceremonies of purification. There are different varieties of the plant that give you white, red, brown or black sesame seeds.

Sesame contributes about 60 percent of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids or 'pure oils'. It also contains 22 percent of plant proteins and between 5 and 8 percent of mineral salts, among which stands out the presence of iron and calcium (the highest value percentage wise to be found in nature, about 780 milligrams per hundred grams, and excellent absorption for the body). They also contain phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium and zinc.

This oil seed offers B vitamins (B1, B2, and B3) and E and is a powerful antioxidant for fighting cancer. It also contains lecithin, carbohydrates, fiber, and two substances called sesamol and sesamolin that protects from rancidity. Sesame has important nutritional properties and is a natural source of minerals, fatty acids and plant proteins.

The high percentage of iron and calcium and its rich fatty acids helps regulate blood cholesterol. It provides high doses of iron, which is very beneficial for people with anemia during pregnancy and lactation.

It is rich in calcium and is advisable to incorporate into the diet, especially for those who are intolerant of animal milk. Sesame is great for people that are lactose intolerant. The presence of this mineral also helps to strengthen bone mass and prevent osteoporosis.

Eat sesame to improve bowel function. This seed enhances oxygenation of the brain and, in turn, to thin the blood, also acts to prevent atherosclerosis. To optimize the protein intake, it should be combined with other cereals or legumes (soy, for example). It is rich in essential amino acids.

Oriental Medicine says consuming sesame seeds regularly would act on the recovery of the original color of greying hair in people.

The seeds can be consumed in different ways. Mixed with other breakfast cereal with milk or yogurt, eaten alone, in salads, incorporated into bread, fried in several preparations. Sesame chicken is an all time favorite at Chinese restaurants as well.
 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Kampel


No comments:

Post a Comment