Have you ever worried about getting enough important minerals? Sesame seeds may be your answer. Sesame Seeds are an abundant source of minerals. 85g of sesame seeds provides 73.5% copper, 44.5% manganese, and 35.1% calcium of RDI (recommended daily intake), and good quantities of phosphorous, zinc, and selenium.
Sesame seeds have long been used for their numerous health benefits, including the potential to prevent and fight cancer. We will discuss the many uses, health benefits, and anti-cancer properties of sesame seeds.
What Are Sesame Seeds?
Sesame seeds are small edible seeds that are harvested from sesame plants. These versatile seeds have been used for centuries in cooking and traditional medicine and can be found in a wide range of cuisines and dishes. The most common form of sesame seed is the hulled variety, which has a light tan color and a nutty, sweet flavor. They are also available unhulled with a slightly bitter taste and a dark color.
Sesame seeds are an excellent source of essential minerals like copper, manganese, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and iron, as well as vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, E, and K. They are also naturally gluten-free and vegan-friendly.
How Are Sesame Seeds Used?
Sesame seeds can be eaten raw, roasted, or toasted, or ground into a paste known as tahini. They are a popular ingredient in many dishes such as hummus, falafel, salads, baked goods, and more. They can also be used as garnishes on dishes or to make sesame oil. In traditional medicine, sesame seeds have been used for their medicinal properties for centuries.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Sesame Seeds?
Sesame seeds are an excellent source of nutrition, packed with minerals and vitamins that provide a wide range of health benefits. Here are some of the scientifically proven health benefits of sesame seeds:
- Good for Bone Health: Sesame seeds contain high amounts of calcium (27%) which is necessary for maintaining strong bones.
- Reduces Risk of Cancer: Studies suggest that regular consumption of sesame seeds can reduce the risk of certain types of cancer due to their antioxidant, anti-mutagenic, and anti-inflammatory properties of sesamol compound.
- Lowers Cholesterol Levels: Phytosterols and lignans in the sesame seeds can help lower cholesterol levels, keeping your heart healthy.
- Improves Skin Health: The zinc found in sesame seeds can help improve skin health, as well as reduce the risk of acne.
- Reduces Inflammation: Sesame seeds have anti-inflammatory properties which can help reduce inflammation throughout the body.
What Makes Sesame Seeds An Anticancer Food?
Sesame seeds are a powerful well documented anticancer food. They contain a variety of compounds that help protect cells from DNA damage and mutations that can lead to cancer.
One of the most beneficial compounds found in sesame seeds are lignans, which are plant-based compounds that are thought to have antioxidant properties. Sesamol, a major lignin, along with other lignans helps promote cell health and reduce inflammation.
Research has also shown that sesame seeds contain natural anti-inflammatory agents that help reduce inflammation in the body, which is linked to certain cancers. Studies have also indicated that sesame seed oil may help prevent tumor formation and slow down the growth of existing tumors in Thyroid cancer.
In conclusion, sesame seeds have numerous health benefits, including their potential anticancer properties. Eating sesame seeds as part of a healthy diet may help reduce your risk of developing cancer and other diseases.
References
Health Benefits
- https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-sesame-seeds#:~:text=It%20is%20native%20to%20tropical,cosmetics%2C%20lubricants%2C%20and%20medicines.
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780123756886101227
- https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jfq/2022/6163753/
- https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-319-78030-6_59
Anti-cancer
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0014299917306702
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0014299919303127
- https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/bk-2012-1093.ch019
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12257-019-0151-1
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