Health benefits of Sesame seeds

Sesame seeds have been commonly used in the Indian cuisine. They are small nutty seeds and are hardly visible in the various dishes they are added to. It is said to be one of the oldest condiment known to man. It is known as ’til’ in India. Lets have a look at its health benefits.

    It is said to contain the mineral copper which helps to prevent and provide relief from arthritis and strengthens our bones, joints and blood vessels.
    It contains magnesium which lowers blood pressure, alleviates asthma and prevents migraine.
    Calcium content in sesame seeds helps to biuld bones and prevents migraine too.
    Zinc content helps to improve bone health and is great for skin.
    It contains monounsaturated fats and vitamin E which helps to maintain heart health.
    It contains phytosterols which helps to lower cholesterol and prevent cancers.
    Sesame butter can help to replace the cholesterol rich butter.
    It is rich in fiber mainly due to the presence of the compounds sesamin and sesamolin which increases the vitamin E content when added to food, helps to lower cholesterol and protects the liver from oxidative damage.

You can add sesame seeds to your morning porridge, add it to a glass of warm milk, toss it in a salad or sprinkle over breads while baking. Now you can say open sesame to health.

BDST: 1120 HRS, July 5, 2012
Edited by: Sharmina Islam, Lifestyle Editor