While sesame oil tastes delicious in a variety of Asian dishes, this tasty ingredient that originates from the sesame plant and is made by pressing raw sesame seeds has tons of health benefits your body will love. From making your skin glow to improving bone, heart and dental health, there are many reasons why you should consume sesame oil. Here we tell you all the incredible benefits of cooking with it.
1. High in antioxidants
Antioxidants work to heal the damage done to the body. The antioxidants contained in sesame seeds are sesamol and sesaminol. They can help fight heart damage and benefit your overall health.
2. It is anti-inflammatory
As human beings who get stressed and sometimes eat processed foods, we are in dire need of anti-inflammatory ingredients to detoxify our system. For years, Taiwanese medicine has used sesame oil to treat joint inflammation, scratches or toothaches. It is also a miracle ingredient for arthritis.
3. Healthy for the heart
Maintain your cardiovascular health with sesame oil, which is packed with omega-6 fatty acids, a type of polyunsaturated fat that is very important for our diet and daily nutrition, as it prevents heart disease. Sesame oil can also potentially slow the buildup of plaque in the arteries, as well as lower cholesterol levels.
4. Wounds and burns
You may not think that cooking oil can be used medically for wounds and burns, but when used as a topical ointment, it can actually increase collagen in wound tissue, which is a protein necessary for healing. It can reduce healing time, which is partly due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant powers.
5. A healthier liver
Do you drink too much on weekends? The active ingredient in sesame oil, sesamin, supports liver function by detoxifying the body and breaking down the effects of alcohol.
6. Better hair
Keep your locks as luscious as possible with sesame oil, which boosts hair’s strength and shine level, mending split ends with ease. It can reduce dandruff and even promote hair growth. Apparently the combination of vitamin E and sesamin will give you Victoria’s Secret model hair! It can even reduce the chance of premature graying.
7. Dental health
Many people know about the benefits of oil listening, but it is most commonly done with coconut oil. Sesame oil offers the same benefit. Using sesame oil for oil pulling can stop plaque buildup, fight cavities and bad breath. It can also be used safely in children for these reasons.
8. Glowing skin
Adding sesame oil or sesame seeds to your diet helps nourish your skin from within, but massaging it into your face can hydrate it and improve your skin tone. It even has the potential to alleviate medical problems like psoriasis and eczema.
9. It is an excellent massage oil
Why spend hundreds of dollars on fancy body massage oils and candles when you can get exactly the same benefits from this oil that leaves skin soft and supple? It absorbs quickly and nourishes the skin and even acts as a body pain reliever, making it perfect for a massage. Many postnatal mothers even use it on their stomachs after giving birth.
10. It can help control blood sugar
Blood sugar regulation is essential for everyone and, more than that, it is a matter of life and death for people with diabetes. Sesame oil helps regulate blood sugar, both in the short and long term.
11. Sun Damage Protection
Surprisingly, sesame oil can act as a natural sunscreen, although since there isn’t much research on it, it shouldn’t be a replacement for your SPF, just a supplement on sunny days when you want a little extra moisture. Unlike other oils that only resist up to 30% of UV rays, sesame oil resists up to 30%.
12. Mental health benefits
Due to an amino acid it contains called tyrosine. Tyrosine increases serotonin, which can help keep you from feeling depressed and anxious. During this pandemic with so many cities undergoing multiple lockdowns, sesame oil could help you feel better, so opt to cook with it instead of greasy takeout if you’re feeling down.
How to Add Sesame Oil to Food
You can add it in:
Vinaigrette or salad dressings
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Stir-fries and other Asian dishes like sesame noodles.
Seafood or meat marinades
Consider adding sesame seeds and oil to your personal care routine and meals for a healthier lifestyle, but make sure you don’t have any allergies as sesame oil is one of the top food allergens out there.
