Embracing the Essence of Sesame: A Cornerstone in Ayurvedic Wellness. Sesame seed allergies are becoming more recognized, leading to increased awareness and labelling in food products. In essence, sesame seeds are a powerhouse of nutrition, offering a wide range of health benefits and culinary applications, making them a valuable addition to a balanced diet.
Sesame stands as the typical ingredient in Ayurvedic and Panchakarma treatments, holding immense significance. Sesame seeds, derived from the Sesamum indicum plant, are tiny, flat seeds with a nutty flavor commonly used in various cuisines worldwide. Sesame seeds and sesame oil boast remarkable health benefits, making them suitable for daily consumption due to their nutritional value. Notably, among the variants, black sesame seeds hold superior value, although white sesame seeds are also beneficial.
Nutritional Value:
They are a rich source of nutrients, including healthy fats (like omega-6 fatty acids), protein, fiber, vitamins (B vitamins and vitamin E), and minerals (calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, copper, and manganese).
Culinary Uses:
They are incredibly versatile and can be used in various forms:
• Whole Seeds: Often used in baking, added to salads, or sprinkled over dishes for texture and flavor.
• Sesame Oil: Extracted from sesame seeds, sesame oil is commonly used in cooking, especially in Asian cuisines. It has a high smoke point, making it suitable for stir-frying and deep-frying.
• Tahini: A paste made from ground sesame seeds, used in dips like hummus or sauces and dressings.
These seeds offer diverse consumption methods, whether ground into semolina, used in chutneys or chutnipudi, or sprinkled over fruit salads.
Sesame: Ayurvedic Wellness – Health Benefits: Sesame seeds offer several health benefits:
• Enhances hair health significantly.
• Bone Health: High calcium content supports bone health and may prevent osteoporosis. Nourishes bones, contributing to joint strength.
• Termed ‘Dantya,’ it aids in fostering healthy teeth, beneficial even during teething by incorporating it into semolina for young children.
• Boosts brainpower, making it advisable for individuals of all ages to consume sesame seeds daily, enhancing mental health, memory, and overall morale.
• Regular consumption elevates Jatharagni, fortifying the body against numerous diseases.
• Speeds up wound healing processes, improving energy levels and blood circulation.
• Heart Health: Rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, so helps to lower cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of heart disease.
• Ayurveda credits sesame for augmenting bodily strength, improving skin health, and enhancing sexual potency.
• Renowned for producing top-quality oil due to its fat content and thermal properties, earning the praise ‘Thailanam Thilathailam’ in Ayurveda, signifying its superiority among oils.
• Advisable for individuals dealing with obesity, cholesterol, and heart issues to switch to sesame oil in cooking, despite its initial unfamiliar taste, as it significantly bolsters health.
• Beneficial for mouth oil pulling, aiding in controlling tooth decay, gum problems, and early tooth decay issues.
• Ideal for body massage (abhyanga) due to its anti-inflammatory properties, potentially preventing knee pain, waist pain, skin breakdown, and wrinkling when heated and applied to the body.
• Antioxidants: Sesame seeds contain antioxidants like sesamin and sesamol, which combat oxidative stress and inflammation.
• Digestive Health: The fibre in sesame seeds aids digestion and promotes gut health.
Dr Venkataramana Hegde
Veda Wellness Center
Nisarga Mane, Sirsi
Uttarakannada District
Ph:9448729434
