Read about the benefits of sesame oil in cosmetics and medicine in this article.
- What you need to know
- Calories and nutritional value
- Benefit
- Harm
- Expert commentary
Maria Dolmatova, cosmetologist, nutritionist, beauty trainer Avon Europe;
Inna Bogdanova, founder of the Beauty Bite brand of functional low-carbohydrate food products for women and Daily Value healthy food for the whole family, certified nutritionist at Precision Nutrition.
What you need to know about sesame oil
Sesame (Sesamum indicum) belongs to the Pedaliaceae family, a group of plants that are grown for their edible seeds
Sesame oil is a product that is obtained by pressing sesame seeds, raw or roasted. Sesame (Sesamum indicum) belongs to the Pedaliaceae family, a group of plants grown for their edible seeds. It is cultivated in most countries with tropical, subtropical and southern climates. Depending on the variety, sesame grows 0.5-2.5 m in height. The seeds are in small boxes that open when dry. The shelled seeds are usually cream or pearly white in color and are about 3mm long.
The color of sesame oil varies from light yellow to brown. It has a pronounced nutty aroma and a sweetish taste with a slight bitterness. Oil from raw seeds is often used fresh for dressing and cooking, and oil from roasted seeds is used as a seasoning. It is also added to various cosmetics for the face and hair, and is used in folk medicine.
Sesame oil calories and nutritional value
1 tablespoon of sesame oil contains (1):
- 120 kcal
- 13.6 g vitamin K
- 1.9 g saturated fatty acids
Benefits of sesame oil: 5 properties
Several studies have been conducted to find out how sesame oil affects blood sugar.
Sesame oil contains antioxidants and other plant compounds that may benefit heart health, reduce arthritis symptoms, and help heal wounds and burns.
1. Has a rich composition
Sesame oil contains nutrients, reduce cholesterol levels, and natural antioxidants sesamol and sesaminol protect cells from free radicals (2), (3), (4).
One study on rats found that sesame oil supplements prevented heart cell damage and increased antioxidant activity (5).
2. Supports Heart Health
Sesame oil contains 82% unsaturated fatty acids, including omega-6. These are polyunsaturated fats that help prevent cardiovascular disease (6). As a result of experiments on rats, it was found that sesame oil can help reduce the risk of developing heart disease and slow down the formation of cholesterol plaques in the arteries (7). In 48 adults who consumed 4 tablespoons of sesame oil every day for a month, their LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels dropped more than those who swapped sesame oil for sunflower oil (8).
3. Reduces blood sugar levels
Several studies have been conducted to find out how sesame oil affects blood sugar. In one of them, diabetic rats were put on a diet containing 6% sesame oil. It lasted 42 days and caused a significant decrease in this indicator compared to those rodents that were not given such a product (9). Another experiment was conducted in humans: 46 people with type 2 diabetes took sesame oil for 90 days. As a result, it lowered hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels (a measure of long-term blood sugar control) and fasting blood sugar compared to those who drank a placebo (10).
4. Helps in the treatment of arthritis
As part of the study, which lasted 28 days, rats were given sesame oil. The result showed that the rodents had a reduction in a marker of oxidative stress and symptoms of arthritis, such as joint pain (eleven). In another experiment, scientists compared the effects of sesame oil with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory gel: 104 participants with knee arthritis applied sesame oil or ointment for four weeks. The results showed that there was no significant difference between oil and drug treatments (12). But more data is needed to make final conclusions.
5. May promote healing of wounds and burns
Animal studies have shown that sesame oil enriched with ozone, when applied to the skin, can help treat wounds and burns. Ozonated water, which has also been used to treat wounds, quickly loses its effectiveness. Ozonated oil can be safely stored longer. Scientists believe that the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of sesame play an important role in wound healing, however, more research is needed (13).
Harm of sesame oil
Sesame is a powerful allergen. Therefore, people prone to allergies should consult a doctor. before adding sesame oil to your diet. Also, if you plan to use cosmetics containing sesame oil, try them on a small area of the skin to avoid hives and more serious consequences.
The product may not be suitable for those who follow a low-calorie diet and plan to normalize weight – sesame oil contains many calories. People with high blood pressure and diabetes should also consult a specialist first.
Expert commentary
It is best to add sesame oil to fresh vegetable salads and ready-made dishes
