Sesame oil benefits

Sesame oil is one of the best choices when it comes to edible oil. This oil has a special place in many cuisines, from Chinese and Thai to macrobiotic. Aside from its delicious taste and aroma, sesame oil offers significant health benefits and important nutrients. Light sesame oil is mostly used for deep frying and the darker variety, obtained from roasted sesame seeds, is great for stir-frying. Sesame oil can also be used to make margarine, pickles, salad dressings, desserts and many more.

Nutritional value of sesame oil

Sesame oil is packed with many important nutrients that are essential for good health. High content of vitamin E and various polyunsaturated fats are among the most important features of this oil.

Sesame oil also contains significant amounts of vitamin K, vitamin B6, calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper, iron and zinc.

Health benefits of sesame oil

Sesame oil is very beneficial if used for cooking and seasoning. It can also be used topically, since it is very useful for various issues regarding the skin and the hair.

This oil is great for massaging. The skin absorbs it quickly, without leaving a greasy residue. It makes the skin soft, subtle and slightly toned. Thanks to antioxidant properties, sesame oil protects the skin from the signs of aging.

Sesame oil can be used to treat sunburns, minor skin wounds, cuts and scrapes, as well as pimples, boils, eczema and other skin ailments.

If massaged into the scalp, sesame oil soothes dry scalp and reduces dandruff. It also makes the skin darker, which is useful for blondes who want to change their hair color.

Other health benefits

One of the most important features of sesame oil is its high content of vitamin E. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant and it has the ability to reduce hypertension or high blood pressure and to regulate the levels of cholesterol.

Sesame oil is also rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, in particular Omega-3. Interestingly, essential fatty acids in this oil are preserved even at room temperature, because sesame oil contains natural preservatives called sesamol and sesamin.

Antioxidants in sesame oil improve overall health by fighting free radicals that attack the body through toxins and pollution. This significantly reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases and some types of cancer.

In addition, some people claim that sesame oil has antidepressant effect and that it improves the mood. This has not yet been scientifically confirmed but people who frequently use sesame oil for culinary purposes say they feel much better thanks to it.