Sesame is part of almost all bakery products. It is added to pastries, sprinkled with bread and buns. In addition, it is suitable for meat, salads and sauces, even the seeds are widely used in traditional medicine. Sesame decoctions are a source of vitamins and trace elements.
As he grows
Sesame (Sesamum), Pedalievy family - Pedaliacea. Annual herbaceous plant up to two meters tall. The leaves are long, the flowers are white or pink. After flowering, they form pods about 2.5 cm long. Each such pod contains up to a hundred seeds of different flowers. They may have a black or chocolate shade, no white fruit. Sesame is distributed almost throughout Asia. It grows in China, India and Burma. Widely cultivated in Ethiopia, Nigeria and Sudan.
What is the difference between white sesame and black?
On the shelves you can find two varieties of sesame. Black and white seeds, which differ not only in taste, but also in the composition of nutrients.
| White seeds | Black seeds |
|---|---|
| Peeled from the top shell seeds are less useful. | The seed is not purified from the husk, which contains a large amount of minerals, vitamins. |
| Used to decorate confectionery products, complement them with various side dishes, vegetable salads, sushi. | Black sesame, especially in the East, is actively used for medical purposes, since all the nutrients in the seed coat can significantly improve human health. |
| Whites contain unique, wholesome oils, have a neutral, subtle nutty flavor.
| From black fruits make a very high quality, tasty, healthy, fragrant oil. |
For nutrition, it is better to choose untreated seeds. They will provide the body with nutrients, vitamins and microelements. And besides, these seeds contain antioxidants that can reduce the risk of developing oncology.
How to choose and store correctly
To choose a really high-quality product, before buying, first of all you need to pay attention to the packaging. A transparent package will allow you to see the seeds, assess their color and quality. Seeds should be crumbly, dry. It is better to give preference to non-peeled black granules. They contain a maximum of super-useful substances, have a longer shelf life. Quality sesame should not have a bitter smell.
Black unpolished sesame is recommended to be stored in a glass container, tightly closed. It should be stored, choosing just a cool, darkened place. Store between three and twelve months. Ground (white) sesame is not stored as long as unpeeled. Fill the glass jar with white seeds, close with a tight lid and put on the shelf of the refrigerator.
On a note: Sesame oil has a long shelf life and does not deteriorate for a long time.
Useful properties of sesame seeds
Sesame contains substances especially valuable for the body. Its seeds will bring a lot of benefit if you supplement them with a daily diet. Black sesame unrefined from the shell contains many useful minerals, vitamins, fatty oils (up to 60%).
Sesame is a champion in the amount of phytosterol, a substance that is a plant analogue of animal cholesterol. It will help withstand atherosclerosis and obesity. By entering the blood, this substance stimulates the burning of bad cholesterol and the removal of its excess from the body, preventing them from being absorbed into the blood.
Even in sesame many phytoestrogens (analogue of female sex hormones), and this substance is very useful for women over 45 years. Phytoestrogens correct estrogen deficiency, which occurs in adult women, thereby reducing menopausal symptoms. In addition, after 50 years, the level of estrogen may increase. Sesame phytoestrogens are able to block sex hormones, protecting a woman from oncology.
It is important to know that sesame seeds contain the maximum amount of calcium, which is responsible for muscle contraction, very useful for bones. By the amount of this mineral, it is several times higher than cottage cheese and other dairy products.
Sesame will be a good food supplement. It contains many beneficial substances: vitamins (E, A, C, B), minerals (phosphorus, magnesium, iodine, iron) and organic amino acids. Due to this composition, sesame has anti-aging effect, can be used for the prevention of cancer and many other diseases.
Calorie seed
The seeds of this plant are high in calories, as they contain fats. Per 100 grams account for about 600 kcal, and the fat content reaches 60%. Sesame oil contains 900 calories. Therefore, the daily rate should not exceed two to three teaspoons.
Features of use
Before adding sesame to any dish, it must be slightly heated in a frying pan until it clicks lightly. Do not eat sesame in the morning on an empty stomach, so as not to provoke attacks of nausea and great thirst.
Grains will be even tastier and healthier if they are chewed slowly. Therefore, nutritionists advise to eat pre-soaked seeds. To do this, pour them with water (1 teaspoon of seed per 100 ml of water).
Buns, loaves, cookies, desserts, sprinkled with sesame seeds - this is a classic culinary genre. And this is not a random combination. The substances contained in these seeds help the body absorb food better.
A dry, salt-based seasoning with seeds is just perfect for rice. A few pinches of sesame will give taste to salad, meat dishes, decorate pastries. Seeds serve as an excellent base for oriental sweets.
To get the maximum benefit, first of all you should conduct the following experiment at home. On a flat plate put a moistened piece of gauze, rolled in two layers. Top a tablespoon of seeds, wrap the edges of the gauze. Leave the seeds to germinate in a dark place. If after 2-3 days sprouts appear, then sesame is useful and can be safely consumed.
Sesame for pregnant women
To preserve the health of pregnant women need to ensure that the diet was enough foods rich in calcium. Product number one is sesame. 100 grams of seeds contain up to 800 mg of calcium, which is necessary for healthy bones, teeth, muscle tissue. Pregnant women need to be especially careful to replenish stocks of this trace element, adding daily to salads, but not more than 30 grams.
Unique features of sesame oil
All the beneficial properties of sesame are stored in the oil. Ordinary vegetable oil can be replaced with sesame, but you need to remember that it has a specific taste, unlike the usual refined. At the same time, the oil only emphasizes the components of the dish, without taking the whole taste on itself. Therefore, it is great for side dishes, marinades, sauces.
Scientists have proven that sesame can increase blood clotting. Therefore, oil is actively used in modern medicine for the preparation of various ointments, emulsions.
In addition, the enzymes contained in the oil facilitate the work of the intestines and bring many benefits for constipation. The most valuable elements of the oil perfectly improve digestion. When they enter the body, they speed up the metabolism and eliminate toxins.
Nice bonuses for women. Oil can quickly "bring skin to life." It improves the complexion, smoothes fine lines, slows the aging of the skin, soothes inflammation, eliminates dryness.
Oil is indispensable for massage, moisturize, soften dry skin. It is used to remove makeup, applied to the hair and scalp, complement the mask, anti-wrinkle creams.
The oil can even be used to treat dry hair. It restores damaged hair, moisturizes them, curls become soft, get a healthy shine. The procedure is best done in the evening, putting on the scalp about 15 grams of oil. After half an hour, wash your hair with shampoo for your hair type.
Contraindications and harm
Healthy, delicious sesame is, of course, great. But the main thing is that it is safe for health. Seeds contain oxalates, which provoke urolithiasis. That is why you can not use sesame people suffering from urolithiasis. Oil can not be used in the diet of people with thrombosis, because it improves blood clotting.
Finally, it is important to remember that the main effect of seeds is to support the vitamin-mineral balance in the body. This is an excellent source of beneficial calcium, which pregnant women should take strictly on the recommendation of a doctor. Statistics is relentless: according to medical records, an increased dose of calcium can cause hypocalcemia in the fetus or even provoke a miscarriage.
