Dear Readers, Healthy, delicious, and versatile Sesame oil is considered a real all-rounder. But how healthy is the oil really, and what can it be used for? In the following, you will learn everything about sesame oil, from the effects and uses of the oil to tips on what to look out for when buying.
Sesame Oil Health and Beauty Benefits
What Sesame Oil Actually Is
Sesame oil is obtained from the seeds of the sesame plant. Along with flaxseed oil, sesame oil is considered one of the oldest cooking oils in the world. Traditional oil is particularly popular in the Far East and has been used in China, Japan, and India for thousands of years.
It is not only used in the kitchen but also in beauty care. In India in particular, it is also used as a medicine for external use as part of traditional Indian Ayurveda medicine, a proven form of naturopathy.
These types of sesame oil exist
Sesame oil comes in two main flavors light and dark. The light, golden-yellow oil is pressed from untreated, natural sesame seeds. It has a very mild taste, is largely odorless, and can be used in a variety of ways both in the kitchen and in beauty care.
Dark sesame oil, on the other hand, is made from processed sesame seeds. These were cleaned, watered, and dried again, then roasted and then pressed.
Roasting gives the oil its dark color and strong, characteristic aroma. It is mainly used in cooking and garnishing to round off the taste of dishes and give them a “typically Asian” aroma.
Ingredients: Sesame oil is so healthy
For thousands of years, sesame oil has been used not only in the kitchen but also in body care and medicinal purposes. To this day, it is considered one of the healthiest vegetable oils of all. Below you will learn all about the ingredients that make sesame oil so healthy and their effects.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is also known as the “cell protection” vitamin and, together with vitamin C, vitamin A, and the mineral zinc, plays an extremely important role in your immune system. It is responsible for fighting off harmful molecules called “free radicals” that can attack your cells and cause dangerous mutations.
But vitamin E not only protects and protects your cells from the inside but also from the outside: the nutrient has an anti-inflammatory effect. In this way, it protects your skin barrier, prevents pathogens from penetrating your skin cells, and helps them to regenerate injuries. Inside, too, vitamin E fights inflammation and helps your body get rid of annoying infections.
Vitamin A
Just like vitamin E, vitamin A also has a significant influence on the skin. This is because it is converted into vitamin A acid, also known as tretinoin, within your skin cells.
This acid causes the top layer of skin to peel off and new skin cells to form. So it has a kind of peeling effect from the inside out, removes dead or over-aged skin particles, and ensures that young, firm skin cells follow.
Since vitamin A is active together with vitamin E in the fight against cell-damaging molecules, it protects your cells from premature aging and also provides them with moisture.
The vitamin not only ensures the renewal of your skin, but it also keeps the young skin cells fresh and healthy. In addition, it supports your immune system in the fight against pathogens, pollutants, and harmful molecules such as free radicals. It not only protects and strengthens your cells from the outside but also from the inside.
Unsaturated fatty acids
Fat has a bad reputation these days: it is said to make you sick, fat, and even unhappy. It is in itself not a harmful substance for the human body, on the contrary, along with proteins and carbohydrates. It is one of the macronutrients that your body depends on to function.
But Fat only becomes unhealthy when we eat too much of it. In fact, some types of fat are very healthy for your body. It is not only maintaining essential functions but actually strengthening and protecting them.
Effect of unsaturated fatty acids
The so-called unsaturated fatty acids are among the particularly healthy types of fat. These enjoy a particularly good reputation among fatty organic compounds. Because unsaturated fatty acids are in turn composed of substances that have a very beneficial effect on your body.
This includes, for example, linoleic acid, an unsaturated fatty acid from the group of omega-6 fatty acids. These are known to lower cholesterol levels, strengthen your veins and arteries, and support heart function. It effectively prevent dangerous cardiovascular diseases.
Unsaturated Fatty Acids and Sesame Oil
So the more unsaturated fatty acids an oil or fat contains, the better it is for your health. Sesame oil consists of more than 80 percent unsaturated fatty acids.
Together with linseed oil and black cumin, sesame oil is characterized by an extremely high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids. As a result, the oil helps protect your cardiovascular system with every meal you eat.
Antioxidants
Another essential group of substances that makes sesame oil so healthy are the so-called antioxidants. Chemically, antioxidants are molecules that prevent a specific type of biochemical reaction called oxidation.
They thus work against harmful compounds, the free radicals. Which attacks your cells and subject them to oxidative stress, causing the cells to change adversely. The already mentioned “cell protection” vitamin E is one of the antioxidants.
But sesame oil contains even more antioxidant molecules that ward off free radicals sesamol and sesamolin. Due to the large number of antioxidants it contains, sesame oil effectively protects your cells. It helps you to prevent diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s.
Lecithin
Another valuable ingredient in sesame oil is lecithin. It is a fundamental building block for the human body. Because lecithin is part of our cells, more precisely the cell membrane. So your body needs it to form new cells.
In addition, lecithin has other important effects on your body because it influences your nerve function. If your organism is sufficiently supplied with lecithin, there is a high probability that your mental resilience and performance will increase.
In addition, lecithin, in conjunction with the omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid also found in sesame oil. That lowers the cholesterol level and protects you from diseases such as heart attacks and strokes.
Effects of Sesame Oil
Due to the numerous, valuable ingredients in sesame oil, it is clear why the oil is so popular in Asia. In the following, you will learn everything about the most important effects of “liquid gold”.
Moisturizer
Sesame oil is traditionally used as a natural, powerful moisturizer. The oil unfolds its nourishing effect due to the vitamins and unsaturated fatty acids it contains.
These provide your skin cells with moisture, protect and strengthen them, fend off pathogens and pollutants, and help them fight infections. The subtly scented oil works effectively on demanding stressed, and sensitive skin.
You can not only use it all over the body, but the gentle care is also suitable for dry facial skin, flaky scalp, or brittle hair.
This makes sesame oil an interesting alternative for you if you often react sensitively to industrial cosmetic products for skin care. In addition, the oil not only has a caring effect from the outside but also from the inside.
Once you have added sesame oil to your diet, the healthy oil also works inside you. The contained vitamins E and A contribute to your nutrient supply. And help your body to fight internal inflammations that may affect the skin.
Strengthening of the immune system
Sesame oil owes its nourishing and beneficial effect primarily to its richness in nutrients. Vitamins, unsaturated fatty acids, and antioxidants help your body to stay healthy and fit.
While unsaturated fatty acids help build new cells and tissue, antioxidants fight free radicals that can attack your cells and cause adverse changes. They form an extremely important part of your immune system.
In general, the oil strengthens your immune system, because the vitamins A and E contained have an anti-inflammatory effect and are directly involved in the defense against pathogens, pollutants, and harmful substances.
Prevention of cardiovascular diseases
Together with linseed oil and black cumin oil, sesame oil is one of those vegetable oils that are characterized by an extremely high content of unsaturated fatty acids.
These substances represent the highest quality type of fat there is. They not only fulfill essential functions in your body. For example when building new cells but also providing them with valuable ingredients.
These include, for example, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These consist of substances that have been shown to lower the cholesterol level in your blood.
Cholesterol isn’t actually a bad thing, your body actually makes it itself.
However, if we ingest a lot of cholesterol through food in addition to our own. Especially through a diet rich in animal products, an excess of cholesterol is created in the body.
The excess cholesterol is deposited in the bloodstream and arteries, which leads to blockages and calcification. These in turn promote cardiovascular diseases, which in the worst case can lead to heart attacks or strokes.
The unsaturated fatty acids in sesame oil prevent this risk, and their effect is even enhanced by the active ingredient lecithin. In this way, sesame oil in your diet helps to strengthen your blood vessels and protect your heart.
Applications of Sesame Oil
Sesame oil has been around for thousands of years, especially in the Far East. The versatility of the precious oil is particularly positive.
Moisturizing care for skin & hair
Due to its ingredients, sesame oil is not only suitable for cooking, baking, roasting, and garnishing in the kitchen. The light, cold-pressed oil in particular is ideal for external use. The oil has a beneficial, soothing, and moisturizing effect, especially on dry, stressed, and sensitive skin.
This is mainly due to the “cell protection vitamin” E it contains. Which protects, strengthens, and moisturizes your cells so that they remain firm and elastic.
But the unsaturated fatty acids, in particular, the omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid. Also, have a protective effect and soothe stressed skin cells.
Effect of sesame oil on skin & hair
Due to its gentle, natural effect and its subtle fragrance, the oil is suitable for use all over the body. But also on the face, scalp, and hair. Dry scalps are soothed and relieved with a massage using light sesame oil. While brittle, brittle hair is strengthened.
In order to use the nourishing power of the oil, you should massage it gently into the still-damp skin after the shower.
Application of sesame oil for moisturizing
For facial use, you can also rub a few drops of oil between your clean palms and then dab them onto your face. If you suffer from dry scalp and dandruff, massage the oil into your damp scalp with your fingertips. Leave it on for at least two hours, ideally overnight, before rinsing it out.
For dry and brittle hair, you can apply sesame oil drop by drop to your palms and gently spread through towel-dried lengths. The hair should then be allowed to dry naturally.
Oil pulling for healthy teeth
Sesame oil is one of the oils that are ideal for an oil-pulling cure. Oil pulling is a measure to improve oral hygiene that originates from traditional Indian Ayurveda medicine.
Vegetable oil is rolled around in the mouth and pulled between the teeth for a certain period of time usually 10, maximum of 20 minutes. You make similar movements with your mouth as if you were waving wine on your tongue or sucking in your cheeks.
The oil is intended to loosen plaque and bacteria from the mucous membranes, tongue, gums, and teeth.
Oil pulling is particularly useful in the morning after getting up before brushing your teeth for the first time. After you’ve drawn the oil between your teeth for a while, spit it out be careful not to swallow the oil. Then brush your teeth. You should repeat this process daily.
Many testimonials note the very positive effects of oil pulling. From reducing bad breath to relieving gum problems and tooth decay to whitening the teeth. Sesame oil is favored as an oil-pulling fat primarily for its taste, anti-inflammatory properties, and consistency.
Relaxing massage with sesame oil
The versatile sesame oil is not only suitable for beauty care. As a massage oil, it offers pleasure and relaxation for the body and mind. The unsaturated fatty acids and vitamins contained in the oil care for your skin gently and sustainably. While your muscles are pampered and relaxed during the massage.
You can use light sesame oil pure for the massage or mix it with other nourishing oils, such as coconut oil or jojoba oil. Alternatively, you can use it as a “carrier” for essential oil.
Use by mixing the sesame oil with a few drops of essential oil of your choice. By choosing the appropriate essential oil. You can support the specific purpose of the massage, depending on whether it is intended to invigorate, relax or strengthen.
Chose Organic quality
It is ideal if you not only buy the highest quality sesame oil possible but also pay attention to the production conditions if possible. Organic products are produced according to ecological standards without exploiting people or natural resources. So that they have a significantly better environmental balance than offers without an organic seal.
They are usually a bit more expensive than non-organic products. But in view of the yield of the oil and its many uses, the price is worth it. Because with the organic seal you not only assure yourself of the quality. And thus the best possible effectiveness for yourself, but you also do something good for the environment: a double benefit.
Leave a Reply