Sesame seeds have long been considered a medicinal food that slows down aging. Today, it is known that sesame seeds are a nutritious and healthy food, they are a good source of proteins, carbohydrates and fibers. They supply the body with nutrients, and they also act as a mild laxative. Indian wheat and sesame’s grow as an annual herbaceous plant. It has an upright furrowed stem up to 1.5 meters high. The leaves are oblong with jagged edges, and the flowers are pink or white and bell-shaped. When the sesame blooms, the fruits develop from oblong pods with many small oval seeds.
When the seeds ripen in September the pods burst and the seeds fall out. For this reason, the seeds are collected before they are ripe and after harvesting they are dried. They also come in a variety of colors. They can be white, light brown to reddish brown or red in color. Peeled, they are yellowish white, and they become darker when fried. Sesame seeds is one of the oldest oilseeds and one of the oldest spices. It is grown from wild sesame, which is thought to have originated in India or the tropical regions of East Africa. It was cultivated in India as early as 3000 BC.
From there it spread early to China, Japan, Egypt and the Mediterranean countries. The ancient Egyptians ground sesame seeds into flour. The Chinese used them to make oil and ink, and the ancient Greeks and Romans sprinkled them on bread and cakes. From sesame seeds they made a paste called tahini, which is still a favorite in the Middle East and the area around the Mediterranean Sea. Nowadays, sesame is grown in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. It is grown primarily for its seeds, from which sesame oil is obtained, and the seeds are used as a spice.
Sesame seeds are a source of protein and are very nutritious. They are a good source of carbohydrates and fiber. They contain about 50% fatty oil, which mainly consists of polyunsaturated omega 6 fatty acids and is rich in sesame oil and susamolin phenols that have a strong antioxidant effect. they also have a significant amount of vitamins A, E, and lecithin, which lowers cholesterol and prevents atherosclerosis, and niacin, which improves digestion and helps in the breakdown of nutrients. As for minerals, it contains a lot of potassium, calcium and magnesium, phosphorus, iron, zinc and selenium.
This healthy food supplies the body with important nutrients and also acts as a mild laxative. However, due to the high content of fatty oil, sesame seeds spoil easily. Cold pressed sesame oil is one of the best and most expensive. It belongs to the six most commonly used vegetable oils. It is primarily used in cooking, as a spice and cooking oil, but it also has cosmetic and medical uses.
