Benefits of Sesame Seed(Til) : Why It Should Be Part Of Your Daily Diet

Sesame seeds, commonly known as ‘til‘ in Hindi are widely known for their health benefits and culinary applications. The seeds are loaded with a variety of nutrients.  In India sesame seeds or til are an indispensable part of  winters since time immemorial. Ayurveda recommend this in winter for its ability to generate heat and energy in the body. Its also have beauty and hair benefits

1. Encourage Hair Growth

Sesame seeds contain essential fatty acids such as omega-3, omega-6 and omega-9 which promote hair growth. Sesame seed oil stimulates hair growth by nourishing, conditioning, and promoting a healthy scalp. The regular massage with warm sesame oil penetrates your scalp, thus increasing the blood circulation.

 

2. Anti-ageing properties

Sesame seeds are packed with antioxidants that reverse signs of ageing and give you a youthful skin.

 

3. Detoxifies your skin

The antioxidants present in sesame oil helps in detoxifying your skin. The antioxidants absorb all those water-soluble toxins, thus enabling detoxification. Prepare a concoction by mixing in ½ cup sesame oil with ½ cup apple cider vinegar and ¼ cup water. Wash your face regularly with this for a detoxified glowing skin.

 

4. Boosts Oral Health

Sesame seeds and sesame seed oil help in boosting the oral health by removing dental plaque and whitening your teeth. Oil pulling, i.e. swishing your sesame seed oil in your mouth, can reduce the amount of streptococcus mutants in both the teeth and the mouth saliva and boost the overall health

 

5. Boosts Digestion

Sesame seeds support a healthy digestive system and colon as they are rich in fiber and unsaturated fatty acid. This high fiber content helps in smooth functioning of the intestine, thus facilitating waste disposal and relieving constipation

 

6. Good Source of Energy

According to consultant nutritionist Dr. Rupali Dutta, “sesame seeds are a good source of energy due to the high fat content. They contain healthy fats like polyunsaturated fatty acids and Omega-6. They also contain fiber, iron, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus that helps boost energy levels.”

 

7. Stabilizes your blood pressure

Sesame seeds contain essential minerals, of which magnesium being the main ingredient. Consuming natural oils of sesame seeds helps in reducing the pressure on your blood vessels and ultimately reduces the blood pressure level.

 

8.Boosts bone health

The impressive levels of essential minerals like zinc, calcium, and phosphorous found in sesame seeds can be a major boost for your bone health. These minerals are integral parts in creating new bone matter, and strengthening/repairing bones that may be weakened by injury or the onset of debilitating bone conditions like osteoporosis.

 

9. Helps Fight Stress and Depression

Sesame oil contains an amino acid known as tyrosine, which is directly connected to serotonin activity. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter which impacts our mood. An imbalance of it could lead to depression and stress. According to experts, consuming foods that help in the production of serotonin helps in feeling positive, keeping chronic stress at bay. Sesame oil is a good example of that.

 

10. High Source of Unsaturated Fats

Unlike butter and desi ghee which come loaded with harmful saturated fat, sesame oil primarily contains unsaturated fats. According to the nutritional value chart of sesame oil, per 100 grams contain 40 grams monounsaturated fats, 42 grams polyunsaturated fats and about 14 grams saturated fats. All cooking oils contain a mix of all the three types of fats, the varying amounts of which determine how healthy or harmful it is for us.

How To Have Sesame Seeds:

Sesame seeds are an important part of Indian cuisine since centuries. Due to its  warming nature It is especially consumed in winters . The seeds are often blended with warm jaggery, sugar, or palm sugar and made into balls and consumed as a snack as Til ka ladoo. In addition to this, Til Pitha, Til Gajak are common snacks consumed around winters.