If the only sesame you’re getting lately is on a McDonald’s sesame-seed bun (alleged/unofficial/unverified/leaked ingredients via : Wheat flour (bleached and enriched with thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, iron, folic acid), water, high fructose corn syrup, yeast, vegetable oil (partially hydrogenated soybean, corn, canola, and/or cottonseed). Contains 2% or less of salt, wheat gluten, malted barley flour, mono- and diglycerides, propionic acid, phosphoric acid, calcium sulfate, ammounium chloride, monocalcium phosphate, ascorbic acid, azodicarbomide, corn flour, soy flour, potato flour, calcium peroxide, diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides, ethoxylated mono- and diglycerides, silicon dioxide, sodium steryol 2 lactylate, fungal enzymes, emulsifiers, sodium or calcium propionate (as a preservative), sesame seeds) then needless to say, it’s time to step up your game!
I’ve found I love every kind of sesame I’ve ever had- from tahini dressing and gomashio to my favorite snack bars and ohagi, and everything in between! I can’t get enough sesame, but of all the forms of these amazing seeds, I am partial to black sesame seeds, not only because they add such a beautiful touch to my dishes, but also now that I know just how nutritious they are! When I want to know about the nutrition of a certain food, my favorite place to learn is the World’s Healthiest Foods website because the research is so extensive. They have compiled multiple studies, facts and nutritional information on pretty much any food you can think of! Here are a few things I’ve learned around the web lately about my pretty little staple.
Believed to be one of the world’s first spices, the black sesame seeds are not hulled whereas white seeds are, showing the actual seed underneath. Black sesame seeds contain about 60% more calcium than hulled sesame seeds- one gram contains approximately 85 milligrams of calcium! Even so, all sesame seeds are great sources of calcium, rich in healthy fatty acids and high in fiber, protein, phosphorous, iron, magnesium, manganese, zinc, and copper! They have phytosterols to boot:
Phytosterols beneficial effects are so dramatic that they have been extracted from soybean, corn, and pine tree oil and added to processed foods, such as “butter”-replacement spreads, which are then touted as cholesterol-lowering “foods.” But why settle for an imitation “butter” when Mother Nature’s nuts and seeds are a naturally rich source of phytosterols—and cardio-protective fiber, minerals and healthy fats as well? ~WHFoods.com
Sesame seeds are an excellent source of many essential minerals as well as a very good source of vitamin B1 (thiamin) and dietary fiber. The nutrients found in sesame seeds may contribute to cardiovascular health, reduce inflammation, support respiratory health, protect against colon cancer and osteoporosis as well as other conditions. ~livestrong.com
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, black sesame seeds are used to tonify the blood and the brain, heal the liver and kidneys, as well as treat vision problems, back pain and stiff joints and to promote healthy, regular bowel movements. They are also recommended for beautifying hair and skin as a signifier of healthy blood.
Here are a few fantastic looking recipes from around the veg-web. Enjoy, and send us pictures of your creations- we’d be happy to post with credit on our facebook, google + or Pinterest pages.
