Sesame Seed — Queen of the Oil Bearing Seeds

Sesame seed contains vitamin T, which specifically promotes the formation of blood platelets and combats anemia. It is noted for its ability to be stored for long periods of time and its resistance to rancidity, even in the tropics. This keeping quality of sesame seed oil is a result of its resistance to oxidative rancidity. One of the constituents of sesame oil is sesamolin which, on hydrolysis, yields sesamol. This is a powerful anti-oxidant which is responsible for its remarkable stability.

Rich Source

Sesame seed is 45% protein and 55% oil. Sesame meal–the residue after the extraction of the oil–is, like the whole seed, a rich source of protein, calcium, phosphorus, and the vitamin niacin. It is especially high in the amino acid methionine. The trypsin inhibitor is not present in sesame protein; therefore, digestibility is high without heating.

In South America, the addition of sesame meal to the traditional corn bread improves its palatability and nutritional value. In India, food is deluged with sesame oil in cooking, just as Italians use olive oil, the Chinese use poppy oil and Siberians use soybean oil. In the Orient and Africa, the whole seed is relished in a wide variety of foods. Dietary deficiencies among the natives of these countries would undoubtedly be much more pronounced, if it were not for the high protein and mineral content of sesame seed.

A Nutritious Food

Sesame seed was grown in the Southeastern United States as early as the 17th century by Negro slaves, who had brought the seed with them from Africa. Benne (sesame) seed cakes are still traditional in these parts. Popular in the New York City area is a traditional Mediterranean confection called “halva” or “halfah,” made principally from sesame seed. The Armenian Turks who use liquefied sesame seed, or “Tahini,” are noted for their endurance, both mental and physical, and for their longevity. It was discovered in the Korean War that the Turkish soldiers could not be “brainwashed” by the Communists, probably because “Tahini” provided ample vitamin T from the sesame. (Vitamin T is known to cause a rise in blood platelet count.) In Latin America, it is considered the “queen” of the vegetable oils. It is best known in the United States as a topping on hard rolls and French bread. Its use as a source of edible oil and nutritious protein food should be encouraged.

The Plant

The sesame plant is quite resistant to drought. After the seedlings are established, they will usually produce a fair crop without additional rainfall, provided there is stored moisture in the soil. It is, therefore, grown without irrigation in most cases, this being a particular advantage from an organic viewpoint. Sesame is not a poor soil crop. It requires a well-drained, fertile soil. One pound of sesame seed–containing about 160,000 seeds–plants about one acre. The plants are cut and bound into small bundles, then placed in small shocks until they are thoroughly dry. The bundles are then opened and the seed is threshed, readily falling from the capsules. One of the problems in bringing sesame into greater production is that the seed capsule is dehiscent (pops open) if sesame is not shocked and dried. This entails an immense amount of labor and is one of the reasons sesame is used in the Orient and Africa to a greater extent than in areas where labor is more of a problem.

Cholesterol

Hariot reported, “The oyle of sesamum is a remedy against the sounding and ringing of the eares.” We have no way of knowing the truth of this report, but we do know that cholesterol is reduced when natural oils and fats are used; and that blood cholesterol rises when synthetic fats are employed. In a recent report, it was noted that eggs fried in synthetic fats raised blood cholesterol while those fried in peanut oil did not. Here, again, is an example of where the body is able to accommodate only those foods which have been supplied by nature unadulterated.

Many Uses

Sesame oil has a long history of use by the human race under natural conditions. It has an enviable record in many ways as a superior food. It is excellent as a salad or cooking oil, as shortening for baking, as a carrier for fat-soluble vitamins, and is frequently used as an “adulterant” for olive oil–illegally, of course.

Sesame oil possesses a bland, pleasant flavor and, interestingly, one of its minor uses is as a fixative in the perfume industry, for it greatly increases the length of time perfumes will retain their fragrance.

Sesame is sometimes planted as a source of food for game birds. It is also a fine ornamental plant because of its attractive flowers. The stalks of sesame are ground and sold as livestock roughage in Venezuela, but in this country they can be plowed under as a source of organic matter to the soil.

One of the best uses of sesame is as sesame butter. Generally, nothing is removed and the benefits of both oil and protein content are obtained. This makes a very tasty sandwich spread, particularly when mixed with Thousand Island dressing.