Sesame seeds before being pressed into oil
Sesame has been an important crop for thousands of years. Babylon and Assyria made consistent use of sesame approximately 4,000 years ago. In turn, the Chinese used to burn sesame oil for light and also to make the supplies for their ink blocks. These days, sesame, sesame seeds and sesame oil are near constants all over the world and, of all of the consumed sesame annually, 65 percent is destined for oil extraction. Once pressed, that oil has many uses. Whether in the United States, in Southeast Asia or the far east, and whether in gastronomy, industry, cosmetic products, and more, sesame oil is one versatile oil.
As a Substitute for Olive Oil
Sesame oil can be (and is) used often in Europe and elsewhere as a substitute for Olive Oil.
For Salads
Sesame oil, especially cold pressed oil, will not have too strong a flavor and can be an excellent addition to salads. There are also other varieties that do have a strong flavor and are highly valued because of it, whether on top of salads or otherwise.
For Fish
Sesame oil is commonly used in Japan for cooking fish.
For Frying
Many African nations use sesame oil for frying both meat and vegetables. Asian nations and, in general, in international cuisine, it is common to add sesame oil towards the end of the cooking process when making stir-fry.
Prevention of Cancer and Heart Disease
Sesame is known to increase activity in plasma gamma-tocopherol and vitamin E, both of which are thought to prevent cancer and heart disease. For this reason many people use sesame oil as a daily dietary supplement.
Pharmaceutical Solvent
Sesame oil is used as a pharmaceutical solvent in cases of intramuscular injections.
Cholesterol Control
Sesame oil can reduce high levels of cholesterol in the blood stream thanks to its high polyunsaturated fat composition.
Laxative
Sesame oil has been used as a laxative.
Toothaches, Gum Disease and Mouthwash
The Chinese use sesame oil to help lessen the pain of toothaches and also to fight gum disease. In India, sesame oil is a recommended mouthwash.
Combating Insomnia and Anxiety
The Indians also use sesame oil as a natural remedy for anxiety and insomnia.
Nasal Dryness in Winter
A recent study that can be found in the U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health titled, "Pure Sesame Oil vs. Isotonic Sodium Chloride Solution as Treatment for Dry Nasal Mucosa" has shown sesame oil to be more effective than the more commonly used isotonic sodium chloride solution for keeping the nose from drying out in dry winter climates.
Cosmetics and Skin Care
Many, many cosmetics include sesame oil. The oil is an excellent solvent and serves as a vehicle for delivering other drugs into the skin. In India, people believe firmly in sesame oil's beneficial effects on the skin, and it is not uncommon for them to bath with sesame oil.
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