I have covered sesame seed oil previously on Natural Oils for Hair and Health. It’s an excellent oil for greying hair as well as protecting the hair from the sun’s UV rays.
You can read the previous article about sesame seed oil at How to Control Greying Hair with Sesame Seed Oil.
Sesame was cultivated thousands of years ago as a crop able to withstand drought and was able to grow where other crops failed.
Sesame seeds were one of the first seeds processed into an oil as well as used as a condiment.
Sesame oil is derived from sesame seeds and has a strong but not unpleasant nutty flavor.
Sesame oil can vary in color from light to deep reddish-yellow depending on the color of the seeds used in the process and milling method.
Sesame seed oil is a popular ingredient in Asian cooking. In Ayurveda, it’s used as a massage oil to rid the body of heat.
What Are the Benefits of Sesame Seed Oil?
1. Contains Loads of Vitamin K
Sesame seed oil has a significant amount of vitamin K, a mineral very important for bone health.
Low levels of vitamin K in the body manifests as osteoporosis and increased risk of arthritis.
Low vitamin K levels can also lead to weak hair at the minimum and significant hair loss if not addressed.
2. Important for Bone Health
It also contains copper, zinc and calcium; additional minerals important for bone health and maintenance in the body.
3. Supports Cardiovascular Health
Sesame seed oil contains sesamol and sesamin, fatty acids that support cardiovascular health and lowers cholesterol levels.
4. Great for High Protein Diets
At 5 grams of protein in every ounce, sesame seed oil is perfect for a high protein diet or a vegetarian diet.
5. Contains Powerful Antioxidants
The sesamol contained in the oil is a very powerful antioxidant that protects the cells from damage that could lead to more serious diseases.
How to Use Sesame Seed Oil in Cooking
- Sesame seeds can be used as a topping in a lot of dishes. I love it on my salads and sometimes on salmon.
- In recent times, I’ve started including sesame oil in cooking sautéed spinach and pan-fried salmon. I plan to try it in cauliflower fried rice for the first time tonight and will write about it in a few days.
- Sesame seed oil can be used in marinades for fish, poultry, and meat along with olive oil or coconut oil.
- Sesame seed oil can be used as an ingredient in preparing salad dressings. This is mostly used in Asian cooking.
Different Types of Sesame Seed Oil
There are 2 variations of sesame oil – light sesame oil. Light sesame oil has a high smoking point and is safe for deep frying.
The second variation is dark sesame oil. Dark sesame oil is produced from roasted sesame seeds. It has a lower smoking point and is unsuitable for deep frying.
Dark sesame oil works best for sauteing, stir-frying, garnishing dishes and mixed in with a salad dressing.
Sesame Seed Oil Recipes
If you’re wondering what kind of dishes you can make with sesame oil, here are some simple and ones from around the net:-
Best Sesame Oil for Cooking
Below are some of my favorite brands of sesame oil for cooking. I’ve recommended light sesame oil and dark sesame oil:-
Kevala's Toasted Sesame Oil is made from the finest organic sesame seeds. Sesame seeds are roasted then cold-pressed to obtain a delicious and rich flavour. USDA Organic, unrefined, gluten free and non-GMO... La Tourangelle Toasted Sesame oil is handcrafted from high-quality sesame seeds harvested from South America or Africa. The seeds are toasted and then expeller (machine) pressed to extract the oil. The oil is filtered several times and then bottled.... Brought to you from Whole Foods Market. This organic sesame seed oil is unrefined expeller pressed, certified kosher and certified vegan... Spectrum Organic Unrefined Sesame Oil is ideal for sauces and sauteing. Unrefined with a nutty taste and expeller Pressed. Great for medium heat cooking. Non-GMO, USDA Organic and certified Kosher... Foods Alive Black Sesame Seed Oil is cold-pressed, unrefined and free of preservatives. Their oil is pressed from seeds grown in mineral-rich soil. It's organic, non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free and kosher...
Kevala Organic Toasted Sesame Oil
La Tourangelle Toasted Sesame Oil
365 Everyday Value Organic Sesame Seed Oil
Spectrum Organic Unrefined Sesame Oil
Foods Alive Black Sesame Seed Oil
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Benefits and Best Uses for Perilla Oil | Natural Oils for Hair & Health
Sunday 29th of October 2017
[…] oil used as a condiment and cooking oil. It has a distinct nutty and pleasant aroma similar to sesame seed oil. The perilla frutescens plant can be found in China, India, Japan, Pakistan, Korea and Thailand. […]