Sesame seeds, also known as benniseeds, have many health benefits and provide twice the calcium of milk
Proteins, a lot of fiber and a multitude of vitamins and nutrients. Sesame is a superfood that, in addition, we may have been consuming for a long time without even realizing it. And it is also known as benniseeds, one of the most popular ingredients in many traditional sweets, such as Christmas shortbread.
China and India are currently the main countries of origin for most of the sesame seeds we consume. The countries of the Mediterranean basin, and Latin America, also cultivate them. In Andalusia, it is grown in places such as Puebla de Cazalla, in Seville, some towns in Cordoba and in Malaga. However, its production is not on a large scale, so marketing is, above all, local.
However, it is very resistant to drought and an alternative to consider when rotating crops, so although mechanization is still one of the big obstacles when betting on it, it is still a highly recommended option, for the Andalusian region.
A compendium of benefits
But why are these little seeds considered a superfood? To begin with, we must specify that half the weight of sesame seeds is oil. The rest, protein and fiber. In addition, they provide healthy fatty acids, calcium, iron, phosphorus, zinc, potassium and vitamins B6 and E, among other properties.
In fact, sesame seeds have twice the calcium of cow’s milk, making them a perfect choice for vegans and those who are lactose intolerant.
Use in a recipe / Agronomist
In addition, they provide linoleic and alpha-linolenic fatty acids, what we know as Omega 3 and Omega 6. These essential acids are not manufactured by the body, so it is essential that we integrate them into the diet.
It also has phytic acid which, according to several studies, can help inhibit the growth of colon cancer cells.
How to consume it?
To correctly extract all its benefits, it is important to chew the sesame seeds well or, failing that, grind them. A very simple example is its use as tahini, which can already be bought under that name in almost all supermarkets and is nothing more than ground sesame. From there, it can be used to make hummus, add to salads, sauces, or other more exotic recipes such as baba ghanoush of Arab origin.
On the other hand, it can be used directly like sesame oil, one of the healthiest seed oils. In fact, it contains sesamin, which helps control blood pressure in people with hypertension.
So, for all of those who want to improve their health and their diet, they can create the habit of adding a handful of sesame seeds to their salads, creams, biscuits, or include healthy hummus in their menus.
Source: Newspaper ABC Sevilla
