Pungent, bitter, astringent and sweet, Sesame seeds are high in calcium, vitamin E, magnesium, iron, zinc, vitamin K, B6 and fibre. They are heavy and warming making them perfect for calming Vata dosha.
“According to Acharya Charak, no other thing is equivalent to sesame in healing vatic disorders.” – Dr Rajeshwari V.M
Black sesame seeds are more loaded with calcium than the white variety.
“The black sesame seeds are the best, white is of medium quality and rest including red are of inferior quality.” – The Bhavaprakash (The Ayurvedic Texts)
The hulls contain nutrients that help the liver metabolize their fat content. The black variety is higher in minerals and has a stronger flavour. Sesame seeds can help to get rid of fat-soluble toxins through the sweat glands, so can be a helpful addition to your diet when teamed with daily exercise or routine steam treatments (svedana).
Sesame increases pitta and due to the heavy quality should not be frequently consumed internally by Kapha individuals but the heating properties make it a good choice for external use in the form of oil.
These tiny seeds also have an affinity to the bone tissue, eating 1 teaspoon of sesame seeds in the morning also helps to strengthen teeth and aids in reducing receding gums. Sesame oil contains unique antioxidants that cannot be destroyed by high heat which make it a good choice for cooking, it is high in protein, lecithin and amino acids, however, it also has a high content of omega 6 – omega 6 precursors can cause an inflammatory response, so this oil is best used on occasion for cooking rather than cooking with it daily.
Sesame seeds are a natural laxative and are used as a rejuvenate in Ayurveda, they also help to strengthen the kidneys.
Sesame seeds with milk increase lactation so including these in a postpartum diet is useful for milk production.