Characteristics

• Botanical name: Sesamum indicum (or Oriental Sesamum)
• Botanical family: Pedaliaceae
• Origin (country where the vegetable oil is grown): China, Burma, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Sudan
• Plant part: Seed (from capsule)
• Oxidative potential: Not very sensitive

Organoleptic properties 

Botanical and organoleptic characteristics may vary according to the production conditions (country, sun, organic production, etc.).

• Colour: golden to pale yellow
• Odour: characteristic of sesame seeds
• Texture: fluid and penetrating
• Flavour: typical of sesame

Fatty acid composition

The composition of vegetable oils is strongly influenced by the conditions under which they are produced.

In order to guarantee its quality, it is advisable to choose extra virgin olive oil obtained by cold pressing, preferably of organic origin.

Monounsaturated fatty acids:

• 39% to 42% oleic acid (omega 9)

Polyunsaturated AG:

• 39% to 41% linoleic acid (omega 6)

Saturated fatty acids

• 8% to 10% palmitic acid
• 4 to 5% stearic acid

Other active ingredients:

• Unsaponifiable about 2%: vitamins E and B, provitamin A, sesamine, sesamolin, sesamol, sesaminol, lecithin, selenium, phytosterol.

Nutritional aspect

The benefits listed below apply to virgin, cold-pressed sesame oil of organic origin, the seeds of which have not been roasted.

The benefits attributed to sesame oil for nerve and brain cells are linked to the presence of sesamolin and lecithin.

These lignans also reduce LDL cholesterol levels.

Advantages

• Anti-infective
• Liver, blood and kidney tonic (according to Chinese medicine)
• Cardiovascular protector, anti-atheromatous, hypocholesterolemic
• Central nervous system protector
• Analgesic and anti-inflammatory
• Antioxidant
• Appetite regulator

Indications 

• Appetite (regulation)
• Artherosclerosis (in prevention, in combination with adapted diet and medical follow-up)
• Atherosclerosis (in prevention, in combination with adapted diet and medical follow-up)
• High cholesterol
• Constipation
• Pruritus
• Diabetes (in combination with adapted diet and medical monitoring)
• Digestive problems
• Joint pain, rheumatic pain
• Physical and nervous fatigue
• Liver (liver and gallbladder disease)
• Memory, mental activity (support and prevention)
• Dandruff (hair)
• Rheumatism
• Hypertension (prevention, in combination with a proper diet and medical follow-up)
• Cough
• Cardiovascular diseases (prevention)
• Digestive disorders: heartburn, dyspepsia
• Memory problems (prophylaxis, in combination with a healthy lifestyle)
• Nervous system disorders (prophylaxis, in combination with a healthy lifestyle)
• Allergic-inflammatory respiratory diseases

Precautionary measures

Although sesame oil is suitable for everyone from babies to the elderly, in very rare cases it can cause a sensitising reaction (itching and inflammation of the skin).

This reaction is probably linked to the presence of lignans (sesamolin and lecithin).

For these reasons, it is best to avoid the use of sesame oil by children and during pregnancy.

It is advisable to ensure that there is no allergy to sesame.

Sesame oil is very stable and can easily be stored away from light.

However, it solidifies below 15 degrees and does not withstand high temperatures (although it is recommended for use as a condiment).

Note that the critical cooking point of virgin oil is lower than that of refined oil (although the latter should not be preferred as part of a healthy diet).