SESAME SEED

USES OF SESAME SEED

1.  Nutritional Components

Sesame seeds are rich in fat, protein, minerals, vitamins, and dietary fiber. Sesame oil, which is obtained through traditional oil production methods, is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, fat-soluble vitamins, amino acids, etc. Studies have found that sesame seeds contain 21.9% protein and 61.7% fat, and are rich in minerals such as Fe and Ca. Sesame seeds are rich in nutrients and have the reputation of being an “all-purpose nutrient bank” and the “crown of eight grains”

1. Processed Foods Related to Sesame

In recent years, there has been more and more research on the process of sesame compounding products. While retaining the flavor of sesame itself, sesame is processed with other raw materials to improve the nutritional value of the product, which can meet the needs of different consumer groups. Most of the more common sesame compounding products combine sesame with beans, grains, nuts, fruits, and vegetables.

1. Antioxidants

In daily life, the addition of antioxidant components to cooking oils is essential to slow down their oxidation. Refined sesame oil has antioxidant properties that extend its shelf life in the food industry. This is because high temperature roasting is a necessary step in the refining of sesame oil. The Maillard reaction of reducing sugars with free amino acids during high temperature roasting not only enriches the flavor of sesame oil.

1. Applied in Traditional Chinese Medicine

According to the Shennong Ben Cao Jing, sesame seeds are used to treat “injuries in the middle of deficiency, nourish the five internal organs, benefit energy, grow muscles, and fill the marrow”

5. Application to Pharmaceuticals

Sesame seeds and oil have significant pharmacological benefits and health benefits for the whole body, especially the liver, kidneys, spleen, and stomach organs. Its high oil content not only lubricates the intestinal tract, but also nourishes the internal organs . Sesame oil also can promote burn healing by relieving minor burns or sunburns and aiding in the healing process. Sesame oil can also be used as a solvent, an oil carrier for medications, a skin softener, and a natural UV protector .

5. Feeds

Sesame meal, which contains more than 45% crude protein and is rich in a variety of essential amino acids, is a high-quality vegetable protein resource. Sesame meal is cheap and often used for animal feed, but there are certain oxalic acid and phytic acids in sesame meal. These anti-nutritional factors can affect the growth and development of animals, so sesame meal needs to be microbially fermented before it is use

6. Fertilizer

Sesame meal contains about 5.9% nitrogen, 3.3% phosphoric acid, and 1.5% potassium oxide, making it a good fertilizer. Fermented sesame meal used as fertilizer for crops such as watermelon, strawberries, and grapes can significantly improve the quality of agricultural products, such as increasing the sugar, vitamin C content, and fiber of fruits. Its use as a tobacco fertilizer increases the value of tobacco production and leads to better quality tobacco leaves. In the process, it not only increases the number of bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi in the soil, but also increases the organic matter content of the soil.

1. Cosmetics

As early as 1987, the U.S. FDA established the safety and application of sesame oil in cosmetics. In Japan, sesame oil is used not only as a base for pharmaceutical ointments and a diluent for various injections, but also in cosmetics such as eye shadow creams, lipsticks, and moisturizers. Currently, as the understanding of sesame gradually deepens, there are more and more studies on its deep processing and utilization . For example, from the flowers and stems of sesame, fragrances used in the manufacture of perfumes are obtained. The myristic acid in sesame seeds is often used as an ingredient in cosmetics.