Sesame seeds and their nutty flavor have won the hearts of many in the kitchen. It is said that the tiny seeds were one of the first condiments ever used. Sesame seeds are a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals; they contain two unique compounds, sesamin and sesamolin, powerful lignans that haven been proven to lower cholesterol, prevent high blood pressure and even act as an antidepressants. These tiny little semillas contribute to our overall good health and can help you in your efforts of losing weight.
Check out four great benefits of sesame seeds and how they can promote your weight loss.
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1. They contain vitamin E: Sesame seeds are a rich source of vitamin E. The sesamin and sesamolin compounds found in sesame seed oil enhance vitamin E activity. Vitamin E is a fat soluble antioxidant and it's essential for the maintenance of radiant skin, hair and nails. It also plays an important roll in the formation of red blood cells and muscle. This can help you improve your physical fitness performance, and as a result contributes to the development of lean muscle. As you know, lean muscle burns more calories than body fat and it boosts your metabolism. Additionally, vitamin E reduces the risk of preventable diseases like heart disease, atherosclerosis and stroke among many others.
2. They contains sesamin: This compound is a lignan, a powerful chemical compound found in plants. These lignans are metabolized by the natural flora present in our digestives tracks and are then absorbed into our bloodstream exerting an antioxidant effect, which can reduce LDL, help prevent certain types of cancer and improves brain function. One study found that sesamin optimizes the liver's capability to break down and burn more fat, decreasing the body's capacity to store fat.
3. They're high in fiber: Sesame seeds are a rich source of dietary fiber; 100 grams of sesame seeds contain nearly 8 grams of fiber. Fiber plays an important roll in weight loss as it contributes to a healthy digestion. Fiber rich foods help you feel more satisfied for longer periods of time as it takes a lot longer to digest, through this our digestive system burns more calories.
Fiber also helps the sugars and fats you eat, enter the bloodstream at a steady rate, preventing a sudden spike in you blood sugar level. As a result, you avoid a sudden crash which can cause you to feel hungry and overeat.
4. The seeds are a great source of calcium: One tablespoon of sesame seeds contain 88mg of calcium; this means that you only need a quarter of a cup of sesame seeds to obtain the same amount of calcium you would get from one cup of milk. Plant-based sources of calcium like sesame seeds promote better bone health, as they leave no acidic residue in our system produced from breaking down dairy; the acidity has a negative effect on ou system since in order to balance our body's pH back to normal, the bone-building mineral is removed, which can contribute to bone brittleness in the long run.
There are endless ways to add sesame seeds to your diet; you can sprinkle them to your salads or home made dressings, yogurts and even your oatmeal. Sesame seeds are both delicious and filled with benefits to better your health and accelerate your weight loss.
Share this article with all the people that you love, so that they can also benefit from this amazing powerful little seed. Together we can make the world a happier, healthier world!
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