Benefits of adding sesame oil in your daily routine, as per Ayurveda

There is a wide variety of oil available in the market. Mustard, olive and coconut oil, but the importance of sesame oil in Ayurveda is irreplaceable. The tiny seeds of sesame are extensively used for preparing Ayurvedic medicines for hundreds of years. About 40 per cent of all the Ayurvedic medicines used for curing diverse health conditions contain sesame. Powder, paste or oil, there are multiple ways these seeds are utilised in the traditional Indian medicine practice, owing to their amazing health benefits.

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Sesame oil is an edible oil made using sesame seeds. It is naturally nutty and more flavourful than other oil. Due to its taste, it does not require refining to make it edible like other oils. Apart from medicinal usage, sesame oil is widely used for cooking purposes in Asia and the Middle East countries like Chinese, Korean, and Japanese cooking. One teaspoon of sesame oil contains:

Calories: 120

Protein: 0 grams

Fat: 14 grams

Carbohydrates: 0 grams

Fiber: 0 grams

Sugar: 0 grams

Sesame oil also contains healthy fat like omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. The two main antioxidants in sesame seeds-sesamol and sesaminol- have powerful effects and are mostly credited for their amazing health benefits. Here are some reasons to include sesame oil in your diet:

Massaging with sesame oil is a crucial practice in Ayurveda. There are many reasons why sesame oil is used over other oils for massaging purposes, but the most important of all is because it penetrates deeper into the skin. It reaches the bottom layer of your skin and nourishes it. The oil also contains vitamin E, which can help protect skin cells from UV rays, pollution, and toxins.

Sesame oil has a warming effect on your body and is best to massage with in winters to keep oneself protected from the cold harsh weather. It helps in reducing muscle pain, cough and cold. Massaging with sesame oil can make you feel warm, calm and can also balance your Vata. However, using sesame oil in summers might not be a good idea due to its warming property.

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As compared to any other oil, sesame oil is digested more quickly in the body. The fiber in sesame oil helps in better digestion of the food, facilitates better bowel movements and reduces episodes of constipation. Owing to its anti-inflammatory properties, sesame oil also helps to treat joint inflammation, toothaches, and scrapes.

Massaging with sesame oil has also proven to be beneficial in joint pain and inflammation related to arthritis. Several studies carried out on rodents reveal that sesame oil can improve arthritis pain. Not only this but the tiny seed oil can also help to treat wounds and burns when applied topically.

For those suffering from insomnia, sesame oil can be a great remedy. As per a study, massaging with drops of sesame oil on the forehead for 5 minutes can help to improve sleep quality and quality of life.