What is sesame oil and what are its effects and functions

Sesame oil is a kind of oil that almost every household has on hand. Adding some sesame oil when cooking can enhance the flavor. Although people often use sesame oil, they don’t fully understand it. Many people think that sesame oil is the same as vegetable oil. In fact, the extraction process of sesame oil is more refined and it is also rich in nutrients.

1. What is sesame oil?

Sesame oil, also known as sesame oil or sesame oil, is extracted from sesame seeds and has a special aroma, hence the name sesame oil. According to the extraction method, it is generally divided into machine-pressed sesame oil and small-milled sesame oil. Small-milled sesame oil is the traditional sesame oil. In some areas, it also refers to rapeseed oil.

2. Identification method of sesame oil

Color identification method: Pure sesame oil is red or orange-red, machine-pressed sesame oil is lighter in color than small-milled sesame oil, sesame oil mixed with rapeseed oil is dark yellow in color, and sesame oil mixed with cottonseed oil is dark red in color.

Water test method: Use chopsticks to dip a drop of sesame oil and drop it on the surface of calm cold water. Pure sesame oil will appear as colorless, transparent, thin, large oil spots. The oil droplets of adulterated sesame oil are small and thick and not easy to spread.

Smell method: The aroma of small-milled sesame oil is mellow, rich and unique. If it is mixed with peanut oil, soybean oil, refined oil, rapeseed oil, etc., not only will the aroma be poor, but there will also be other odors such as peanuts and beans. Some sesame oils are blended with edible flavors and have a relatively poor smell.

3. The efficacy and function of sesame oil

1. Lower blood pressure

Studies in my country, the United States, Japan and India have shown that long-term consumption of sesame oil can significantly reduce the incidence of hypertension and reduce the number of medications that hypertensive patients must take to lower their blood pressure.

2. Prevent and treat arteriosclerosis

Sesame oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids that are beneficial to health, especially those that are beneficial to the health of the heart and blood vessels. These unsaturated fatty acids are easily decomposed, absorbed and utilized by the human body, promoting the metabolism of cholesterol and removing deposits on the walls of arterial blood vessels, thereby softening blood vessels and preventing and treating arteriosclerosis.

3. Anti-aging beauty

"Compendium of Materia Medica" mentions: "Long-term consumption of sesame oil can relieve numbness and anxiety, increase appetite, refresh the mind and improve eyesight, and prevent aging." This points out the anti-aging and beauty function of sesame oil. With people's gradual understanding of sesame oil and in-depth development of its functions, the beauty function of sesame oil has become a highlight in beauty, and sesame oil has been increasingly favored by people who love beauty.

4. Lubricates the intestines and promotes bowel movements

Sesame oil contains a large amount of fat, which has a good laxative effect. It has a certain preventive and therapeutic effect on constipation. For patients with habitual constipation, drinking a mouthful of sesame oil on an empty stomach in the morning and evening can moisten the intestines and promote bowel movements.