The Profound Healing Properties of Sesame Seed
Written By: Sayer Ji, Founder of GreenMedInfo LLC, 2017
When it comes to dietary superfoods, there may be nothing on
Earth that packs as much healing power into as small a package as the sesame
seed. Scientific studies have revealed that sesame seeds are a superior source
of cancer-fighting lignans, bumping flaxseed from its “top-seeded” position!
Anyone who is interested in natural health is likely to be
acquainted with the potent healing powers of flaxseed. Thanks to two
significant studies done in the 1990s, flaxseeds gained fame for their high
lignan content and phytoestrogens, biologically active elements with
antioxidant and chemoprotective properties. These studies found flaxseed to be
the richest source of lignans, with concentrations 100-800 times higher than
any other plant food tested. This led many health-conscious people to believe
that flaxseed is the superior source of lignans, especially for vegans. But
this is not the end of the high-lignan seed story.
An important 2005 study has put a better option on the
table. Published in the journal Nutrition and Cancer, researchers compared the
amount of mammalian lignan that was produced from metabolized sesame seed and
flaxseed. Two specific mammalian lignans, enterolactone (ED) and enterodiol
(EL), were the focus of the study. Plant lignans are converted by the bacterial
flora in the colon into mammalian lignans (from the plant, to the mammal).
Structurally similar to estrogen, lignans are credited for flaxseed’s ability
to reduce the risk of hormone-related diseases such as cancers of the breast,
ovary, and prostate. Lignans have the ability to bind to estrogen receptors in
cells, an action that has an inhibitory effect on the metastasis process.
Lignans are chemoprotective, anti-carcinogenetic, and pack an anti-cancer
punch!
In this study, healthy, postmenopausal women ate food bars
containing 25 grams of unground flaxseed, sesame seed, or a combination of the
two seeds. Study participants were divided into three groups who were
instructed to supplement their diets with one of the three types of food bars for
four weeks.
Metabolized lignans were measured via urinalysis, which was
taken at the beginning of the study to determine baseline, and after four weeks
of food bar consumption. Urinalysis results showed consumers of sesame seeds
produced a greater amount of urinary lignans (albeit not significantly greater)
than flaxseed or mixed seed consumers.
A 2012 study echoes these findings in a study of breast
cancer tumor growth. Researchers compared sesame and flax seed as inhibitors of
breast cancer tumor growth in mice. After 8 weeks of feeding either flaxseed
lignan, sesame seed lignan, or a control (inert) substance, both flax and
sesame were found to reduce breast tumor size, with sesame having the superior
effect. It is suspected that sesame seed is a better inducer of apoptosis,
programmed cell death, than flaxseed, giving sesame seed an anti-cancer boost.
Sesame seed has demonstrated benefit to mankind for
thousands of years, and has been used traditionally for an array of health
concerns. Let’s examine some of the top reasons you should consider adding a
few heaping teaspoons of sesame to your daily diet. There are virtually
limitless ways to consume sesame, and rest assured, it is as delicious as it is
healthful.
Age-Related Decline
The majority of studies on sesame seed are for oxidative
stress, which can appear as a gradual decline as we age, and in the onset of
what are referred to as age-related diseases. Oxidative damage can be
accelerated when we hyper-exert, as is the case of many competitive athletes.
Fatigue, arthritis, muscle strain, and cognitive decline are all signs of
oxidative damage that sesame seed has been found to improve. A 2015 Iranian
study showed sesame seed supplementation had a positive effect on inflammation
and oxidative stress biomarkers in patients with knee osteoarthritis. A more
recent study examined the same stress biomarkers along with aerobic capacity in
semi-professional soccer players.
Players were sorted into two groups, and fed two tablespoons
(40 g) per day of either ground sesame or a placebo during 28 days of regular
training. The players that consumed sesame saw reduced muscle damage and
oxidative stress, while improving aerobic capacity. Talk about extra points!
Pain and Inflammation
When you have pain, you also have inflammation, and sesame
seeds have proven effective at treating both problems. A 2011 study exploring
non-addictive, naturopathic treatment options for diabetic neuropathic pain,
found that when sesame seeds were consumed in addition to standard insulin
treatment, neuropathic pain and oxidative stress were reduced, as were
inflammatory markers.
Two recent studies conducted on pain and inflammation
associated with osteoarthritis confirm that supplementation with sesame seeds
may be an effective adjunct therapy. An Iranian medical university examined 50
patients diagnosed with painful osteoarthritis of the knee. Divided into two
groups, both groups experienced the same treatment protocol with one exception:
the experimental group was given 2 tablespoons of ground sesame seed per day.
After 2 months of study, researchers found the patients who ate sesame seeds
had significantly less pain than the control group. A similar study conducted
in
2017 echoed these findings.
Hypertensive Heart Disease
Ancient medical wisdom often informs modern science.
Scientists routinely test herbs and folkloric remedies to see if they do, in
fact, carry mystical, medicinal properties. Oftentimes, once a therapeutic
property has been identified, these natural ingredients are mimicked in the
lab, creating drugs that may or may not be effective or healthy. Isolating a
single molecule or biological action, then concentrating it into a synthetic
pill version is not the same thing as consuming whole-plant food and
metabolizing it naturally in the body.
A July 2017 study asked the question, “Can sesame
consumption improve blood pressure?” After a systematic review and
meta-analysis of controlled trials, researchers found that, yes, sesame
consumption can reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure, due to its high
polyunsaturated fatty acid, fiber, phytosterol and lignan contents. Studies
have examined a variety of sesame preparations, proving that the ways you can
prepare and consume sesame seed are varied but the potent healing and nutritional
properties remain consistent. A study on black sesame seed meal consumed at
approximately 2.5 grams per day for 4 weeks, significantly decreased systolic
blood pressure, while simultaneously improving antioxidant status and
decreasing oxidative stress.
An important 2006 study sought to determine if adding sesame
oil to the diet would interfere with other blood pressure protocols, such as
beta-blockers and diuretics. After asking participants to substitute sesame oil
for all other edible oils in the diet, a clear determination was made through
the data.
After 45 days on sesame oil: “Substitution of sesame oil
brought down systolic and diastolic blood pressure to normal. The same patients
were asked to withdraw sesame oil consumption for another 45 days, and the
measurements were repeated. Withdrawal of sesame oil substitution brought back
the initial blood pressure values.” In addition to this stunning high blood
pressure cure, participants experienced a significant reduction in BMI from
sesame oil substitution. No negative effects were perceived.
Whether you are consuming ground sesame seed, sesame oil, or
a sesame paste such as tahini, you will benefit from adding this amazing food
to your diet. To receive the maximum therapeutic benefit, it’s important to
obtain organic, whole seeds. They can be ground into a condiment (combine with
sea salt for added boost!) and added to soups, cereals, smoothies, and salads
for enhanced nutrition and flavor.
Avoid toasted oils, due to oxidation from the heat of roasting,
and understand that oils have removed the fiber from the seed, which also
removes some of the antioxidant benefits of lignans, the digestive co-passenger
of fiber. Whole seed can be consumed in small doses by most individuals with no
digestive disturbance, however it should be noted that whole seed is not
recommended for therapeutic doses due to potential for irritation of the gut
lining. Grinding the seeds is a form of predigestion that makes the rich
nutrients more readily assimilable.
Sesame is a significant source of protein, almost 20% by
weight. It is a rich source of plant-based calcium, providing 9% of our U.S.
RDA (recommended daily allowance). Sesame’s whole-plant form of calcium
provides greater absorption and is far superior to inorganic forms of this
nutrient. A 5-ounce serving provides a whopping 53% of the RDA of iron.
PubMed has nearly 3,000 studies on sesame seeds, proving
that this substance has been on our global health radar for quite some time.
The GreenMedInfo.com database on sesame lists 90 documented health benefits for
this amazing seed. For additional research on sesame health benefits, read our
article Open Sesame! 10 Amazing Health Benefits of this Super-Seed. For
additional research on the health benefits of sesame seeds visit our database
on the subject
Sweet wormwood is a powerful alternative to chemotherapy –
and it’s 1000x more effective
(Natural News) With the many incredible scientific and
technological advancements that are available to us today, it’s frustrating
that so many people continue to die of cancer. Chemotherapy is still the most
widely used treatment, even though it isn’t saving nearly as many lives as we’d
like it to – and those who do manage to survive must often deal with very
serious side effects.
Pharmaceutical researchers are constantly developing and
testing drugs that never seem to pan out, but what if the answer to all this
isn’t found in the hospital at all? Scientists are increasingly demonstrating
just how powerful naturally occurring substances can be in the fight against
cancer. In many cases, these substances are able to destroy cancer cells
without harming the healthy cells nearby. One such solution that doesn’t get
nearly as much attention as it deserves is sweet wormwood.
Wormwood grows natively in parts of Europe, Asia and North
Africa and is perhaps most famous for its use in the alcoholic beverage
absinthe. Sweet wormwood, however, contains the active ingredient artemisinin,
and it’s been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years to boost the
immune system and stop parasites. In fact, its name is due in part to the fact
that it is so good at expelling roundworms, threadworms and tapeworms by
creating an environment in the intestines in which parasites struggle to
survive.
Researchers from the University of Washington have found
that a compound made of a highly concentrated form of wormwood and iron can be
more than 1000 times as effective as chemotherapy in targeting cancer cells,
especially when it comes to breast cancer. The combination is considered a
“time bomb” for cancerous cells.
Study Senior Author Tomikazu Sasaki said: “The compound is like a special agent planting a bomb inside the
cell.”
Because cancer cells don’t dispose of free-floating iron
molecules as well as healthy cells do, the presence of iron can be stressful
for them. This inspired the researchers to use naturally-occurring
holotransferrin to carry iron into cells and deliver the high doses of
artemisinin in prostate and breast cancer cells that way.
Kills cancer without compromising healthy cells
The researchers’ compound overcomes the biggest challenge
facing cancer treatment developers today, and that is the fact that cancer
cells develop from the body’s own normal cells, and most methods of killing
them also impact healthy cells. While most of the chemotherapies currently
available destroy roughly one normal cell for every five to ten cancerous cells
they kill, this method kills roughly one healthy cell for every 12,000 cancer
cells. It also has few side effects. Although artemisinin is toxic in the
presence of iron, it is generally harmless otherwise.
All of the cancer cells that were exposed to this specially
prepared holotransferrin died within just 16 hours. Best of all, the approach
works on all types of cancer cells rather than only serving for a few specific
types. The reason it can be particularly effective on breast cancer cells is
because these cells sometimes have as many as 15 times more iron receptors than
the cells that surround them.
In a similar study carried out by Worcester Polytechnic
Institute, researchers discovered that that artemisinin reacts with iron to
form free radicals that prompt cancer cells to die; cancer cells’ increased
iron uptake makes them vulnerable to the free radicals created by artemisinin.
In addition, sweet wormwood contains other anticancer
compounds such as quercetin, limonene, and B-pinene.
Artemisinin is already used as an anti-malarial drug, and
now it appears that it could well become the basis of an effective cancer
treatment in the future.
Blueberries contain a specific substance that can prolong
your life
(Natural News) The fabled Fountain of Youth might not exist,
but a compound in blueberries can have a surprisingly significant anti-aging
effect, making them the perfect fruit to consume for longevity. You might have
already heard about the anthocyanins in blueberries that give them their blue
color and their impressive antioxidant benefits, but the compound responsible
for their extraordinary ant-aging effects is known as pterostilbene – and
blueberries are the only place you can get it.
Pterostilbene is so beneficial because it activates three
different pathways that play a role in aging. First of all, it increases the
activity of the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, or AMPK,
pathway. As you age, your AMPK activation slows down, and this contributes to
accelerated aging and weight gain. That’s because AMPK regulates your body’s
production of energy.
Increasing AMPK pathway activity brings down fat and blood
sugar levels in the blood while reducing body fat stores and chronic
inflammation. It has also been shown to improve memory and stop the
beta-amyloid plaque and tau tangles behind Alzheimer’s disease form forming.
Therefore, it’s estimated to cause a 20 percent lifespan increase.
The second way that pterostilbene can extend your life is by
limiting the expression of a signaling pathway known as mTOR, which regulates
cell growth, proliferation and survival. When things go wrong with this
pathway, it can lead to chronic degenerative conditions and cancer.
Scientists say that inhibiting this pathway by 25 percent
can result in a 20 percent lifespan increase, and animal studies back this up.
Finally, pterostilbene modulates the sirtuins pathway.
Anti-aging sirtuin molecules in your body help to maintain the length of
telomeres, which is very important in longevity, while also regulating DNA
repair. Moreover, it does such a good job of stopping heart cells from dying
that it’s being explored by researchers as a potential way of mitigating injury
to the heart muscle after a heart attack. It can also reduce systolic and
diastolic blood pressure.
Dementia and Alzheimer’s
Having a long life is only great if you can enjoy it; no one
wants to add years to their life if they’re going to be miserable. Thankfully,
pterostilbene can also prevent dopamine loss in the memory centers in aged
rats, and it’s hoped that these benefits extend to humans as well.
Blueberries also contain antioxidants like myricetin,
arbutin, chlorogenic acid, and anthocyanins, all of which are strong
neuroprotectants that can boost cognition and prevent the brain from
experiencing age-related changes. For example, a 2010 study in the Journal of
Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that regular blueberry consumption could
mitigate neurodegeneration and slow the development of Alzheimer’s and
dementia.
A study published in the Experimental Gerontology journal
revealed that blueberry extract can extend the lifespan of fruit flies by a
mean of 10 percent by increasing the expression of certain genes that prolong
lifespan while decreasing the expression of the genes that accelerate aging.
Eat more blueberries!
Blueberries are delicious on their own, and they’re also
easy to incorporate into other dishes. They work great in smoothies and oatmeal,
and they’re also delicious served with cottage cheese or yogurt. Use them as
the base of a fruit salad with other superfoods, or add some to a green salad
for an antioxidant boost.
They’re versatile, tasty, and can extend your life, but many
people say cost prevents them from consuming as many as they’d like. Although
blueberries can be expensive when they’re out of season, you could consider
growing your own depending on your climate. As always, you want to seek organic
varieties to avoid introducing longevity-destroying pesticides into your body.
Until next time, stay healthy and happy
JD Roma
The information on this blog is provided for educational
purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care, and
medical advice and services are not being offered. If you have, or suspect you
have, a health problem you should consult your physician (preferably a
Naturopath).
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