Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Sesame oil and its effects to reduce age related senility

Sesame oil also referred to as gingelly oil is a trove of immense culinary and other benefits of therapeutic significance. It is widely used in southeastern Asian countries and is well known for its characteristic taste and flavor. The oil is noted for being enriched with several polyunsaturated fatty acids such as palmatic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic, linolenic, linolenic and eicosenoic fatty acids. Native to India mainland and as symbol of immortality, sesame oil is currently seen similar as the olive oil of India. The oil is freely imbued with antioxidants and has very high boiling point making it less prone to its break down into harmful constituents upon frying. It is also preferred because it does not turn rancid due to the presence of sesamol and sesamin-the two naturally occurring preservatives inherent in the oil. This ‘queen’ among vegetable oil is apt for its application on hair and body. Hair massage with sesame oil leads to blackening of hair besides adding beauty and sheen to the crowning glory on account of being rich in copper and iron. Incidentally research studies point towards importance of copper in helping biosynthesis of melanin pigment responsible for giving hair its blackness besides being anti-rheumatoid. Iron assists in the process by helping increased blood supply laden with oxygen and nutrients. Besides beauty, sesame oil finds use:• In the pharma industry and is widely used in intravenous drip solutions or injecting drugs.• As carrier oil in the cosmetic and toiletries.• As preservative oil used during preparation of Ayurvedic drugs, pickles.• As an effective oil for scalp and body massage especially during winters.Sesame oil is abounding with Vitamin E and minerals as copper, magnesium, iron, zinc, calcium and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) as omega 6 fatty acids. Regular use of sesame oil is effectual in • Preventing osteoporosis, cancer of the gastrointestinal track, migraine and pre-menstruation cramps in women of the reproductive age bracket at bay. • It is competent in tackling respiratory and cardiovascular disorders and maintains blood pressure and cholesterol level in the body. • Besides being a rich hub of free-oxygen radical neutralizers that age the body, sesame oil is also source of chemicals as lecithin that serve as anti-depressants and keep senile changes, which are bound to arise with the process of aging, away. • Its application on the skin is associated with alleviating dryness associated with menopause. Its estrogenic properties acts as a laxative, lifts dwindling moods, help relieve of rheumatoid arthritis, hepatitis, dryness of joints and boosts immunity.• The oil has anti-bacterial properties. Ayurveda recommends a rinse with a table spoon of raw sesame oil followed by tooth brush to defend against any winter illness. It claims of dissolving the tarter, whitening the teeth besides keeping them away toxics and germs.• Massage with sesame oil easily percolates and is a natural conditioner for the skin. As a part of the process it adsorbs the unwanted pollutants that gather over the skin and pass into the blood stream. They are then eliminated as waste from the body.

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