In ancient times, the wise men said that eating black sesame regularly will help to increase longevity.
Let’s find out how black sesame can benefit your health from the TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) perspective.
First, the thermal nature of black sesame is neutral. This means that most people can consume it with no issues (there are some exceptions which I will mention below).
Black sesame promotes the function and health of liver, kidney and large intestine.
For the liver – Black sesame helps to promote ‘liver blood’ (肝血), which will in turn help with hair growth and reversing white hair (for middle-aged adults mainly).
For the kidney – Black sesame helps to improve the ‘kidney essence’ (肾精). What this means is that black sesame strengthens bone health and can aid in the prevention of osteoporosis (loss of calcium in bones) to some extent.
Black sesame also contains linoleic acid (亚油酸), which helps in reducing blood cholesterol and preventing arteriosclerosis (动脉硬化).
Lastly, black sesame can help to relieve constipation as it nourishes the large intestine and promotes bowel movement.
People Who Can’t Eat Black Sesame
Most people can safely eat black sesame except for those who are currently experiencing some form of skin inflammation (rashes in some parts of the body, etc). In this case, it is best to avoid eating black sesame until their condition improves.
How To Consume Black Sesame For Maximum Benefits
If you consume black sesame in its original form (as seeds), your body will not be able to fully absorb its nutrients.
For the tonic effects of black sesame to be better absorbed by your body, it is highly recommended to consume black sesame in paste or powder form.
Here are two simple ways that I recommend for you to consume black sesame and enjoy its maximum benefits:
1. Eat As A Bread Spread
The first way is to purchase ready-to-eat 100% black sesame paste (which is made from ground black sesame seeds, with no other added ingredients).
You can simply spread the paste on your bread for a healthy breakfast, or mix it with your noodles for your other meals!
2. Drink Soy Milk With Black Sesame Powder Mix
The second method is to purchase 100% black sesame powder and add it to your soy milk drink. This way, you can enjoy the benefits of both soy milk and black sesame!
The daily recommended dosage of black sesame is about 10g per person.
Hope you find this post useful and feel free to post any questions below!