By Sayer Ji
Contributing Writer for Wake Up World
We don’t think of sesame
seed paste as a ‘life saver,’ but new research shows it is capable of
reducing blood markers of cardiovascular disease risk by 39% within only
six weeks.
Sadly, in the Western world, when the average Joe thinks of protecting himself from heart disease, aspirin and statin drugs
are often as high on the list – if not higher – than exercise and
eating better. Through decades of intense marketing and miseducation
millions have been made to think of the #1 killer as an inevitable
force; one against which we fling pills and various pharmaceutical
potions to ‘minimize risk,’ never to strike to the core of the problem
and resolve it permanently.
This is one reason why natural medicine
continues to gain popularity, as it is founded in more than a palliative
approach to disease, and does not require the ingestion of patented chemicals
(i.e. pharmaceuticals) whose side effects are often worse and far more
plentiful than their claimed therapeutic ones. Instead of simply
managing and/or suppressing symptoms, the goal is to invoke bodily
self-healing, which is to say remove the interference that keeps it from
doing so. And often, this is simply a matter of modifying the diet –
adding something medicinal here, removing something not so healthy
there.
One of the most promising studies to come through the biomedical pipeline of late was a gem published this month in the journal Archives of Iranian Medicine, and
which looked at a traditional, sesame-based food-medicine known as
Ardeh (aka tahini) for its ability to decrease cardiovascular risk
factors in type 2 diabetics – a group whose risk of cardiac mortality is
greatly enhanced due to unhealthy ratios and quantities of blood lipids
associated with chronically elevated blood sugar, glycation and insulin
resistance.
Titled, “Ardeh
(Sesamum indicum) Could Improve Serum Triglycerides and Atherogenic
Lipid Parameters in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Randomized Clinical
Trial“,[i] the study consisted of 41 patients with type 2 diabetes,
who were randomly assigned to one of the two groups: group A (Ardeh 28
g/d, n = 21) and group B (control, n = 20). The patients in group A
were given 28 grams (two tablespoons) of Ardeh with their breakfast,
while group B patients continued with their regular breakfast, both for
six months (the energy content of both groups was kept within the same
range).
Both groups were evaluated at baseline
and six weeks later for blood pressure, serum levels of total
cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), LDL-C, HDL-C, and the so-called
atherogenic index (i.e. heart disease promoting index) of plasma (AIP;
log TG/HDL-C), TC/HDL-C ratio, and LDL/HDL-C ratio .
Remarkably, after the six week test period, significant positive changes were reported:
After six weeks, there were significant decreases in serum TG (15.3 mg/dL) and AIP (39 %) in group A. Moreover, slight decreases in serum TC, LDL-C, and other atherogenic lipid parameters and a mild increase in HDL-C also were observed during Ardeh supplementation. Anthropometric measures and blood pressure were unchanged during the study period in both groups. [emphasis added]
Based on these promising observations the researchers concluded: “Ardeh could have favorable effects in decreasing CVD risk factors in type 2 diabetics.” Keep in mind that they found a 39% decrease in
the so-called atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), which is no small
effect for a relatively small dietary change. It should be noted that
the brand of tahini used in this study (Oghab Halva Company)
had no additional additives or oil. It was ground sesame seed, plain
and simple. Were this a drug trial, results like these would be
broadcast the world over as the next life-saving (multi-billion dollar
selling) blockbuster drug. For a more detailed explanation of the
results, read the entire study at the link here.
This is not the first human clinical
study to find a beneficial effect of sesame on cardiovascular health or
diabetes. Here are few others:
- A 2012 study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology found that “Sesame oil consumption exerts a beneficial effect on endothelial function in hypertensive men.[ii]
- A 2010 study published in the journal Clinical Nutrition found that “Sesame oil exhibits synergistic effect with anti-diabetic medication in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.”[iii]
- A 2006 study published in the Journal of Medical Food found that “The substitution of sesame seed oil as the sole edible oil lowers blood pressure and glucose in hypertensive diabetics.”[iv]
- A 2006 study published in the Yale Journal of Biological Medicine found that “Sesame seed oil has a beneficial effect in hypertensive patients on either diuretics or beta-blockers.”[v]
Sesame is truly a super star among medicinal foods. In fact, recently, we reported on a study that found that eating 40 grams of sesame seeds, or the equivalent of two tablespoons of tahini, was superior to Tylenol
in reducing pain in those suffering from knee arthritis. You can also
take a look at the over 40 health benefits of sesame seed and/or its
components on our sesame seed health benefits research page to learn more about this remarkable healing food.
Let’s face it. At this point, with human
clinical research from respected, peer-reviewed journals revealing that
simple dietary changes – yes, as simple as eating some sesame paste
(tahini) daily — can have huge impacts on risk factors for the most
deadly and common diseases known in modern times, the time has come to
reevaluate what exactly it is that is going on under the name of
medicine today. Drugs don’t cure disease any more than bullets cure war.
Foods, on the other hand, can be curative, and may just help us to put
our ‘war against heart disease’ – like are failed ‘war on cancer’ – to rest once and for all.
Finally, for a quick tahini recipe, take a look at this About.com how to, and consider super-charging the heart-friendly properties of this food with the addition of garlic, whose life-saving properties we have expanded on in another article.
Article Resources
[i] Parvin Mirmiran, Zahra Bahadoran, Mahdieh Golzarand, Asadolah Rajab, Fereidoun Azizi. Ardeh
(Sesamum indicum) Could Improve Serum Triglycerides and Atherogenic
Lipid Parameters in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Randomized Clinical
Trial. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2013 Apr;20(2):202-8. doi: 10.1177/2047487312437625. Epub 2012 Jan 25.
[ii] Kalliopi Karatzi, Kimon
Stamatelopoulos, Maritta Lykka, Pigi Mantzouratou, Sofia Skalidi,
Nikolaos Zakopoulos, Christos Papamichael, Labros S Sidossis. Sesame oil consumption exerts a beneficial effect on endothelial function in hypertensive men. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2012 Jan 25. Epub 2012 Jan 25. PMID: 22345690
[iii] Devarajan Sankar, Amanat Ali, Ganapathy Sambandam, Ramakrishna Rao. Sesame oil exhibits synergistic effect with anti-diabetic medication in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Clin Nutr. 2011 Jun ;30(3):351-8. Epub 2010 Dec 16. PMID: 21163558
[iv] D Sankar, M Ramakrishna Rao, G Sambandam, K V Pugalendi. A pilot study of open label sesame oil in hypertensive diabetics. J Med Food. 2006 Fall;9(3):408-12. PMID: 17004907
[v] D Sankar, M Ramakrishna Rao, G Sambandam, K V Pugalendi. Effect
of sesame oil on diuretics or Beta-blockers in the modulation of blood
pressure, anthropometry, lipid profile, and redox status. Yale J Biol Med. 2006 Mar;79(1):19-26. PMID: 17876372
Further articles by Sayer Ji:
- Eating Sesame Seeds Superior To Tylenol for Knee Arthritis
- The Grain That Damages The Human Brain
- Honey Plus Coffee Beats Steroid For Treating Cough
- The Cancer-Causing Metal Millions Eat, Wear or Have Injected Into Their Kids
- Turmeric Superior to Chemical Mouthwash In Improving Oral Health
- Biophotons: The Human Body Emits, Communicates with, and is Made from Light
- 3 Evidence-Based Ways To Reverse Skin Aging Naturally
- How to Clean Your Arteries With One Simple Fruit
- 13 Evidence-Based Medicinal Properties of Coconut Oil
