Article information- Author, Isidore Kowounou
- Role, BBC Afrique
9 December 2023
Di first plant wey dem bin use during prehistory, to produce oil, na sesame wey originally come from South Asia and Africa.
From im scientific name Sesamum indicum, sesame belong to di Pedaliaceae family. Na edible and medicinal plant.
Sesame na plant wey dem dey grow from im seeds.
Sesame seeds get plenty respect wella especially for China, wey im main supplier na Africa.
Even though for di continent, many pipo dey use am sake of im medicinal and nutritional values.
According to data from N'Kalô, one initiative of di NGO RONGEAD wey provide statistics on agricultural sectors for West and Central Africa, Africa exports of sesame seeds to China pass 400,000 tonnes for 2021.
Dis represent 60% of China purchases of dis seed worldwide.
Sudan na China largest supplier wit 120,554 tonnes. Niger, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Togo also be important customers of China.
Wetin sesame look like?
E dey necessary to recognise say pipo dey sometimes confuse di seed wit pumpkin seeds or pistachio seeds.
Sesame na tiny seed wey im size be like grain of sand and im plant fit measure up to two metre for height.
Sesame fruit dey dey inside capsule wey dey oblong and wey dey open to reveal small, smooth seeds wey dey measure some few millimetres.
Buit pumpkin seed (goussi for Mina language), na creeping plant, wit seeds wey im size fit reach between 1 and 3 cm.
Di colour of real sesame dey different from creamy white to black and sometimes brown.
“Dis mean say dem get several varieties of Sesamum indicum wey be di real sesame,” Dr. Mathieu Kpônou Tobossi, specialist for hygiene and food quality, director of the Dietotherapy Cabinet NFS-Togo, tok.
According to Dr. Mathieu Kpônou Tobossi, two to four spoonfuls per day, witout adding anytin, on regular basis, dey remove plenty waste from body.
Impressive nutritional values
“Whatever you eat, if you take sesame in reasonable quantities, you go fit evacuate di waste from di food di next day,” Dr Tobossi tell BBC Africa.
Di small grains wey we dey see for snacks wey we dey buy from pastry shop na sesame. “E dey crunchy wen you chop am,” im explain, as im insist say sesame na very good digestive.
Some dey chop am directly afta dem treat am well by removing sand.
But most dey put am for fire, roast am small, den store am inside bottle wey dem close tightly.
According to di nutritionist-dietician, “I don dey always recommend am for my patients for more dan 10 years, and I dey always get good results,” Dr. Togossi tok.
Im add say: “E dey very good for pipo wey dey hypertensive, diabetics, pipo wey get joint problems, nerve problems and odas.”
E also dey recommended for pipo wey dey get palpitations, cramps, blurred vision, insomnia.
Benefits of sesame
Benefits of sesame dey come from im antioxidant richness. Sesame seeds dey rich in fiber, proteins, lipids, minerals and especially vitamin B6.
Di seeds dey produce oil, sesame oil dey rich in unsaturated fatty acids, wey dey give plenty benefits for human body.
Dis oil dey improve blood sugar levels for diabetics. E dey reduce blood pressure sake of say sesame seeds dey loaded wit nutrient wey dem call magnesium wey dey help lower blood pressure.
Wit di amount of phytosterol wey im get, sesame seed dey block di production of bad cholesterol.
E also get zinc, producer of collagen wey dey give di skin much more elasticity.
“Sesame oil, due to im richness in antioxidants, minerals and odas, wen you rub am for bodi regularly, fit reduce di risk of developing skin cancer,” Dr. Tobossi tok.
Na valuable supplement for di heart, since sesamol get antioxidant and anti-inflammatory wey fit prevent atherosclerosis.
Dr. Tobossi tok say sesame dey very good for di heart and vessels to prevent dis ailment.
“Phytic acid, magnesium and phytosterols constitute na three combo wey dey effectively fight against di establishment and development of cancer cells,” im add.
E also be good food against anxiety, bad mood and stress, sake of say e contain calming and relaxing vitamins, thiamine and tryptophan, especially for di brain, according to Dr. Tobossi
“Dem bin advise me once to use am treat my insomnia. True-true, I sleep go wen I take di sesame seeds wey I bin roast,” Simplice, wey be storekeeper for port of Cotonou confam.
Sesamol from sesame oil get effect on DNA. E dey protect am against damage wey radiation dey cause.
Nutritionists dey recommend sesame and sesame oil to pipo wey dey work for telephone companies, nuclear agencies, radiology for hospitals.
E dey also treat arthritis due to im high copper content. Sesame dey also protect di liver against effects of alcohol.
One handful of sesame contain more calcium pass one glass of milk, and na why e dey good for di bones.
“Pipo wey dey elderly gatz consume plenty sesame to avoid osteoporosis,” di nutritionist-dietician tok.
For di well-being of baby
According to Dr. Tobossi, gentle massage of baby wit sesame oil dey improve growth, make am sleep well.
Dis oil dey also correct di redness wey we dey see for baby skin, especially for di private part area wen we remove dia napkin. You fit rub dis part wit sesame oil.
Sesame seeds, especially di black variety, dey very good for eye health, according to Dr. Tobossi.
You fit also use sesame oil to make mouthwash to remove dental plaque. “E dey also whiten teeth,”im emphasise.
“Pipo wey get respiratory problems like asthma, also dey advised to use sesame so dem go benefit from di magnesium wey dey prevents respiratory tract spasms,” im say.
Sesame seed, delicacy for kitchen
Like many odas for di continent, sesame seeds na also correct Africa food, particularly for Togo, Benin, Ghana, etc. Many dey use dem as thickener for soup.
Na correct pleasure, as Armand confam. Wen BBC Africa contact am for Cotonou, im no fail to tell how im Togolese wife seduce am wit sauce wey she make from sesame seeds during one trip to Lomé.
“Sesame seed sauce, wit meat, smoked fish, crab and shrimp, I no dey ansa anybody once dis food dey my front. I remember di evening I chop dis sauce and di dough for Ami for im small restaurant for Nyékonakpoé district for Lomé,” e remember wit plenty emotion for im voice.
And ironically “since dat day, I decide say I no go leave Ami”, today she don become im wife, and di mama of im two children.
To make dis sauce, Armand add - you fit see clearly say dis food don win im heart - we blend di sesame seeds into pasty add am for di tomato sauce or vegetable sauce.
“Di result get appearance of one seed or peanut sauce, but e different for im unique taste. I like dis sauce. My wife dey cook am for me once a week, especially wen I learn say sesame seeds dey beneficial for my health,” im rejoice.
But not veri beneficial afta di fire
Dietitian Tobossi also confam di deliciousness of sesame seed sauce.
Many of im patients obviously tok to am about am. Na cooking habit for im kontri, Togo.
Except say sesame dey lose many of im value wen e burn or dem make am into sauce.
Im explain say “we fit benefit from am too, but e no go be di same as wen we chop am raw”. Becos heat dey “destroy some nutritional principles wey dey for foods.”
According to am, di longer wey food pass or last for fire, di more e go loss certain virtues. “To beta benefit from evritin wey sesame contain, you gatz chop am witout say you burn am,” im say. Come add say you fit roast am small to make am crispy.
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