The Benefits of Sesame Oil (Part 3): From My Nose to Your Ears!

If I had to pick one body part to beat up West Side Story-style, it would be my nose. 

Let's see... where do I start? 

As a child, I would be sitting in class, minding my own business, when suddenly my history book would be covered in blood. Seriously, nose? A little warning, maybe? Sometimes, these incidences were so bad that I had to make an impromptu trip to the doctor to get my nose cauterized (if you don't know what that is, consider yourself lucky).

So that's how our relationship began.

Then, after a few years of peace and quiet, my nose decided to bust loose on me again, just actin' a fool - this time in the form of allergies. I was allergic to EVERYTHING - grass, pollen, dogs, cats, rabbits, mold, dust, boys (j/k... that was just the cooties) - you name it, it was on the list. As a result, my mother was forced to buy me hypoallergenic stuffed animals and keep me away from rabbit fur coats, which were all the rave in 3rd grade, by the way. 

Dear Nose,

I don't like you one bit. 

Love, Lauren.

Because constant barrage by my own body is really not my bag, I have been on a lifelong hunt to find a natural solution, and guess what? In keeping with the theme of sesame oil, I may have found just that!

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Nasya, is an Ayurvedic remedy for nasal cleansing. The nose is the gateway to your head, so it's no surprise that systematic Nasya practice would have all sorts of benefits pertaining to your noggin'. You perform Nasya with plain, natural sesame oil (not the type you find in your average Asian grocery). If you have a local health food store, you may even be able to find a medicated oil infused with herbs. As far as the technique goes,  store the sesame oil in a glass jar with a dropper. When you're ready for treatment, warm up the oil in a hot water bath. When the oil is warm (not hot, that would hurt), tilt your head back, insert 2-3 drops per nostril and spend a few minutes inhaling deeply so that the oil can penetrate the sinus cavity. 

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Seeing as how I'm usually pressed for time though, it's also effective (though slightly less so) to dip a Q-tip into the sesame oil and rub it on the inside of each nostril, inhaling as you go. It's as simple as that.

Ok, so now that we've covered the specifics, let's talk about why you would ever consider sniffing sesame oil. Nasya therapy is said to treat congestion, headaches, allergies, fatigue, insomnia, puffy eyes, dark circles, snoring, anxiety and other stress-related problems. Nasya also goes hand-in-hand with a regular yoga practice because it has a strong positive effect on concentration and meditation. But most importantly, proponents of Nasya therapy claim that it's an instant dose of 'happiness'.

Who doesn't want that?

So while I can't claim that one week's worth of Nasya therapy has changed my life, I can offer this information up to you, in hopes that we can change our lives (and sinuses) together. 

Honestly, I'd just be happy if my nose and I could call a truce.

C'mon, sesame oil! Work your magic.

The Benefits of Sesame Oil (Part 2): Breath So Fresh!

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I don't like going to the dentist. Who really does? But my problem lies in the fact that no matter how hard I work to keep my pearly whites sparkling, the dentist will always (without fail) tell me I could be doing a better job. At which point, I want to jump out of my chair, grab his shoulders and start shaking him violently (well, not violently... but sort of) screaming "I DO try! I brush twice, sometimes three times a day! I stay away from coffee and soda! You're driving me loco en la cabeza, Dentist Man!"

You see, years of this torture has worn me down. When I was little, my brother Cale and I would go to the dentist together for our cleanings. I would be scolded and he would pass with flying colors. This, by the way, didn't make a lick of sense. I was quite obsessive with my brushing, while he took less than 10 seconds to brush, flossed every blue moon and sometimes didn't EVEN brush his teeth before bed. Gross.

So... having allowed this bitterness to fester for the last two decades, I decided it was time to take matters into my own hands, and that's where sesame oil comes in. Many Ayurvedic practitioners recommend oil pulling. The more I read about it, the more I felt like this was the answer I had been seeking.

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Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic remedy that involves swishing for 10-15 minutes each day with 1 Tablespoon of organic, cold pressed sesame oil. You can do it any time of the day, but I recommend oil pulling in the morning, before you brush your teeth (cause why brush twice?). I've found that if I do it while putting my makeup on, I tend to concentrate less on the oily task at hand. You can even set your alarm so that you're not obsessed with constantly checking the clock (believe me, the first time will feel much longer than the following times).

And let me tell you... crazy things happen while all that swishing is going on! The sesame oil mixes with your saliva, giving it a lighter color and a more foamy texture. As you swish it around your teeth, gums and tongue, the lipids in the oil begin to absorb all the bacteria in your mouth and prevent toxins from sticking to the walls of your oral cavity. Once the timer goes off and the oil is now thick with bacteria, you spit it out, brush your teeth and go about your day.

I've been oil pulling for about two weeks now and I can already tell a difference. My mouth feels much fresher and my teeth are incredibly whiter (this is another added benefit)! But I knew the true test would be my trip to the dentist last week (after 5 days of oil pulling). Usually, I leave with a major jaw ache because I spent the last 45 minutes with my mouth wide open while the hygienist literally scraped the plaque off my teeth (I blame my genes) and asked me questions about my life (when will they stop with that? I CAN'T TALK WHEN YOUR HANDS ARE IN MY MOUTH)... But, I'm proud to report that this visit lasted all of 15 minutes. He was in, out, bada-bing, bada-boom.... with a resounding "Your teeth look great, ma'am!" at the end.

SHAZAM!

It's finally happened! I cracked the code! I now have teeth reflective of the tender love and care I put into them!

...and all it took was some sesame oil, dedication and a little swishy swishy!

The Benefits of Sesame Oil (Part 1): Kale, Brussels Sprout and Soba Noodle Salad!

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I've come a looooonnnnnnng way, y'all.

Before moving to New York, I had never even tasted Indian food! Not to mention mussels, oysters, Ethiopian cuisine - you name it, I hadn't tried it. Thankfully, I started dating Adam and even though he hails from a small town with a similar culinary climate as my own, he was an adventurer when it came to food and drink and I quickly followed suit. Now, Indian food is actually one of my favorites. 

Based on this information, I should have known I would fall in love with Ayurveda. 

As you know, I'm currently studying at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. One of our recent lectures was an introduction to Ayurveda, traditional Indian medicine. Now, having gone from zero knowledge of Ayurveda to the equivalent of two books and a lecture's worth of knowledge, I can say quite confidently that I'm literally obsessed with all things Ayurveda. I even find myself daydreaming about going to India to visit a Vaidya (Ayurvedic doctor). It's quite fascinating stuff and I can't get enough.

To embrace my obsession wholeheartedly, I'd like to do a recurring series this month on sesame oil. While this may sound completely out of left field to you, I promise you that sesame oil is a natural medicine that you should know about! It has so many health benefits (especially as we enter spring) and you can use it for much more than just food!

But let's start slow this week with a simple recipe that uses sesame oil! This weekend I made Kale + Slivered Brussels Sprout Soba Noodles from one of my favorite blogs Sprouted Kitchen. I used her basic recipe, then threw in some sauteed shrimp to satisfy my inner carnivore. Here are the dirty deats...

Cut off the ends of 10 Brussels sprouts and slice them paper thin (if you have a mandolin, use it!).

Wash 1 bunch of kale (tuscan or dinosaur kale is recommended, but we used what we had!) and discard the stems.

Now working in batches, stack the kale leaves, roll them up tightly and slice them into long, narrow ribbons.

Grab your sesame oil (or toasted sesame oil) and sea salt.

In a large mixing bowl, add the kale, 1 tsp. of sesame oil and 1/4 tsp. of sea salt. Now, massage the kale with your hands for approximately 3 minutes, until the kale turns a dark shade of green.

Now add the sliced Brussels sprouts.

Toss in 1 bunch of sliced scallions.

Cook 4-8 oz. of soba noodles according to package directions. While they are cooking, pound 1 plump clove of garlic.

In the same bowl as the garlic, stir in 4 tsp. sesame oil, 1 Tbs. rice vinegar and 1 tsp. low sodium soy sauce. Now, pour this dressing over the mixture (I actually doubled this amount because I like things on the saucy side. Use as little or as much as you want).

Add 2 pinches of red pepper flakes and 2 Tbs. of toasted sesame seeds (white or black).

While the soba noodles are cooking, saute the shrimp (we used ghee and peppercorns for flavor).

After draining, add the soba noodles to the mixture.

Top with the cooked shrimp and sprinkle a few more sesame seeds on top for extra flair.

And now, the health benefits behind sesame oil...

SLOWS AGING - Sesame oil is packed with antioxidants that can help slow the signs of aging. Not only this, but consuming the oil keeps your skin hydrated from the inside out.

LOWERS CHOLESTEROL - The vitamin E in sesame oil has been shown to help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and increase HDL (good) cholesterol. Plus, the dynamic duo of antioxidants and poly-unsaturated fats in sesame oil work together to lower blood pressure.

AIDS IN MOOD REGULATION - Many people find that sesame oil helps to calm their anxiety and improve their mood. Also, because sesame oil promotes blood circulation, it has been found to aid in deep, restful sleep.

HELPS PREVENT OSTEOPOROSIS: The calcium and zinc in sesame oil work together to promote bone health, thereby protecting you from the decay that leads to osteoporosis.

See? I told you it was a miracle food! I can't wait to show you sesame oil's other innovative uses next week, but in the meantime, enjoy this wonderful soba noodle salad and let it remind you that spring is upon us!