This just in from my favorite naturopath, Dr. Jacob Schor. This news is particularly important for persons who are hypertensive, have high cholesterol, are diabetic, carry weight around their middle, or travel that overweight road to all of the above.
According to an article penned by Dr. Schor in the current issue of Natural Medicine Journal (1), just a spoonful of sesame oil (actually 2.4 tablespoonfuls/day) makes the blood pressure/cholesterol levels/blood sugar/waistline go down. He cites results from a group of scientists from India's Vinayaka Missions University about the remarkable results of daily sesame oil use in a group of 60 diabetics followed over 2 months. One third downed oil alone, one third used oil plus a diabetic medication called glyburide, and the remaining subjects took glyburide alone.
While those on drugs plus oil did best of all, the oil-alone group fared fairly well as well. The glucose-lowering effects of combo therapy were downright remarkable with blood sugar dropping by 36% and HbA1c (a value that reflects an averaged blood sugar over the prior three months) by 43%! All oil-users also had significant drops in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides plus a bonus rise in HDL-cholesterol.
The Vinayaka group conducted a similar study on locals with high blood pressure who took one of two commonly used anti-hypertensive drugs--hydrochlorothiazide or atenolol. Over a study period of 45 days, the subjects used sesame oil for all their cooking needs and blood pressures dropped to normal. The next 45 days were spent sans sesame supplementation, and blood pressures rose to pre-study levels. Body weight, body mass index, and waistline measurements dropped as well.
I plan to recommend this strategy to my patients willing to give it a try; I'll let you know what results we get. I personally have used sesame oil each a.m. for almost two years in an ayurvedic quest for oral health(4). That morning spoonful theoretically draws out nasty toxins and is meant to be spit out post-pull. Perhaps thereafter, I should consider actually swallowing a swig for the rest of me.
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(1) http://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/article_content.asp?article=113
(2) Sankar, D et al. Sesame oil exhibits synergistic effect with anti-diabetic medication in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Clin Nutr. 2010 Dec 15. [Epub ahead of print]
(3) Sankar, D et al. 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.
(4) Asokan S. Oil pulling therapy. Indian J Dent Res 2008;19:169
7 comments:
Sounds yummy & good for your insides- but has the teeth thing worked?
I think I'll be buying some sesame oil this week!!
I'm really optimistic about this information. I am a recently diagnosed diabetic and would love to combine this with my Metformin and see what happens. Thanks for the information.
glad to see you're back. I got the oil today, it tastes good, it's 240 calories for 2 tbsps. I try not to go over 1200 in a day, so do I add this? cut into what already seems a meagre amount of food? I'll give it a week and let you know if my jeans are loose.
Is this only with Type 2 DM?
Beverooni, I'm curious to hear if you tried it and what, if anything it did for you.
Dorsey, Whenever you add some of these oily supplements, you need to cut calories. I find that hard to do with dark chocolate--i.e. eliminate other calories to accommodate the healthy chocolate.
Anon, You asked if this works with type 1 diabetes. I have no idea why your comment didn't appear on the blog. The answer? I have no idea; this particular study only looked at diabetics of the type 2 variety.
Hooray for oil pulling! After three or so weeks of daily sesame oil pulling, I went to regularly scheduled dental appointment. Without knowing what I'd been doing, they all commented on my oral hygiene and encouraged me to keep it up. When I did the big reveal (tadaa!), such laughter. I was the third that week in their offices. Have tried different oils. Much, much much prefer sesame. Makes a nice gift ...
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