Anemia can be a troubling illness to deal with. People that suffer from anemia are often fatigued and prone to fainting. Luckily, there is a great way to prevent your chances of becoming anemic – eat more tahini!
What is Anemia?
Anemia is a medical condition that occurs from a lack of healthy red blood cells, limiting your cells’ ability to get oxygen – causing extreme fatigue. The most common form of anemia is iron-deficiency anemia. This could be avoided, by ensuring you do not deprive your body of iron.
What is Tahini?
Made from ground sesame seeds, Tahini is a popular paste used in Middle Eastern cuisine for its texture and flavor. In addition to being a common ingredient in a wide range of dishes, Tahini also contains numerous health benefits. Consuming Tahini can improve your digestive system, help keep your hair healthy, and even prevent anemia.
Tahini is often thought of as an unhealthy food, due to the high fat content from the oil used to make the paste. The truth is, tahini offers an assortment of health benefits, thanks to the major ingredient – sesame seeds.
Sesame seeds have a large amount of calcium, magnesium, and copper. In fact, one tablespoon of these seeds contains 88 milligrams of calcium. The calcium can improve bone health, while copper has been known to help relieve pain from rheumatoid arthritis, and magnesium helps with respiratory health.
Tahini Helps Prevent Anemia
So how does tahini actually help prevent anemia? The majority of people that have anemia also has an iron deficiency. A single tablespoon of tahini contains 2 milligrams of iron, about 15% of the daily recommended value. The copper and an abundance of vitamin B help with healthy red blood cell production.
The combination of all the nutrients found in tahini will increase your red blood cell count and keep your blood vessels healthy, while correcting an iron deficiency. This drastically decreases your chances of becoming anemic, unless you develop it due to hereditary.
Make Your Own Tahini
Making your own tahini is not very difficult. Save some money and follow along with this recipe. This recipe makes anywhere from half a cup to a full cup, depending on the type and amount of oil used. You can use olive oil, grapeseed oil, and even a little bit of sesame oil.
The only ingredients needed are 1 cup of sesame seeds and at least 2 tablespoons of the oil that you choose, but you will need some equipment:
- Food processor
- Storage container
- Spatula
- Skillet
- Wooden spoon
To start making your own tahini, toast 1 cup of sesame seeds. Toasting the seeds will give them a nuttier taste. Pour the toasted sesame seeds in a skillet and set the heat to medium. Use a wooden spoon to frequently stir the seeds. After about 5 minutes, pour the seeds onto a large plate and allow them to completely cool.
Use a food processor to grind the sesame seeds. Continue processing until the sesame seeds have turned into a crumbly paste. Add 2 tablespoons of the oil that you chose. Continue grinding for another minute or two. You may need to occasionally scrape along the sides of the processor. Eventually, the mixture will become thick and slightly smooth.
If you want your tahini to be thinner, add a little more oil, 1 tablespoon at a time. You can add salt, for more taste, but it is generally a healthier option to avoid salt. Keep your tahini in an airtight container and place in your fridge, for up to one month storage.
If you have never tried tahini, you will love using it for a variety of dishes. When you suspect that you may be anemic, you should get a diagnosis from a medical professional, in case you need further treatment. To protect yourself from becoming anemic, start adding more tahini to your daily meals.
References:
http://www.wellnesstoday.com/nutrition-recipes/6-great-reasons-to-eat-tahini
http://www.livestrong.com/article/445899-the-health-benefits-of-tahini/
http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-tahini-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-203314
This Site Was Inspired By An Interest in Protecting the Environment:
We had the privilege and joy of learning from Dr. Charlie Stine who instilled a love for the natural world through incredible field trips with the Johns Hopkins Odyssey Certificate program in Environmental Studies. At the time, the program was endorsed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Sadly, after Dr. Stine retired, the program was phased out. We hope that we honor his legacy by shining a bright light on environmental issues and sharing good news about the success of various conservation programs when possible.