There are so many alternative milks out there – how do we chose?! One of my family’s favorites is sesame seed milk. It is super nutritious, super easy to make, and super delicious when you add your own creative flair!
What? Sesame seeds are more than a garnish on top of a dish? Absolutely! They are a high energy food that help to provide optimum health and wellness. They are packed with minerals and trace minerals, and are an excellent source of high quality protein which is most beneficial for growth, especially in children. The real question is, why wouldn’t you want the plethora of benefits that sesame seeds can give you?!
Why are sesame seeds so amazing?
The benefits of sesame seeds have been touted far and wide in eastern and western medicine, including Ayurveda – one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems. I learned about the loaded benefits of sesame seeds years ago during my studies in FootZoning. Sesame seeds are a nutritional powerhouse that have the unique ability to nourish the nervous system, strengthen hormone production, support the cardiovascular system and heart health, benefit the digestive system, and reduce fatigue. These tiny powerful seeds can help ward off cancer, lower blood pressure, build strong bones, treat male infertility, and prevent diabetes. They also help reduce inflammation, boost respiratory health, and aid in dental care. Do you need more convincing of these powerful seeds? Sesame seeds also improve blood circulation, detoxify the body, and eliminate depression and chronic stress!
BETTER SLEEP
Sesame seeds are rich in Vitamin E, Folic acid and B-complex vitamins such as niacin, which enhances GABA activity in the brain, reduces anxiety, and provides for a better night’s sleep. These little seeds also contain tryptophan, which aids sleep quality and helps beat back depression.
HIGH IN CALCIUM
Sesame seeds are high in minerals such as calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, selenium, and copper. In fact, did you know that just a 1/4 cup of sesame seeds provides MORE calcium than 1 cup of milk? Calcium is not only vital to bone strength, it is also known to help ease the effects of migraines, aid in weight loss, and provide relief from PMS.
BEAUTIFUL SKIN AND NAILS
The high Vitamin E content in sesame seeds has been highly prized as an ancient beauty treatment for healthy skin, hair, and nails.
REDUCE INFLAMMATION
The copper in sesame seeds offers anti-inflammatory benefits which can help to relieve swelling in autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. Copper also strengthens blood vessels, bones, and joints and improves circulation.
PREVENT CANCER
Sesame seeds contain a special element called “sesame-lignin”, a potent antioxidant, which is an active free-radical scavenger that can also aid in lowering cholesterol and preventing high blood pressure. Sesame seeds are also high in vitamin E, K, and magnesium, all of which play powerful roles in preventing cancer. These tiny seeds pack a powerful punch to reduce the risk of leukemia, breast, lung, pancreatic, colon, and prostate cancers.
If you are looking for glowing skin and renewed energy and health, you’ll find that sesame seeds are here to support you. An easy way my family loves to get the potent benefits of sesame seeds in our diet is through sesame seed milk!
Sesame seed milk
There are many different variations on how to make sesame seed milk, but this is the recipe that works for my family. In my house, simple is best because simple keeps the flow of our busy household going! We love this recipe dressed up and down in many different ways, but here is how I make the “basic” sesame milk:
Ingredients:
- ⅓ c raw, organic, unhulled sesame seeds (They will look tan in color)
- 5-6 pitted dates (I use Medjool dates because they are readily available around me)
- 5-6 cups good clean filtered water
Instructions:
- Place sesame seeds in a high-speed blender. Blend until a fine powder forms.
Note: If you do not have a high-speed blender, a simple miniature coffee grinder will do the trick instead of a high-speed blender for this first step. - Add dates to the blender. (If using the coffee grinder method, add the powder and the dates to a blender.) Blend until a flaky, pie crust-like texture forms.
- Add the water to the blender and blend for 1-2 minutes. (If you don’t have a great blender but still want a smooth result, add 1-2 cups of water first and blend so everything stays close to the blade. Once smooth, add the rest of the water and blend again.)
- Enjoy plain as is, or strain with a nut/seed milk bag if you don’t prefer the fibers of the seeds.
- (Optional) Get creative with additional options below!
Additional Options:
Here’s the fun part! You can make so many different variations of sesame seed milk so that you make it just the way you like it! Start with the “basic” recipe above and use any of these different flairs, or create your own!
- Add 2 tsp cinnamon and 8-10 drops of vanilla essential oil (my family’s favorite!)
- Add oranges and coconut and freeze pour into popsicle molds for Orange Creamsicles
- Add blueberries and strawberries to make a berry milk
- For a nice golden milk, add banana, tumeric powder, and cardamom
- In the winter months, heat it up on the stove and add pumpkin spice, reishi powder, chaga, and cinnamon for a powerful and delicious health boost
- Use black sesame seeds instead! They also have wonderful benefits – just different minerals and nutrients.
Tips:
- Store in the fridge in a closed glass container for 2-3 days.
- Natural separation will occur – just give it a shake or a stir and it’s good to go!
- If feeding to infants, strain first for ease of swallowing.
- You can make any nut or seed milk with this ratio. When making nut milk, I always sprout (soak) the nuts first. This graphic has great guidelines for soaking nuts and seeds:
Additional Benefits
CINNAMON
This fragrant spice contains vitamins A and B-complex and minerals such as chromium, iron, zinc, and calcium. We love adding it to our sesame seed milk! Here’s some benefits cinnamon brings:
- Extremely high antioxidants
- Beneficial for diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, flatulence, and arthritis
- Prevent and shorten the duration of the flu
- Eliminate mucus and congestion
- Lowers cholesterol
- Stabilizes blood sugar levels
- Increases circulation
- Anti-clotting compounds help prevent strokes and heart attacks
- Stop yeast infections, candida, and menstrual cramps
- Reduces inflammation
- Anti-cancer properties – reduces the growth of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells
- Relieves pain
- Antiseptic, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral properties
- Boosts memory & cognitive function
- Kills staph, botulism, aflatoxin mold, E. coli, and cold and flu germs
VANILLA
This is one of my favorite add-ins to sesame seed milk! However, beware of common vanilla extracts that contain alcohol; it is burdensome to the body and liver and will make it harder for your body to heal. I recommend using a high-quality vanilla essential oil or the vanilla bean itself. This powerful bean contains trace minerals such as zinc, iron, calcium, magnesium, and iron. Check out these amazing benefits vanilla offers:
- Aids digestion
- Decreases headaches
- Calms upset stomach
- Reduces inflammation
- Relieves pain
- Beneficial for fatigue, muscle and joint pain, neck and back pain, nausea, swelling, and gas
- Helps relieve respiratory conditions
- Relieve symptoms of cold & flu
- Calms the nervous system
- Soothes anxiety & stress
What will be your favorite way to enjoy this powerful and tasty milk? Share a picture and tag @amberbodilyhealth on Instagram and Facebook!
Ignite the Healer within,
Amber Bodily
P.S. If you want more plant-based recipes, check out my online course Go Vegan For 30 Days for over 100+ recipes – plus tips and tricks for getting the most out of a plant-based lifestyle!
Sesame seed milk
Ingredients
- ⅓ c raw, organic, unhulled sesame seeds (They will look tan in color)
- 5-6 pitted dates I use Medjool dates because they are readily available around me
- 5-6 cups good clean filtered water
Instructions
-
Place sesame seeds in a high-speed blender. Blend until a fine powder forms.
Note: If you do not have a high-speed blender, a simple miniature coffee grinder will do the trick instead of a high-speed blender for this first step.
-
Add dates to the blender. (If using the coffee grinder method, add the powder and the dates to a blender.) Blend until a flaky, pie crust-like texture forms.
-
Add the water to the blender and blend for 1-2 minutes.
(If you don’t have a great blender but still want a smooth result, add 1-2 cups of water first and blend so everything stays close to the blade. Once smooth, add the rest of the water and blend again.)
-
Enjoy plain as is, or strain with a nut/seed milk bag if you don’t prefer the fibers of the seeds.
Recipe Notes
Additional Options:
Here’s the fun part! You can make so many different variations of sesame seed milk so that you make it just the way you like it! Start with the “basic” recipe above and use any of these different flairs, or create your own!
- Add 2 tsp cinnamon and 8-10 drops of vanilla essential oil (my family’s favorite!)
- Add oranges and coconut and freeze pour into popsicle molds for Orange Creamsicles
- Add blueberries and strawberries to make a berry milk
- For a nice golden milk, add banana, tumeric powder, and cardamom
- In the winter months, heat it up on the stove and add pumpkin spice, reishi powder, chaga, and cinnamon for a powerful and delicious health boost
- Use black sesame seeds instead! They also have wonderful benefits - just different minerals and nutrients.
Tips:
- Store in the fridge in a closed glass container for 2-3 days.
- Natural separation will occur - just give it a shake or a stir and it’s good to go!
- If feeding to infants, strain first for ease of swallowing.
- You can make any nut or seed milk with this ratio. When making nut milk, I always sprout (soak) the nuts first.
