Why is sesame oil bitter? What are the effects of sesame oil?

Most studies believe that the bitter substances in sesame oil come from a short protein peptide "cyclooctapeptide". Sesame oil is rich in anti-aging vitamin E, which can promote cell division and delay the aging process. How to tell if sesame oil has gone bad? Let's learn about it together.

Contents of this article

1. Why does sesame oil taste bitter?

2. The role of sesame oil

3. How to tell if sesame oil has gone bad

Why does sesame oil taste bitter?

The bitter taste of sesame oil is a characteristic of pure sesame oil itself. The slightly bitter taste is normal and does no harm to the human body.

The bitterness of sesame oil is mainly due to the endogenous cyanogenic glycosides contained in sesame seeds, such as linamarin. The lignan components separated from the sesame seed skin cause this bitterness. Most studies believe that the bitter substances in sesame oil come from a short protein peptide "cyclooctapeptide". The bitterness in the short protein peptide is due to the hydrophobic amino acid residues released by the hydrolyzate contained in it. Generally, the hydrophobic groups of natural proteins are hidden inside, so they do not taste bitter. However, when proteins are hydrolyzed into small molecule short peptides, these hydrophobic groups will be exposed, and they will come into contact with the taste buds and taste bitter.

The role of sesame oil

1. Delaying aging: Sesame oil is rich in anti-aging vitamin E, which can promote cell division and delay the aging process.

2. Protect cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases: Sesame oil contains 40% linoleic acid and palmitic acid, which are easily absorbed by the human body and have a good effect on softening cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

3. Lubricates the intestines and promotes bowel movements: For people with dry stools and elderly patients with habitual constipation, drinking a mouthful of sesame oil on an empty stomach in the morning and evening will have unexpected benefits.

4. Relieve cough: People with emphysema and bronchitis can significantly relieve cough by drinking a mouthful of sesame oil before going to bed and after getting up.

5. Reduce the toxicity of oil smoke: Sesame oil has the effect of inhibiting the absorption of nicotine and can protect the digestive tract mucosa.

6. Protect your throat: Sesame oil can enhance the elasticity of the vocal cords, make the glottis open and close more effectively, and has a good rehabilitation effect on hoarseness and chronic laryngitis.

How to tell if sesame oil has gone bad

Whether sesame oil has deteriorated can be observed from the following three aspects.

Smell the sesame oil with your nose. If it has a sour smell, it means the sesame oil has gone bad. Normal sesame oil usually has a strong sesame oil aroma.

The color of sesame oil is generally bright yellow. If you notice that the color of sesame oil has become dark and there is white sediment, then the sesame oil has deteriorated.

Use a spoon to taste the sesame oil. If it is soft and smooth, it means that there is no problem with the sesame oil. If it tastes sour or grainy, it is generally not recommended to consume sesame oil.

Note: If you find that sesame oil is spoiled, it is generally recommended to throw it away and not consume it.