This seed may be small, but it has HUGE health-promoting benefits. Not only are sesame seeds also rich in cancer-fighting lignans, they are a great source of Magnesium, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B6, and Zinc.

Below, we've included information on how sesame seeds can help reinstate your cycle, alleviate painful period cramps, improve PMS symptoms and more.

Lignans

Cycle Regulator
Infrequent menstrual periods, or oligomenorrhea, can be caused by numerous things, but have limited treatment options. Most commonly prescribed is hormonal birth control or progestin (a synthetic hormone), which isn't without side effects. Instead, sesame seeds have been used an effective tool for inducing bleeding for those experiencing oligomenorrhea. These seeds pack a powerful punch of lignans that has also been shown to help maintain bleeding during future cycles.

Magnesium

Peace Out, PMS
For many, PMS (Pre-menstrual Syndrome) means anxiety and mood swings. It also means physical symptoms: headaches, bloating, breast tenderness. Magnesium can be a game-changer. Studies show that supplementation of Magnesium creates statistically significant decreases in the severity and duration of PMS symptoms— mood changes, anxiety, depression, weight gain, bloating (fluid retention), and breast tenderness.

Migraine Magic
Menstrual migraines are challenging to treat, as they're often resistant to many over-the-counter drugs. Research is limited, but a promising double-blind study concluded that daily supplementation with Magnesium reduced the pain and duration of menstrual migraines amongst participants.

Thiamine (Vitamin B1)

Cramp Curer
Dysmenorrhea— a fancy word for painful period cramps— is typically treated with ibuprofen, Midol, aspirin, and/or hormonal birth control. More natural attempts to soothe cramping include hot water bottles, baths, heating pads. But none of these work to tackle the root cause of cramps. Vitamin B1 has been shown to not only reduced the severity and duration of cramps, but actually completely cured women of this menstrual symptom. One study, in particular, demonstrated that after 90-days of daily Vitamin B1 supplementation, 87% of participants were cured of painful menstrual cramps. Read more about dysmenorrhea from our free e-book on the topic here.

Put an End to PMS
Thiamine, also known as Vitamin B1, has been shown to significantly reduce the overall average mental and physical symptoms of PMS. Research has indicated that women with a high intake of Thiamine from food sources have significantly lower risk of PMS. Studies have also shown that Thiamine is particularly powerful at reducing PMS-related depression and cramping.

Zinc

Quality of Life Booster
Research shows that daily Zinc supplementation not only reduces the incidence of PMS, but also improves Quality of Life (QOL) scores— for both physical and mental categories— for menstruators between the ages of 20-39 who experience PMS. Zinc plays a role in reducing the prevalence and severity of symptoms like mood changes, vertigo, anxiety, weight gain, bloating, muscular pain and weakness. Studies also reveal that Zinc levels drop significantly during the Luteal Phase (Phase 2) in those suffering from PMS. Replenishing Zinc is evidently an important step in managing PMS symptoms!

Inflammation Calmer
Studies show that Zinc supplementation has similar anti-inflammatory effects as medications, like Midol and Advil. Reducing inflammation and allowing for more oxygen flow to the uterus, Zinc can counteract the effects of prostaglandins and reduce both the incidence and duration of painful menstrual cramps, which 90% of American menstruators experience during the first days of menstruation. Research shows that Zinc reduces the severity of menstrual bleeding as well.

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Sources

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