Many alternative nut butters have emerged as people strive to get healthier. One that has been around for a long time is tahini or sesame seed butter. Tahini is a staple used in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean foods, mostly commonly hummus, baba ganoush, dipping sauces blended with lemon and garlic, and in desserts like halvah. It is probably one of the most common nut and seed butters utilized around the world. It is one of the oldest oilseed crops produced by humans. Interestingly, the seeds come from capsules of the sesame fruit that pops open when ripened – hence the popular phrase “open sesame” made popular from the classic folk tale Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves – who knew? Right?
For those who are like Dr. Hauser, you typically feel colder than average and carbohydrates make you tired. You can drink coffee and it stimulates you to wake up, but also may cause you to crash afterward. People with these tendencies do well with a higher protein and higher fat diet. Thus, we look for healthy ways to incorporate good fats into his diet. Tahini is one way to do it. Tahini has been used in the vegan community as an alternative calcium source, as two tablespoons contain about 13% of the RDA similar to ½ cups whole cow’s milk.
Some people have nut/seed allergies, so they must be careful when consuming tahini. Tahini also contains minerals, including zinc, copper, in combination with calcium which helps keep bones strong.
If you would like to try adding tahini to your meals, you can make your own from ground sesame seeds or you can purchase tahini already blended. We like to use it in dips, sauces, salad dressings, and in many different cultural dishes that we like to try. Dr. Hauser likes to spread it on gluten-free millet toast and eat it just like that. You can also mix it with ground pistachios for another delicious treat, and/or sprinkle in a little cocoa and Monk fruit sweetener. If you like to make your own hummus (we like to make it not only from chickpeas but white beans and cauliflower!) – tahini adds great flavor, especially with some lemon, garlic, and olive oil drizzled over it.
Give tahini a try – especially if you are someone who should be following more of a keto/Atkins type diet.