Sesame
What it is
Sesame is used as a seed food and as an ingredient in pastes and oils. This table describes whole dried seeds, not hulled kernels, tahini or sesame oil.
What it does
The whole-seed reference contains 975 mg of calcium, 11.8 g of fiber and 17.7 g of protein per 100 g. Calcium is needed for normal bone structure and other body functions.
Research context and ingredient forms
The recorded calcium is the amount in the food, not a measurement of the amount absorbed. The whole-seed figure should not be assigned to hulled sesame or a small spoonful of tahini.
Using this information
Check whether the actual product is whole, hulled, toasted or a paste. Use the product label when available, and scale the table to the small seed weight you actually add.
Considerations
Sesame is a major food allergen. Check breads, dressings, pastes and mixed foods when avoiding it.
Food sources and composition
| Nutrient | Amount and serving basis | Food and source |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 573 kcal per 100 g edible portion | Seeds, sesame seeds, whole, dried; Seeds, sesame seeds, whole, dried SR Legacy April 2018; FDC published 2019-04-01 |
| Protein | 17.7 g per 100 g edible portion | Seeds, sesame seeds, whole, dried; Seeds, sesame seeds, whole, dried SR Legacy April 2018; FDC published 2019-04-01 |
| Total lipid (fat) | 49.7 g per 100 g edible portion | Seeds, sesame seeds, whole, dried; Seeds, sesame seeds, whole, dried SR Legacy April 2018; FDC published 2019-04-01 |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 23.4 g per 100 g edible portion | Seeds, sesame seeds, whole, dried; Seeds, sesame seeds, whole, dried SR Legacy April 2018; FDC published 2019-04-01 |
| Fiber, total dietary | 11.8 g per 100 g edible portion | Seeds, sesame seeds, whole, dried; Seeds, sesame seeds, whole, dried SR Legacy April 2018; FDC published 2019-04-01 |
| Magnesium, Mg | 351 mg per 100 g edible portion | Seeds, sesame seeds, whole, dried; Seeds, sesame seeds, whole, dried SR Legacy April 2018; FDC published 2019-04-01 |
| Potassium, K | 468 mg per 100 g edible portion | Seeds, sesame seeds, whole, dried; Seeds, sesame seeds, whole, dried SR Legacy April 2018; FDC published 2019-04-01 |
| Sodium, Na | 11 mg per 100 g edible portion | Seeds, sesame seeds, whole, dried; Seeds, sesame seeds, whole, dried SR Legacy April 2018; FDC published 2019-04-01 |
| Calcium, Ca | 975 mg per 100 g edible portion | Seeds, sesame seeds, whole, dried; Seeds, sesame seeds, whole, dried SR Legacy April 2018; FDC published 2019-04-01 |
Scientific Research & References
- Seeds, sesame seeds, whole, dried
2019 · USDA Agricultural Research Service
Limitations: Historical food/preparation-specific composition, not a current brand label or clinical-outcome estimate.
Source assessment recorded.
- USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Legacy Release: Documentation
2018 · USDA Agricultural Research Service
Limitations: Historical dataset; values may be analytical, calculated, imputed, or assumed zero. Not clinical-outcome evidence.
Source assessment recorded.
- Calcium: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals
NIH Office of Dietary Supplements
Limitations: Official evidence summary, not a new clinical trial; applied only to the cited food-source and absorption statements.
Source assessment recorded.
- Food Allergies
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Limitations: Used for major-allergen identification and label awareness; not an individual allergy diagnosis.
Source assessment recorded.
Related dictionary entries
Products containing it
No label-specific product relationship has been reviewed for this entry.