I have always been worried that Baby C is not getting enough calcium as she does not drink enough formula milk. She is still very much addicted to my boops and I am worried that my breast milk is not enough to provide her with the nutrients, vitamins and minerals that her body needs. Baby C is 21 months now and my milk supply has dwindled ever since Baby C was hospitalized for 3 weeks after her 2 surgeries last year. During that period of time, she could not eat or drink and I had to express my milk and pour the milk away.

Baby C does not eat much either and she’s a very small eater, with a pretty small tummy.To ensure that Baby C gets sufficient calcium, I try to include as much calcium-rich food as possible in her diet. One of it is sesame seeds.  I always toss in a spoonful of sesame seeds into her green tea or buckwheat noodles, homemade breads and homemade pancakes.  I also spread sesame seed paste (Tahini) on her bread.  I also add about 1/2 a teaspoon of sesame seed oil into the chawan mushi (Japanese steamed egg) that I prepare for her about 3-4 times a week.

Food For Thought
Did you know that half a cup of sesame seeds contains three times more calcium than half a cup of whole milk? In addition to being an excellent dietary source of calcium, sesame seeds are also a good source of manganese, copper, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, vitamin B1 (thiamin), zinc, vitamin E, healthy protein, and fiber.Sesame seeds also contain sesamin and sesamolin, two substances that are thought to prevent high blood pressure and protect the liver against oxidative damage. Sesame seeds are also a good source of both dietary fiber and monounsaturated fats.

Sesame oil rubbed on the skin may soothe a minor burn or sunburn as well as help in the healing process.

Sesame seed oil is said to remove wrinkles when applied to the skin in a facial massage.

Eat some sesame seeds to relieve constipation and to remove worms from the intestinal tract. They’re an aid to digestion, stimulate blood circulation, and benefit the nervous system.

Sesame oil makes ideal massage oil because of its excellent emollient properties. Applied topically, sesame oil is thought to aid in healing chronic diseases of the skin. With its vitamin E content, it’s also a benefit to the heart and nervous system.

Nutrients from the sesame seed are best absorbed in the form of sesame oil, tahini or sesame butter.The whole seeds do not break down readily and release all their nutrients.

There is a little bit of controversy about sesame seeds and calcium, because there is a substantial difference between the calcium content of hulled versus unhulled sesame seeds. When the hulls remain on the seeds, one tablespoon of sesame seeds will contains about 88 milligrams of calcium. When the hulls are removed, this same tablespoon will contain about 37 milligrams (about 60% less). Tahini-a spreadable paste made from ground sesame seeds-is usually made from hulled seeds (seeds with the hulls removed, called kernels), and so it will usually contain this lower amount of calcium.