The Seeds You Need

Sesame seeds have powers far beyond bringing flavor and texture to your seared tuna -- or wedging themselves between your teeth. They help drive down your lousy LDL cholesterol and may play a role in blocking cancer.

You know how the fake fat called olestra keeps real fat from being absorbed by sliding it right through your intestines? (Sometimes too well, as people who haven't heeded the "wear dark pants" mantra have discovered.) Well, sesame seeds help lower LDL cholesterol in a somewhat similar way -- by keeping your intestines from absorbing the stuff -- but without any unpleasant side effects. In fact, quite the opposite: Sesame seeds also contain lignans, powerful antioxidants that may deter cancer.

To get the anticholesterol effects, include sesame in your daily diet. Sprinkle the seeds liberally over steamed veggies, toss them into salads, add them to stir-fries, and try them with yogurt and fruit. Enough with the seeds? Sesame oil is an option, too; keep it in a mister and spritz it on whole grains for a light, nutty flavor, or use it as dip for whole-wheat bread.

Then there's tahini, the delicious sesame-seed paste sold in the ethnic-food section of more and more supermarkets. Use it as a dip for fresh veggies, a spread for pita bread, or a secret ingredient -- it adds a whole new dimension to salad dressings, pasta dishes, rice, and noodles. And it's great combined with hummus (pureed chickpeas). Your arteries -- and that means your skin, heart, head, and sex organs -- will all function better because you chose sesame.