Feeling more than just the burn lately after your run or workout? Sesame seeds just might be the thing to help ease the ache.

I was a devoted runner for many years – on the blacktop. Ouch right? Despite warnings from more experienced distance runners, I just kept pounding the pavement. When I hit my 40’s I started to slack off, but I noticed that each time I re-upped, my knees would become painfully swollen. It began to dawn on me that I might not be able to keep on running, or that I needed to do something different. Thankfully I was able to keep active, but the damage was done. I moved more into riding, – then hiking but found that my knees were still giving me trouble. I started taking an ibuprofen now and then, O.K., – then once a day… then a couple times a day, and before long I was popping NSAIDs like candy. Something had to change. Really change. I managed to extricate myself from the pain reliever habit slowly but completely by moving into natural anti-inflammatory foods and supplements, but it’s still a challenge. Last week I did some hills that left me stiff in a way I had not been for a long time and I realized I needed to pay some more specific attention to what I was putting in my body. I came across and article from Green Med that touted sesame seeds as being, “Better than Tylenol” for knee pain, so I decided to investigate.

Here is the scoop – and its looking good!

According to an article by Seattle Organic Restaurants, “A new study published in the International Journal of Rheumatic Disease shows that sesame seed supplementation can significantly improve clinical signs and symptoms of patients with knee osteoarthritis. “A two month study showed that eating 4 tablespoons of Sesame Seeds (about 40 grams) was superior to 1000 mg of Tylenol for knee arthritis.” – With none of the adverse side effects, (like liver and kidney damage, asthma, heart attack, internal bleeding or death.)

So, here is a lovely Sesame Orange recipe from Green Kitchen to help us and our hard working knees stay fit for years to come.

http://www.greenkitchenstories.com/creamy-sesame-orange-smoothie/

Creamy Sesame & Orange Smoothie

Serves 4

• 1 cup (240 ml) sesame seeds (3/4 hulled and 1/4 unhulled), soaked for 6-8 hours
• 2 cups (480 ml) water
• 1 steel sieve (mesh strainer) for straining
• 2 large oranges, peeled and cut into smaller pieces
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon + extra for serving
• 8 fresh soft dates, pitted (if using dried, soak first)
• 1 pinch of sea salt
• 1 cup (240 ml) raspberries (thawed frozen are fine)

In the evening (or in the morning), place the sesame seeds and water in a jar and let soak for 6-8 hours. Drain the excess water and place sesame seeds and the 2 cups fresh water in a high speed blender. Blend until smooth. Pour the sesame mixture through a steel sieve (the cream is too thick to run through a nut milk bag). Rinse the blender. Place the strained cream back in the blender and add oranges, cinnamon, dates and sea salt. Blend until smooth and thick. Refrigerate until chilled (or add 2-3 ice cubes when you are blending it). Mash the raspberries and divide them equally between 4 glasses.

Carefully pour the smoothie over the raspberries, dust with cinnamon and enjoy.

Keeps for 3 days in the refrigerator.

Sesame seeds are more effective than Tylenol for improving knee arthritis-side effects of Tylenol

Sesame seeds for knee-pain

Peoples Pharmacy – Sesame seeds to ease knee pain

Effect of sesamin on joint pain