In "One Thousand and One Nights," the story "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" explains how Ali Baba discovered that the words "open, sesame" magically revealed the entrance to a cave and its secrets: a hidden treasure stashed by 40 thieves.

Now, a group of research scientists from Rio de Janeiro have performed their own version of "open, sesame," discovering the treasure found in sesame seeds and their extracts: powerful antioxidant benefits.

After combing through scores of clinical trials, the researchers focused on the benefits of sesame for people with Type 2 diabetes, elevated levels of bad LDL cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

What they found was that increasing sesame consumption led to increased blood levels of antioxidants and reduced oxidative stress.

In other words, sesame and sesame oil help reduce body-wide inflammation, help counter insulin resistance, and lower elevated LDL cholesterol. And that eases overall strain on your cardiovascular system.

Do what Ali Baba and the Rio researchers did: Discover the riches of open sesame!