Eating about 3.5 tablespoons of tahini (a sesame paste) causes a big rise in blood fats called triglycerides in healthy men after 4 hours. This happens because tahini is high in fat.

Based on the evidence we've reviewed so far, eating tahini does appear to be linked to a rise in triglycerides in healthy men. Our analysis of the available research looked at one claim, which was supported by 31 studies and refuted by none [1]. Specifically, the evidence we've examined indicates that consuming about 3.5 tablespoons of tahini — a paste made from sesame seeds — leads to a notable increase in blood fats called triglycerides within four hours after eating. The reason, according to the studies we've analyzed, is that tahini is high in fat, and a high-fat meal can temporarily raise triglyceride levels [1]. It's important to note that this is a short-term effect measured a few hours after consumption, not a long-term change in fasting triglycerides. Our current analysis is limited to this single claim and focuses only on healthy men. We haven't reviewed evidence on other populations or different serving sizes. The evidence leans toward tahini causing a post-meal spike in triglycerides, but we cannot say this is definitive or that it applies to everyone. What this means for you in everyday terms: If you're a healthy man and you eat a generous serving of tahini — say, a few tablespoons — your blood triglycerides will likely increase for a few hours afterward. This is a normal response to a high-fat food. For most people, this temporary rise isn't concerning, but if you have high triglycerides or are monitoring your levels closely, you might want to keep portions moderate. As always, this is what we've found so far, and future research could add more nuance.