What Do I Need To Know About Mustard Oil?
Mustard oil is extracted from the seeds of the mustard plant. It has culinary as well as therapeutic uses. Here are some quick facts about mustard oil:
Scientific Name: Brassica juncea
Common Names: Sarson ka tel (Hindi), Sarsay tel (Bengali), Kadugu Ennai (Tamil), Avanune (Telugu), Rainu tel (Gujarati), Mohariche tel (Marathi), Kadugenna (Malyalam), and Sorisha/sorisa tela (Oriya)
Color: Dark (reddish) yellow
Aroma: Strong
Taste: Pungent and sharp flavor
Smoke Point: 480oF/250oC
Extraction Process: Extracted from mustard seeds and purified through distillation
How Mustard Oil Is Made: There are two ways of making mustard oil: by pressing and grinding.
The first method is to press the mustard seeds to get a vegetable oil. The second method is to grind the seeds, mixing them with water, and then extracting the oil by distillation. This results in mustard oil that is lower in fat content.
Its History
- Mustard oil has been popularly used in countries like India, Rome, and Greece for thousands of years.
- Mustard was first grown in India around 3000 BC.
- Its first known uses were medicinal – Hippocrates used mustard seeds to prepare certain medicines.
- The Romans added mustard seeds to their wine and Pythagoras, the Greek scientist, used it as a natural treatment for scorpion stings.
- Apart from its medicinal uses, mustard oil has been used by North Indian women for cooking for decades.
What Are The Nutrients In Mustard Oil?
Mustard oil has an edge over other oils due to the optimum ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and low content of saturated fats.
Key Nutrients: It contains about 60% monounsaturated fats (MUFA), 21% polyunsaturated fats (PUFA), and 12% saturated fats. These fatty acids are considered ‘good fats’ as they do not get deposited on the arterial walls. Its pungent and sharp flavor can be attributed to a compound called allyl isothiocyanate. It also contains glucosinolates that have antimicrobial properties. Mustard oil does not contain carbohydrates, fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Being a vegetable source, mustard oil contains alpha-linolenic acid or ALA, an essential omega-3 fatty acid. One teaspoon of mustard oil contains around 0.8 grams of omega-3 fatty acid.
Calories And Fat: One tablespoon of mustard oil contains about 124 calories. It contains about 14 grams fat, out of which 8.3 grams is monounsaturated fat, 2.9 grams is polyunsaturated fat, and 1.6 grams is unsaturated fat. It has a lower content of monounsaturated fats as compared to olive, flaxseed, grape seed, and peanut oils.
1. Reduces The Risk Of Cancer
Research suggests that mustard oil has strong cancer-fighting properties. It contains ample amounts of linolenic acid, which when converted to omega-3 fatty acid, helps prevent stomach and colon cancers.
A study by South Dakota University proves the same. They tested the efficacy of mustard, corn, and fish oils on rats affected by colon cancer. Mustard oil was found to be more effective in preventing colon cancer than fish oil
2. Has Cardiovascular Benefits
Did you ever think that consuming an oil would actually benefit your heart? Me neither!
Mustard oil contains rich amounts of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids (MUFA and PUFA) as well as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These good fats lower your risk of developing ischemic heart disease by 50% (2).
Enriched mustard oil is also known to show hypocholesterolemic (cholesterol-lowering) and hypolipidemic (lipid-lowering) effects (3). It reduces bad cholesterol (LDL) levels and increases good cholesterol (HDL) levels in the body, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
3. Is A Natural Stimulant
Mustard oil is a very powerful natural stimulant. It improves digestion and appetite by stimulating digestive juices and bile in the liver and spleen.
When massaged into the skin, it also stimulates our circulatory system and sweat glands. This ensures improved blood circulation throughout the body and enlarged skin pores through sweating.
This diaphoretic ability of mustard oil results in lowered body temperature and removal of toxins from the body.
4. Stimulates Sensation In The Muscles
Feeling numbness in your muscles?
Just massage some mustard oil on the affected area, and you will slowly start gaining some sensation in your muscles.
5. Relieves Cold And Cough
Owing to its pungent nature, mustard oil has been used to cure cold and cough since decades.
It contains a heating property that clears up the congestion in the respiratory tract. It works best when combined with garlic and massaged on the chest and back.
Another method of using mustard oil for clearing cold and cough is using steam treatment. Add caraway seeds and a few spoonfuls of mustard oil to a pot of boiling water and inhale the steam. This clears the phlegm build-up in the respiratory tract.
6. Eases Joint Pain And Arthritis
Regularly massaging mustard oil on the skin works amazingly well in curing joint aches and arthritis by increasing blood flow and circulation throughout the body.
Mustard oil also contains large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, which act as an anti-inflammatory to ease joint stiffness and pain associated with arthritis
7. Helps Heal Chapped Lips
Do you have trouble with chapped lips?
Each night, just before you are about to sleep, pour two or three drops of mustard oil in your navel.
Yes, you read that right! Pour two or three drops of mustard oil in your belly button. As long as you do this every night, you should never have to worry about having chapped lips ever again.
8. Improves Functioning Of The Organs
A massage done with mustard oil refreshes the body and improves the functioning of your organs by increasing blood circulation to all parts of the body.
Mustard oil massage for newborns is quite a popular practice in many countries. Studies showed that the common reasons to use mustard oil for massaging were to promote strength, maintain health, and provide warmth to the body (5).
9. Has Antibacterial, Antifungal, And Anti-inflammatory Properties
Mustard oil is known to contain antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Its anti-inflammatory properties are attributed to the presence of selenium, which reduces pain and swelling, thus easing joint pain. This anti-inflammatory property of mustard oil also finds its use in the formulation of diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory medication (6).
Recent studies have shown that microemulsions containing mustard oil work as antibacterial agents against E. coli (7). The glucosinolate present in mustard oil prevents the growth of unwanted bacteria and other microbes.
Mustard oil also contains powerful antifungal properties that can treat skin rashes and infections caused by fungi. A study was conducted on rye bread spoilage (by fungi) by exposing it to different oils. Mustard oil proved to be the most effective, owing to the presence of a compound called allyl isothiocyanate (8).
10. Beneficial For Asthma
Asthma is a disease that has no permanent cure. But its symptoms and effects can be managed and greatly reduced by using mustard oil. This is known to be one the safest and most effective cures to treat the effects of asthma.
Massage brown mustard oil on your chest to increase airflow to the lungs during an asthma attack. Or you can make a mixture of 1 tablespoon of mustard oil with 1 teaspoon of camphor and rub it on your chest.
You can also prevent asthma attacks by swallowing a mixture of one tablespoon each of mustard oil and honey, three times a day.
11. Is An Excellent Insect Repellent
Worried about mosquito or insect bites when you go outdoors? Apply some mustard oil on your skin, and insects will stay away from you.
This property of mustard oil was evaluated in a study conducted in Assam, India. The repellent properties of mustard and coconut oils were evaluated against Aedes (S.) albopictus mosquitoes. Mustard oil was very effective in providing protection for a longer time as compared to coconut oil
12. Whitens Teeth And Treats Dental Problems
Why spend so much money on teeth whitening strips or chemical treatments to whiten your teeth when you can use mustard oil?
Make a paste of ½ teaspoon of mustard oil, 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder, and ½ teaspoon of salt. Rub this mixture on your teeth and gums twice a day to promote healthy teeth and provide relief from gingivitis and periodontitis (10).
13. Boosts Brain Function
The high concentration of fatty acids present in mustard oil is known to boost brain function and help treat depression. They are also said to boost memory and improve cognitive functions in the brain.
This property highly benefits children, especially during their exams.
14. Promotes Overall Health
Mustard oil can be used as a healthy tonic to promote overall health and wellness of the body. It provides benefits to the entire body, whether consumed or used externally.
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