Mustard is a common name for several species of mustard seeds from the family Brassicaceae. Is Mustard Seeds Healthy for you to eat? It was well known in the ancient world and was used as a medicinal plant and spice.
It is grown in temperate regions, almost everywhere in the world.
Mustard seeds contain a lot of protein, vitamins, omega acids and are therefore extremely healthy for our body with numerous benefits. Helps to improve the work of many organs and functions in the body. It helps digestion, has anti-cancer properties, improves immunity, lowers cholesterol, and helps improve skin appearance and hair care.
There are several types of mustard seeds, and the most important are two types: black – Brassica nigra and white mustard – Sinapis alba.
Black mustard
Black mustard, Brassica nigra, is an annual plant with a slender, spindle-shaped root.
The stem is branched, 1-1.5 m high, covered with solid hairs.
Its leaves are serrated with a large cut-off at the top, the lower ones green, and the upper ones blue-green. The flowers are small, yellow, gathered in erect clusters on top.
The cup and the flower wreath are made of four cross-shaped petals. The fruit is an upright leg with a pronounced beak. The fruits are attached to the stalk. The seeds are black-brown.
Otherwise, the black mustard blooms in the period from June to July.
Use of black mustard
It is used both as a medicinal plant and as a spice.
The ripe seeds are shaken from the pods and then dried. Black mustard, in addition to being grown, can be found alone on wet meadows.
Black mustard seeds are used to make mustard flour.
It is used for compresses that are used in therapy as a means of irritating the skin.
It is used in therapy, externally, to relieve rheumatic and neuralgic ailments. Mustard should be used carefully and use.
Prolonged use of hypersensitivity in some people can lead to redness, blisters, and sores on the skin.
Internal application is very rare; acts as a weak laxative.
Interestingly, mustard contains a really significant amount of vitamin C.
The essential oil produced from black mustard
Although the plant is odorless, when the seeds are macerated, it emits a pungent odor.
Distillation with the help of water vapor from the ground seeds (Sinapis nigral semen), from which the fatty oil is removed by squeezing under pressure.
And after two hours of maceration in lukewarm water, a secondary essential oil is obtained.
During maceration, sulfur heteroside sinigrin (sinigrozide), the parent compound of black mustard seeds, under the influence of the enzyme myrosinase, decomposes to form volatile allylisosulphocyanate, the main ingredient in the resulting secondary essential oil.
According to the regulations of several pharmacists, the seeds should contain at least 0.7% essential oil.
The essential oil is used as a rubefacient or as (means that irritate the skin).
It is used in therapy, externally, to relieve rheumatic and neuralgic ailments.
White mustard
The plant is annual, with a thin, spindle-shaped root, and the aboveground parts are overgrown with solid hairs.
The stem is erect, up to 60 cm high, branched, and rounded. The leaves are leafy stalks, alternating.
The leaf blade is serrated and with a large cut-off at the top.
The flowers are yellow, collected in dense clusters. The fruit is a hairy pod.
The white mustard blooms from June to July and the seeds are yellow. It grows as a meadow in fields, around settlements.
It is used in the same way as black mustard. White mustard seeds, unlike black mustard seeds, are less spicy.
Two millennia of mustard seed production for mustard production.
Black mustard seeds, like white mustard seeds, are used to make mustard.
The basic procedure for preparing and washing mustard today is not significantly different from the one used in the past by the ancient Romans.
Also (ground seeds are mixed with wine, wine vinegar, spices), this is the basic recipe for the production of mustard.
The most important health benefits of mustard seeds
Few of us know that mustard seeds are actually the main ingredient in mustard production.
Mustard seeds are also considered a healthy food and have very good effects on general health.
In today’s article you will find out everything that is positive about her and the benefits of using it for our health.
1. It can help anyone who has asthma symptoms
Mustard seeds have a high percentage of selenium and magnesium in their unique nutritional composition.
These two components give it a unique anti-inflammatory effect.
If consumed regularly, it can help all those people who have symptoms of asthma, colds, and pneumonia.
2. Mustard seeds help you lose weight
Miraculous seeds are rich in vitamins and minerals: B-complex vitamins such as folate, niacin, thiamine, riboflavin, and so on.
In addition to the above benefits from the individual benefits of these components, they are also excellent in improving functioning and speeding up the metabolism.
We all know that with a faster metabolism we will lose weight more easily, which leads to weight loss.
3. Mustard seeds are a source of dietary fiber
Mustard seeds are a good source of fiber, which helps to improve digestion in the body.
They improve bowel movement, thereby improving the body’s overall metabolism.
The fiber content is usually very soluble and therefore effective.
4. Protects you from gastrointestinal cancer
Phytonutrients, which are abundant in mustard and mustard seeds, are great for preventing and slowing the progression of gastrointestinal cancer.
Studies have shown that mustard seeds have properties that limit the growth of cancer cells already present.
Mustard seeds prevent the possibility of other cancers.
5. Mustard seeds help and protect against rheumatic, arthritic, and muscle aches
Selenium and magnesium, which can be found in mustard, help in the anti-inflammatory process and the process of creating more heat.
When a mustard paste is applied to the body, it warms the area and helps to relax and release the muscles, which leads to a reduction in pain.
6. With the help of this great mustard seed, the cholesterol in the blood is reduced
Mustard seeds contain high levels of niacin and vitamin B3.
Niacin has excellent properties that help lower blood cholesterol, and at the same time protect arteries from arteriosclerosis.
Mustard seeds also help regulate blood pressure and protect the body from hypertension.
7. Mustard seeds help relieve constipation
The mustard seeds in the composition contain a unique ingredient called mucilage, which is very thin and is the key to relieving constipation.
Mustard seeds are also used to increase the work of the salivary glands, which automatically results in better digestion of food in our body.
8. Better immunity with mustard seeds
Because the seeds contain a number of essential minerals such as iron, manganese, copper, etc., it helps the body fight off disease.
9. Mustard seeds against cancer
Mustard seeds in their unique composition also contain Allyl isothiocyanate, a substance that helps and prevents the occurrence of malignant tumors in humans.
A study was published in the prestigious journal Carcinogenesis.
The results are extremely positive and suggest that this substance with an adequate application can help treat bladder cancer.
10. Mustard seeds increase our muscles
In its composition, we must emphasize that there is a substance called homobrassinolide.
This substance stimulates muscle growth
It actually resembles a steroid, successfully increasing appetite and the need for food and muscle growth.
This is very important for those who are working to increase muscle mass or for those who are starting to lose muscle mass.
A study that was then sent to the American Association for Experimental Biology shows that this substance is responsible for increasing muscle strength and growth.
Mustard seeds for skin
1. Mustard seed is a great solution against skin infections
The richness of sulfur, mustard seed makes it a real response to treating skin infections.
Sulfur gives the seeds anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties.
In this way, sulfur with all these properties helps with skin problems.
2. Mustard seeds can also help slow down the aging
Mustard is an excellent source of anti-aging ingredients such as carotenes, zeaxanthin.
And lutein (also called flavonoids and carotenoid antioxidants), vitamins A, C, and K.
When we put all these ingredients together, they are a rich source of antioxidants, which slows down the aging process.
3. Peeling with mustard seeds
That’s right, mustard seeds are great for exfoliating your face.
For facial peeling, add mustard seeds to lavender or rose essential oil.
Apply on the face and leave on for 15 minutes. With this peeling, you will remove the dead cells from the skin of the face and your skin will shine with beauty.
4. Hydrate the skin with mustard seeds
For excellent skin hydration, use aloe vera gel in combination with mustard seeds.
This mixture will remove all impurities from the skin and at the same time will hydrate and nourish it from the inside.
Mustard seeds for hair
1. Better stimulates hair growth
For centuries, mustard seed oil has been used to stimulate and grow hair faster.
It is known to be full of vitamins and minerals, but the biggest benefit and what makes the difference is the large presence of beta carotene.
During fat production, beta carotene is converted to vitamin A, which is great and very important for hair growth.
In addition, it contains iron, fatty acids, calcium, and magnesium, which together further help and stimulate hair growth.
2. Mustard seeds strengthen hair
Mustard seeds because as we have already said contain protein, calcium, vitamins A and E, omega-3, and omega-6 fatty acids.
All these healthy ingredients help strengthen the hair inside and out.
Strengthened hair is much healthier and will prevent and reduce hair loss. The fatty acids in mustard seeds will also improve the shine of the hair.
Warning about using mustard seeds
Finally, it should be noted that mustard seeds should be used sparingly.
Although it has excellent healing properties, it can also be poisonous if consumed in large quantities.
Consult a medical professional before starting to use it.
Conclusion
Mustard seeds are extremely healthy for our body with numerous benefits.
Helps improve digestion, has anti-cancer properties, improves immunity, lowers cholesterol, and more.
Because it contains protein, calcium, vitamins A and E, omega-3, and omega-6 fatty acids, its action really has no end, it also helps to improve skin and hair care.
Finally, mustard seeds are useful and we should make the most of their benefits in our daily diet.
