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In this blog, we will learn all the uses and benefits of mustard seeds so that you can use this beneficial ingredient to receive the best results.
Most of the time, these tiny aromatic beads are mistaken for sesame or poppy seeds. Yet the difference between mustard seeds1 is varied, and it has many beneficial properties and is used to keep your body, hair, and skin healthy and fit.
The mustard seeds are used for cooking and making hair and skin masks for treatment and remedies.
But before starting, let’s learn what exactly mustard seed is.
What are Mustard Seeds?
Mustard seed is a crucial spice ingredient. These seeds are mostly used to make curry pastes, sauces, seasoning, and many other ways to add them to your daily meal.
These spicy and aromatic seeds come in varied types, yet the most known are the three- black, yellow, and brown mustard seeds; each variant has a different taste.
Even though you were using mustard seeds in your meals, were you aware of these amazing tiny seeds’ benefits, properties, and nutrition? No, then fear not. We are here to help you out.
Properties Of Mustard Seeds
Mustard seed is rich with nutrients like magnesium, fiber, manganese, and selenium, holds anti-inflammation properties2, and contains antioxidants that help keep your body healthy and conditioned and tend to help improve your various health conditions.
These seeds also include nutrients that help develop and grow your bones. Check out this article to learn more about mustard seeds’ properties.
Types Of Mustard Seeds
These seeds come in variant types, but the most common and well-known types are three, Let’s learn about all three mustard seeds before using them in your meals.
1. Yellow Mustard Seeds
They are the most common mustard seed types used in making sauces and dressing.
They come in 2 variations: large and small size seeds. Larger seed is brighter in color, has a mild taste, and is commercially sold worldwide.
But the small yellow mustard seed is spicy, has a strong taste, and is mostly used in Southeast Asia. Yet the benefits of both are the same.
2. Black Mustard Seeds
Black mustard seed is used as a topping on several Indian dishes. These are not entirely black but are a darker shade of brown.
They are smaller than the yellow ones and contain a stronger and more intense taste than a yellow mustard seed.
3. Brown Mustard Seeds
They are smaller than the yellow and black mustard seeds and have a slightly sour taste other than a spicy flavor.
Most of the time, they are confused with black mustard seeds due to their similar color, but the main difference is the size due to the plant from which both come. They are also known as Chinese brown mustard seeds.
Now that you know the types, tastes, and properties of mustard seeds, let’s jump right to the point where you know all the benefits that a mustard seed contains.
Benefits Of Mustard Seeds
You might not have known, but mustard seeds’ benefits aren’t limited to cooking; they are used for skin treatment and hair remedies. Let’s examine each gift and make the most of this cheap and handy ingredient.
a) Mustard Seeds: Health Benefits
Below are some health benefits that you can retain from using mustard seeds in your food.
1. Help Relieving Muscle Pains
If your muscles are aching or sore from rigorous use or have been stiff after a workout, add the mustard powder to your warm bath and see the magic it will do to your muscles; it will regenerate your stamina and help relieve pain effectively.
2. It Helps in Treating Cold
If you have been having a cold or non-stop coughing or nasality, consider using mustard seed to relieve the cold. Warm some mustard seeds on the pan and tie them in a cloth to inhale their smell. It will surely give you relief.
3. Help in Reducing Back Pain
Back pains are common today; if you suffer from them, consider mustard seed your savior. Buy mustard oil and apply it on your backbone or warm mustard seeds, tie them in a cloth, and put them on your back. All the spasms and aching3 will start to reduce gradually.
Tip: Do it every alternate day or during the period when you have back pain.
4. Help Treat Flu & Fever
Mustard seeds are warm, which means if you eat them, it will increase your body temperature. It will start to make you sweat and gradually lower your fever & flu. If you have a fever, eat a small amount of mustard seed.
5. They are Good For Digestion
They contain a big source of dietary fibers, which help improve and rectify digestion, help better bowel movement, and improve body metabolism4. These fibers are soluble and very effective in digesting your food.
6. Favorable for Keeping Your Bones, Nails, Skin, Hair & Teeth Strong
The minerals in these seeds help maintain strong and healthy teeth, nails, and bones and help keep your hair moisturized. And the vitamins help in keeping your skin radiant, subtle, and hydrated.
7. Help Remove Bad Odour
If your jars are starting to smell funny or change their color due to the ingredients and spices you preserve in them, add some water into your jars, add mustard powder, paste, shake them, and keep them aside for 5 minutes and drain the water out. You will be amazed by the results.
8. Help Reduce Migraine
Mustard seed help reduce the occurrence of migraine as they contains magnesium which helps improve your body’s metabolism. If you are suffering from a migraine or want to avoid it, add mustard seeds to your fish to boost omega-3 5and reduce it.
9. They Help Solve Respiration Problems
If you have breathing problems or congestion, add mustard seed to your food as it helps improve your respiration by opening up your clogged nose and windpipe. Inhale the aroma of warm mustard seed, and give you the desired result.
10. Prevent Infections & Diseases
Mustard seeds are part of the Brassica family. They contain nutrients that help prevent infections and diseases in your body, skin, or hair and retain your body healthily and effectively.
11. Assist Menopausal Relief and Blood Pressure
If you are a BP patient, use mustard seeds in your food and retain their beneficial properties to help you keep fit and healthy. These seeds contain nutrients like iron, copper, selenium, and magnesium, which assist in relieving menopausal pain and blood pressure.
12. Help Prevent Asthma
If you have asthma, add mustard seeds to your daily routine. Due to minerals like iron, copper, selenium, and magnesium, mustard seeds are beneficial for asthma patients as they help prevent rapidly occurring asthma attacks.
13. Help Relief Rheumatic Arthritis
Another benefit that these seeds do is relieve rheumatic arthritis6 as they contain magnesium and selenium, which help reduce problems like these. And they moreover keep your bones healthy and strong.
14. Assist in Preventing & Treating Cancer
Due to selenium in mustard seed, this component resists the cancer cell from forming in your body, slows down its development, and regulates as an antioxidant. And compounds like myrosinase and glucosinolates resist cancer cells from growing in your body.
b) Mustard Seeds: Hair Benefits
They are rich in vitamins and nutrients that help condition your hair, make them healthy, and keep them strong.
1. Enhance Hair Growth
Mustard seeds are crushed to make mustard oil which is highly rich in Vitamin A which helps promote hair growth and stimulate fast recovery and growth.
2. Help Strengthens Your Hair
These seeds are abundant with amazing nutrients such as Vitamin A & E, Calcium, Protein, and Omega 6 & 3, and contain fatty acids. These nutrients play a significant role in keeping your hair falling less and maintaining its strength.
3. Keep Them Condition & Hydrated
Moreover, these seeds help keep your hair conditioned & hydrated from within and give it that bounciness and overall shine due to their fatty acids.
c) Mustard Seed: Skin Benefits
Below are the amazing benefits of mustard seeds to help promote healthy, clear, subtle, hydrated skin.
1. Used as a Natural Exfoliator
Mustard seeds are used as a natural scrub to exfoliate dead cells from your skin. Add mustard powder or oil into a rose or lavender essential oil and rub this mixture on your face gently. You will see that your face will retain its shine and softness.
2. Keep Your Skin Hydrated
These seeds have the properties to remove impurities from your body and skin. Mix aloe vera gel with powdered mustard seeds and apply it to your skin. You will see that it will lock moisture and keep your skin hydrated and nourishing.
3. Promote Slow Ageing Skin
The seed of mustard contains vitamins C, A, and K and a good amount of carotene, as these nutrients are the main agents to fight age and are great antioxidants.
4. Battles Skin Infections
These seeds are also antifungal as they contain sulfur which is well-recognized for fighting fungal infections.
Let’s know how you can use mustard seeds in your diet to retain their benefits.
Uses Of Mustard Seeds
Mustard seeds are popularly used worldwide for cooking delicious and healthy dishes and cuisines. It changes the flavor of your dish the way you use them, be it in the form of powder, paste, or using them as a whole.
Below are some ways that you can use mustard seeds in your day-to-day meals:
- Mustard seeds are mild in taste and are mainly used to complement and temper dishes.
- They are also used in non-veg meals like fish and meats to enhance and complement their taste.
- Mustard seeds are also used in making salad dressings, pickling, and sauces to give a tanginess.
- Suppose you make curry, soup, or a dish that needs an extra step. Roast some mustard seeds in oil to ensure they do not burn, as they may turn bitter, then pour this oil over your dish to enhance the flavor of your word.
- They are also used in loaves of bread to give that savory and tangy aroma.
- Make dips in your sandwiches, burgers, or a fine powder to use in your meals.
- Use crushed mustard seeds to make marinades and spice rubs to power up your dish or the breadcrumb to give that extra savory flavor.
- Black and brown mustard seeds are also used in the dishes for garnishing.
Check out Bee And Wasp Stings Mustard Applied Topically
How To Store Mustard Seeds
Take an airtight container, put your mustard seeds in it, and place your receptacle in a cool place; make sure the container is dry and sealed properly.
Please do not put your container in a moist environment, as it would make your mustard seeds soggy. If you do this, your mustard seeds’ shelf life will be 2 years, and mustard powder for about 6 months.
Mustard Seeds Interesting Facts
- Mustard seeds are the 2nd most famous spice that is being traded in the world.
- It comes from the mustard plant, a part of the cruciferous family in which sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, and broccoli are found.
Takeaway
The benefits of mustard seeds are numerous, so start using them in your cooking to add a new flavor, enhance your dishes, and retain the maximum nutrients.
Use them to strengthen and hydrate your skin and hair, as they are safe.
Yet it would help if you had precautions against overusing mustard seeds as they may cause side effects. If they do, get in touch with your doctor and reduce using mustard seeds often.
FAQ
Q. How Do Mustard Seeds Taste?
- Mustard seeds are aromatic and have a mild taste; their taste depends on your consuming type.
Q. Can I Eat Mustard Seeds Every Day?
- Yes, you can eat mustard seeds daily to reap their benefits as it is safe to consume.
- Abul-Fadl, M. M., N. El-Badry, and M. S. Ammar. “Nutritional and chemical evaluation for two different varieties of mustard seeds.” World Applied Sciences Journal 15.9 (2011): 1225-1233. ↩︎
- Yang, Runping, et al. “Mustard seed (S inapis A lba L inn) attenuates imiquimod‐induced psoriasiform inflammation of BALB/c mice.” The Journal of dermatology 40.7 (2013): 543-552. ↩︎
- Manohar P, Ram, Reshmi Pushpan, and S. Rohini. “Mustard and its uses in Ayurveda.” (2009). ↩︎
- Kupidłowska, Ewa, et al. “Impact of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) extracts upon reserve mobilization and energy metabolism in germinating mustard (Sinapis alba L.) seeds.” Journal of Chemical Ecology 32 (2006): 2569-2583. ↩︎
- Das, Gitishree, et al. “Glucosinolates and Omega-3 fatty acids from mustard seeds: Phytochemistry and pharmacology.” Plants 11.17 (2022): 2290. ↩︎
- Tutuncu, Zuhre, and Arthur Kavanaugh. “Rheumatic disease in the elderly: rheumatoid arthritis.” Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America 33.1 (2007): 57-70. ↩︎
Last Updated on by laibaarif