Mustard Seed - Health Benefits

Mustard Seed - Health Benefits

Scientific Name: Sinapis alba 
Part of Plant Used: Seeds 
Origin: Europe, Asia, Mediterranean 

History: One of the most popular spices in the United States graces hot dogs and bratwurst. Mustard, from the cruciferous mustard plant, is available in three main varieties: white, brown, and black.   Hippocrates used mustard medicinally and the Bible makes mention of it. Used by the Greeks in cooking, it’s thought that the Romans were the first to create a paste from the mustard seed, developing the precursor to our modern day mustard.The first known recorded use of the spice comes from Sanskrit records of 3,000 years ago.

Health Benefits
1. Mustard is from the brassicas family of vegetables, all of which contain compounds known as glucosinolates in plentiful amounts. The mirosinase enzymes in mustard break down these phytochemicals into a substance called isothiocyanates that has been shown to inhibit the growth of exisiting and new cancer cells in the gastrointestinal tract.

2. Mustard seeds are thought to be a good source for relief of asthma and rheumatoid arthritis due to their selenium and magnesium content.  

3. Magnesium also helps with sleep, migraine frequency, and heart attack for people at risk.  A touch of mustard added to your fish will boost the omega-3 content as the spice ranks highly in this nutrient.

4. And like chili peppers, mustard can relieve respiratory congestion.

5. If you are avoiding nightshades, mustard may be a good addition to your spice repertoire.

6. Flavor: Mustard is a great spice to keep around for its spicy and aromatic qualities. It'll impart a nice bite to your dishes. Like coriander, this is another great one to toast in a skillet before you use them. Now, what should you use it for? It's a traditional Indian spice, but also works really well with salmon. It's great with roasted potatoes or sweet potatoes and is a great marinating spice.

As a member of the Brassica family of plants, mustard contains  a number of nutrients of interest that show promise in disease prevention. However, extensive human research on health benefits of mustard has not  yet taken place.

7. Dietary Fibre
Mustard seed is an excellent source of soluble fibre in large part because of the gum on the seed coat of Yellow mustard. Early research seems to support the concept of using mustard gums to assist with lowering glycemic indexes. Incorporating mustard fibres may therefore aid in the management of blood sugar levels.

8. Glucosinolates
The same chemical compounds that give mustard its sharp spicy taste may also contribute to its cancer fighting potential. Animal tests have suggested that mustard exerts its anti-cancer effect by triggering enzymes to detoxify and by changing the way the body’s defence mechanism works.

9. Selenium
Mustard seeds are a very good source of selenium. This is a trace mineral that research suggests affects cancer risk in a couple of ways. Selenium may prevent or slow cancer growth rates. In addition, as an antioxidant, it may protect against free radicals.

10. Other Nutrients
Mustard is a good source of magnesium. This trace mineral is connected to everything from reduced blood pressure, asthma relief to sleep relief for menopausal women. In addition to being a very good source of omega-3 fatty acids it also supplies tyryptophan, phosphorus, iron and protein.

Precautions: Mustard seeds contain goitrogens, which can cause problems for people with thyroid problems.