5 facts about the benefits of mustard oil for humans and how to use it
Mustard oil is a vegetable product obtained from mustard seeds.
On the one hand, mustard oil has health benefits, as it contains vitamin E and unsaturated fats. On the other hand, it contains toxic components that, when ingested, can lead to serious consequences.
Oral use of the product is contraindicated in children and pregnant women.
How it is useful – 5 facts
Consider the 5 main beneficial properties of mustard oil (based on evidence).
1. Contains nutrients
Mustard seed oil contains much more biologically active substances than mustard itself. In 100 grams of oil contains :
- 59 grams of monounsaturated fatty acids;
- 21 grams of polyunsaturated fatty acids;
- 11 grams of saturated fat.
The oil is rich in valuable fats (omega-3 and omega-6), but at the same time contains a large amount of saturated fatty acids, which are associated with significant harm to health. The greatest danger is erucic acid.
It also contains vitamin E, which is a powerful antioxidant that prevents the formation of malignant tumors and some chronic diseases.
Allylisothiocyanate gives mustard a special taste. This component is also present in wasabi and horseradish. Allylisothiocyanate normalizes lipid profile parameters, strengthens blood vessels and reduces the risk of developing pathologies of the cardiovascular system.
2. Supposedly improves the health of the heart and blood vessels
Since ancient times, it has been believed that monounsaturated fatty acids have a positive effect on the condition of the heart and blood vessels.
In one of the major literary reviews is described that a diet rich in monounsaturated fats normalizes the lipid profile ( the level of total cholesterol decreases , as well as its atherogenic fractions (LDL, TAG)).
This group of fats reduces systolic and diastolic blood pressure and the risk of sudden cardiovascular death.
Mustard oil, due to the presence of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats in the composition, can presumably be used for the prevention of heart and vascular pathologies (coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction and stroke, hypertension).
3. Has an antibacterial effect
International Studies installed
that mustard seed oil is a powerful antibacterial substance. It destroys a number of gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
Special efficiency underlined in relation to Salmonella, E. coli, listeria and staphylococcus, as well as some varieties of fungi.
The product can be used topically (applied to the skin and hair) for the prevention and treatment of infectious and inflammatory diseases (including acne).
The exact mechanism of antifungal and antimicrobial action has not been studied to date. Scientific research is underway.
4. Eliminates inflammatory processes
Proven
that mustard essential oil has an anti-inflammatory effect. It is able to suppress both chronic and acute inflammation.
The oil can be applied to the surface of the skin during the course of arthritis, osteoarthritis and other inflammatory, autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases.
The effectiveness of the oil in the treatment of chest pain caused by bronchitis or pneumonia has been established.
5. Eliminates pain
Experts from Germany and Romania, through experiments on rodents, opened
and evaluated the analgesic potential of mustard oil.
The product contains casazepine, which blocks superficially located pain receptors. When applied topically, the oil is able to eliminate pain caused not only by superficial processes, but also by deep lesions of nerve, muscle and bone tissues.
The oil supposedly shows positive results in diseases of the nervous system (radicular syndrome, neuropathies). The possibility of releasing medicines for topical use in neurological diseases accompanied by prolonged pain syndrome, which is not compensated by standard medicines, is being considered.
Possible harm
Despite its beneficial properties, mustard oil can be harmful to health. It is undesirable to take it inside. The main side effects of the product are:
- Destruction of red blood cells. Ingestion of mustard oil can provoke hemolysis of red blood cells and lead to conditions such as oxygen starvation of tissues, impaired functioning of the liver and kidneys, and the central nervous system.
- Heart disease. Erucic acid, which is part of the product, causes dystrophic changes in the myocardium, in particular, myocardial lipidosis. The oil is especially dangerous for children due to the incomplete development of tissues of the cardiovascular system.
- Cancer. Erucic acid has carcinogenic activity.
- Allergic reactions. Hypersensitivity to certain components of mustard is a common phenomenon. Allergopathologies occur when ingested and applied topically. They are usually characterized by a severe course and occur in the form of anaphylactic shock, angioedema and other anaphylaxis.
The oil is strictly prohibited for indoor and even outdoor use by children under 18 years of age and pregnant women. The effect of the product on the body has not been studied enough, and even more so on women during pregnancy and children.
Method of application
The only safe way to use mustard seed oil is local. To do this, dilute a few drops in 50 ml of water and apply to the affected areas of the skin.
Oil should not be taken orally and, moreover, food should be cooked on it (frying, stewing). It has a low smoke generation temperature (less than 100 degrees).
Conclusion
- Mustard oil contains valuable nutrients (unsaturated fats, vitamin E and other antioxidants), but erucic acid and some other toxic components completely override the benefits and make it a harmful component of nutrition.
- The oil is forbidden to be taken orally to avoid the development of side effects.
- A safe and valuable (from a medical point of view) option for using the oil is to apply it to the affected areas of skin and hair.
- The use of oil is contraindicated for children under 18 years of age and women during pregnancy.
