Mustard oil is popular in many countries of the world, especially in India. This essential oil is extracted from the seeds of the mustard plant, through the steam distillation process, and is known for its pungent taste and strong aroma. It is an oil rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and has anti-inflammatory properties. So, through this article, we will get to know the most important The benefits of mustard oil and its uses.

Mustard oil nutritional value

100 gm of mustard oil contains:

• Monounsaturated fatty acids: 59 g
• Polyunsaturated fatty acids: 21 g
• Saturated fatty acids: 11 g

Mustard oil uses

Mustard oil has many uses according to different cultures and peoples, and its most famous uses are:

• It is commonly used in stir-frying vegetables, especially in Asian and Indian cooking
• It is used as one of the spices in food preparation in some countries
• It is used as a massage oil
• It is used to treat cracked heels and brittle nails
• It is used to treat hair problems and improve skin health.
• Mustard oil is used to treat infections

The benefits of mustard oil

Mustard oil has many health and therapeutic benefits, the most prominent of which are:

1. Treatment of cracked heels

Many people suffer from cracked heels, especially in the winter. However, this can be treated according to the sayings of the Indian beauty expert, “Bharti Taneja”, using the method of wasted candles.

• Make a mixture by heating candle wax adding an equal amount of mustard oil until the mixture becomes thick.
• Apply the mixture to the heels.
• Now wear cotton socks while sleeping to get a softer heel.

It can also be used to treat brittle nails, according to the Indian dermatologist Dipali Bhardwaj, who said that using mustard oil is better than almond oil and coconut oil in softening the nail layer because it can be easily absorbed.

2. Anti-microbial

One of the benefits of mustard oil is that it contains powerful antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. As its use may help resist the growth of some types of harmful bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus bacteria, and Bacillus cereus.

3. Promotes blood circulation

The use of mustard oil in body massage and massage may help stimulate blood circulation, get rid of muscle tension, and stimulate sweat glands, and thus it can be used as a natural body cleanser of toxins.

However, recent studies indicated the need to use limited quantities of mustard oil for massage so as not to cause skin irritation, so it is not recommended to use it for people with sensitive skin.

4. Benefits of mustard oil for the skin

Mustard oil contains vitamin E, which plays an important role in promoting skin health, as it may help resist wrinkles and protect the skin from sunlight.

It can also help remove dark spots in the skin by using it with other ingredients to make face masks.
In addition, using it with coconut oil may help improve skin tone. However, it should be used in limited quantities when it comes into contact with the skin, whether by using it on the face or for body massage purposes.

5. Treat infections

Mustard oil contains allyl isothiocyanate, which studies have shown to have a good effect on pain receptors in the body.

Mustard oil is also a rich source of alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid), which may help reduce inflammation caused by conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.

However, despite the benefits of mustard oil for the treatment of inflammation and pain. However, some studies have shown that the topical use of pure mustard oil for long periods may lead to serious skin burns, so it is not recommended to overuse it to avoid any side effects.

6. Resistance to cancer cells

One of the benefits of mustard oil is also that it may help slow the growth of some types of cancer cells. Some laboratory research conducted on animals found that pure mustard oil helped reduce the growth of colon cancer cells more effectively than using fish oil or corn oil.

It also contained allyl isothiocyanates, which helped reduce the growth of bladder cancer by about 35%. However, further evaluation of the effectiveness of mustard oil on the development of cancer cells in humans is still needed.

7. Promote heart health

Mustard oil is characterized by its high content of monounsaturated fatty acids, which may help lower levels of harmful cholesterol, triglycerides, and lower blood pressure and sugar. This reduces the risk of heart disease.

8. Treat cold symptoms

Pure mustard oil is used as a natural remedy for cold symptoms such as coughing. Where it is used after mixing it with eucalyptus oil and placed on the chest or using it for steam treatment, after adding a few drops of pure mustard oil to boiling water and then inhaling the steam.

However, there is still no scientific research on the effectiveness of using mustard oil to treat respiratory problems.

Benefits of mustard oil for hair

One of the benefits of mustard oil is also that it nourishes and strengthens hair, because mustard oil contains beta-carotene, which makes it an ideal choice for:

1. Stimulate hair growth
2. Stimulate blood circulation
3. Treating scalp infections
4. Treating dandruff problems
5. Reducing hair loss
6. Smoothing split ends of hair
7. Makes hair shinier

How to use mustard oil for hair

Mustard oil can be used to nourish the hair and treat the scalp, using a hair mask with mustard oil.

the components:

• 1 tablespoon of mustard oil
• 1 tablespoon of almond oil
• 1 tablespoon of jojoba oil

How to use

• Warm the oil slightly in the microwave for about 10 seconds.
• Apply the mustard oil mask on the hair from roots to ends.
• Leave the mask for at least 30 minutes before washing it off.
• Rinse hair well using warm water.

Notice: Test the oil on a small patch of skin before use to ensure that you do not have an allergic reaction to mustard oil. If you develop red marks, itching or tingling, rinse the skin well with water and stop using it.

Video: The benefits of mustard for your health

You can watch this video to know more benefits of mustard seeds.

Cautions for use

Mustard oil contains erucic acid in high levels, which may make it dangerous to health, especially to the health of children, if used in cooking.

As one of the studies conducted on animals indicates that excessive use of it for long periods of time may cause a heart condition known as myocardial infarction.

This prompted the US Food and Drug Administration in 2016 to issue a warning that the use of mustard oil in cooking is not safe, and it is not recommended for use in cooking in the United States of America.