Indian mothers have used mustard oil for centuries for very valid reasons. The goodness of mustard oil lies not only in its unique taste but also in its richness in essential nutrients, chemicals, and health benefits. Here's why using mustard oil should be an easy choice.
1. Keeps Your Healthy Heart
One of the best-known properties of mustard oil is its impact on cardiac health. The MUFA and Omega-3 present in this cooking oil make it effective in helping to keep healthy cholesterol levels and prevent heart disease. In contrast to refined sunflower and soybean oils abundant in Omega-6, mustard oil is effective in ensuring balanced consumption of Omega-3 and Omega-6 in your diet.
2. High Levels of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Unlike many cooking oils which lack any significant amounts of omega-3 fatty acid, mustard oil has high levels of it. Omega-3 fatty acids are important for various reasons, including the ability to help in inflammation reduction, brain functionality, and joints' proper operation. The brown variety of mustard seed is particularly rich in ALA – one kind of Omega-3.
3. Effective Antibiotic and Antifungal Effects
Mustard oil consists of allyl isothiocyanate, which is known for the strong smell associated with mustard. Allyl isothiocyanate also has excellent antibiotic and antifungal qualities. For that reason, mustard oil has traditionally been used in the preparation of pickles, since it serves to prolong the shelf-life by inhibiting the growth of bacteria. When used topically, it protects against fungal infections.
4. Facilitates Digestion
Mustard oil has excellent qualities that help promote digestion. It stimulates the formation of digestive enzymes and bile, thus enabling efficient food breakdown. Various communities of people living in Bengal, Bihar, and Punjab, which have traditionally used mustard oil for centuries, know about the excellent digestive qualities of this plant. It also has slight laxative effects.
5. Good for Skin
The advantages of mustard oil for the skin are numerous. It provides the skin with Vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps protect skin cells from free radicals. Vitamin E also enhances moisture retention and promotes a healthy glow in the skin. Its antibacterial property prevents any small-scale skin infection from occurring. The oil is a popular massage medium before bath time for babies due to its deep penetration without leaving behind a sticky feeling.
Only cold-pressed, pure mustard oil should be applied for maximum benefits in skin-related issues; other versions lose almost all the bioactive compounds through the refining process.
6. Stimulates Hair Growth and Maintains Scalp Health
Mustard oil is arguably one of the best traditional hair oils available in India. It includes selenium, a compound essential for healthy scalp condition and prevention of dandruff formation. Also, Omega-3 fatty acids make the hair shaft stronger. Moreover, some stimulating properties in the oil can increase blood flow to the hair follicles through scalp massage.
7. High Smoke Point – Stable at Cooking Temperatures
The smoke point of mustard oil is around 250 degrees Celsius, thus making it one of the most stable cooking oils that are suitable for Indian cooking styles like tadka, deep-frying, bhunao, and sautéing. An oil exceeding its smoke point undergoes degradation and may form harmful substances. The stability of mustard oil at high temperatures helps in preserving its nutritional profile throughout the cooking process.
8. Inherent Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Anti-inflammatory properties are one of the advantages of mustard oil due to its high Omega-3 fatty acids content and glucosinolates. Low levels of constant inflammation cause many contemporary ailments, including joint problems and metabolic diseases. Hence, consumption of mustard oil in cooking (part of a healthy diet plan) will assist in decreasing this inflammatory burden, contributing to its reputation as "healthy oil".
9. Better Than Refined Oils for Regular Cooking
Refined oils undergo various processes including bleaching, deodorization, and chemical processes where their natural goodness is washed away. The mustard oil when consumed in the cold pressed form will contain all the natural goodness of essential fatty acids, antioxidants, selenium, and glucosinolate present in it. You use a lesser quantity of mustard oil for cooking because of its intense flavor, which in turn is economical in nature.
Getting the Most Out of Mustard Oil
There are different varieties of mustard oils available on the market. The properties of mustard oil mentioned above are basically associated with cold pressed unrefined oil, meaning good quality mustard seeds devoid of any form of heating, chemical treatment, and blend with other lower priced oils.
The Urbana Superfoods cold pressed mustard oil is an extract from mustard seeds obtained from Uttarakhand and extracted using low heat method. It has no refined oils, artificial aroma, preservatives, or artificial ingredients in it.
Final Thoughts
Mustard oil offers multiple advantages, from good heart health and better digestion to healthy skin and hair, as well as the capacity to resist heating without breaking down. What makes it special is selecting a type of oil where none of those advantages have been removed during the refinement process. Choose cold-pressed, choose unrefined, and stick with tradition.
