mustard seeds
The earth throughout the world is filled with a wide variety of interesting plants suitable for food or for any other purpose. Some have a specific taste and smell, some plants are poisonous, and some can perform several functions beneficial to the body.
One of these plants is mustard, sprouted many centuries ago in Asian countries and spread throughout the world.
As a seasoning for many dishes belonging to the cuisine of the Indian people, mustard seeds began to be used quite a long time ago, according to historians, as early as three thousand years BC. And the first officially noticed recipe using mustard was in the forty-second year of our era.
As for the Russian people, for the first time they started talking about mustard in 1781, but not seeds or powder were used, but mustard oil was made, which was common for medicinal purposes, among people suffering from convulsions.
And only relatively recently, mustard seeds began to be used as a cosmetic product, incredibly useful in many aspects.
What's this?
Speaking of mustard, many people imagine a seasoning used in food, quite spicy and sharp in taste, but well complementing many, mainly meat dishes.As a seasoning, mustard is used in six different versions - white mustard seeds themselves are used, mustard is used in ground dry form, ordinary table mustard is made in the form of a paste, there are also Bavarian, Dijon and French mustard.
Some have associations with mustard powder, often used in the treatment of colds as mustard plasters. But few people thought that mustard is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the cabbage family.
Many gardeners use mustard as a fertilizer, sowing beds and even entire fields with it, then digging and leaving the plant under a layer of earth in order to obtain useful humus.
The traditions of many peoples require the use of this plant, giving it completely different meanings. For example, in Germany, it is believed that a mustard seed, fixed in a bride's outfit, promises a reliable, long-term marriage. In Denmark, mustard seeds are used as a talisman against evil forces and protection for the hearth. And in eastern countries, mustard is considered a very strong substance that increases sexual desire, that is, an aphrodisiac.
What do they look like?
The appearance of mustard is quite interesting in terms of considering the plant as a whole. On a small stem of medium thickness there are flowers and large leaves, as well as a fruit, from which the well-known seasoning is obtained.
The fruit itself resembles a pepper pod with a sharp tip, inside of which are mustard seeds.
There are several types of mustard as a raw material used for the further manufacture of seasonings. White mustard is called English mustard, black seeds are used to make Dijon mustard, and the scientific name of Russian mustard is Sarepta.
Useful and medicinal properties
- Mustard, being a very strong remedy, has many useful properties in completely different areas of life. When using mustard in the form of oil, few people think that it contains vitamins B6, E, D and PP, useful for the body, in an easily digestible form.
- Also, mustard seed oil contains elements useful for capillaries, making them stronger and more elastic. In addition, mustard oil increases appetite and improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, stimulating the digestive process.
- Mustard seeds can help relieve headaches and persistent migraines by lowering high blood pressure. This will have a charitable effect on the well-being of a person and will have a positive impact on health in the future.
- Mustard seeds are rich in selenium and magnesium, which are very good at alleviating any inflammatory processes, and also have a beneficial effect on asthma attacks, rheumatism and arthritis, softening them.
Harm
In addition to many useful properties, mustard seeds can cause irreparable harm to the body, if used and ingested in too large quantities.
Therefore, it is worth observing the norm and using this plant in doses, both in the field of cooking and for medicinal purposes.
Contraindications
A contraindication to the use of mustard can be any diseases that can give an aggressive reaction to the plant, as well as aggravate the painful situation.
Kidney diseases, tuberculosis, cardiovascular diseases, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as personal intolerance are the main contraindications to the use of mustard.
Nutritional value and calories
Energy and nutritional value per 100 grams of product
Squirrels | Fats | Carbohydrates | calories |
25.8 grams | 30.8 grams | 23.4 grams | 474 kcal |
Application
As already mentioned, mustard finds its application in various spheres of human life.
- In cooking, mustard is used to make a seasoning that can be used alone, as a paste, similar to ketchup or mayonnaise. Mustard seeds are great for pickling cucumbers and tomatoes and give them a tangy, tangy flavor.
- Mustard will be an excellent marinade for meat products, emphasizing the taste of cooked meat, while retaining all its beneficial properties.
- The miraculous medicinal properties of mustard have already been discussed, but it is also worth mentioning that mustard can be used as a laxative, as well as lotions for joint diseases.
- In addition to all this, mustard is excellently used in cosmetology, having the same inexplicable positive effect on the appearance of a person. For example, mustard is used in the preparation of face masks.
Consider one of the recipes
For one tablespoon of mustard powder, you will need warm chamomile infusion or brewed green tea, as well as half a teaspoon of olive oil and the same amount of honey.
Then you should thoroughly mix all the ingredients, cleanse the skin of makeup and a particle of dust and apply a mask. After ten minutes, you need to wash your face with warm infusion of chamomile, and then lubricate with a moisturizer.
This mask will help improve complexion by stimulating blood circulation, as well as reduce inflammation and rashes on the skin.
For body skin care, there are also several tricks using mustard.
For example, mustard oil is actively used for body skin care, because it is incredibly nourishing and has a softening effect on the skin, and also promotes the burning of fat cells, which is why it is used in anti-cellulite massage.
To achieve a reduction in waist volume, wraps with honey and mustard are used, which acts on fat burning, acting with light tingling and tingling.
Mustard masks are used for hair care and hair growth. To prepare this mask, you will need two tablespoons of mustard powder, two tablespoons of herbal decoctions such as nettle, chamomile, sage or mint, one tablespoon of cognac and one tablespoon of heavy cream or cosmetic oils.
This mixture should be applied to the roots, without affecting the entire length of the hair, then it is necessary to insulate the head and leave for half an hour. A slight burning and tingling sensation will be felt, but if these sensations increase, the mask must be washed off immediately so as not to harm the scalp.
After the specified time, it is necessary to wash your hair with shampoo, use a rinse conditioner. You can also rinse your hair with herbal decoction.
Selection Tips
When choosing mustard seeds in any form, the first thing you should pay attention to is the expiration date, since an expired seasoning can be harmful to health, and healing and medicinal properties will simply be lost.
In addition, you need to pay attention to the composition, color and type of mustard, to choose what you need. Grained mustard should not contain any other additives other than the seeds themselves.
Storage
Mustard should be stored in a cool place and avoid direct sunlight.It is better to choose a dark place for this and observe the expiration date - no more than one and a half months, at a temperature of ten degrees. In winter, mustard can be stored for about three months.
Mustard seeds must be kept in small bags made of cloth in order to preserve their beneficial properties.
Thank you for the article! Now I eat with pleasure)