10 amazing facts and uses of mustard oil

Mustard oil is Eastern India’s olive oil. It is not just used as a cooking medium but also serves the purpose of salad oil, hair oil, face and body oil, baby massage oil, and even ear wax cleaner (though doctors do not recommend it.)

According to celebrity nutritionist Sandhya Gugnani, “There was a myth attached to mustard oil…unfortunately it was considered unfit for consumption by countries like USA, Canada, and Europe as it contained erucic acid which had an adverse effect on rats. But now, it has been proved that it has no adverse impact on humans. Mustard oil is considered one of the healthiest oils compared to other oils as it has an optimum ratio of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids and is low in saturated fats and high in MUFA (monounsaturated fatty acids).”

Here’s a list of some amazing facts and uses of mustard oil:

1. It has a distinctive pungent taste and is derived from mustard which belongs to the same family from which canola oil is extracted.

2. It is the traditional cooking medium in Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Orissa, and Nepal. It is also used in several Kashmiri dishes.

3. USDA states that 1 tablespoon of mustard oil contains 126 calories.

4. Mustard oil is often applied to the skin to prevent or cure fungal infections. It is said to have anti-fungal properties due to the presence of a compound called Allyl Isothiocyanate.

5. Mustard oil has a pungent odour, which may be why insects avoid it. Hence it is used as an insect repellant in sprays and also keeps away ants and mosquitoes.

6. Mustard oil has oleic and linoleic acid, essential fatty acids that make it a good hair tonic. Hair massage with this oil is said to increase blood circulation and promote hair growth.

7. It is considered a warm oil and is recommended as a body massage medium in winter.

8. Its warm nature is lauded in Ayurveda and is said to prevent coughs and colds.

9. Traditionally, it has been used as a medium to shed toxins from the body. When consumed or applied to the skin, it is believed to promote sweating, a way to excrete body toxins.

10. Mustard oil has been used in conventional oils and medicines to treat rheumatism and arthritis.

11. It has been traditionally used with salt to massage gums to treat various gum diseases.

12. According to a study conducted by experts from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital that compared fat content in different cooking oils, including olive oil, canola oil, mustard oil, and sunflower oil, it was found that mustard oil can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases by up to 70%. It is better than olive oil because the latter does not have an ideal omega-6 (N6) ratio, and Omega-3 (N3) fatty acids are useful in reducing heart complications. The findings were reported in the February issue of the Journal of Preventive Cardiology.

13. Mustard oil is very effective when used in homemade face packs, along with cream, turmeric, and gram flour. It is said to heal dry and chapped skin.