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Mustard, Medicine and Health

In our modern world, we tend to consider mustard for its culinary importance – in sauces and in cooking as well as the ubiquitous condiment on prepared foods – but for centuries people around the globe have cultivated varieties of the plant for use in herbal remedies and for the maintenance of good health. Sanskrit and Sumerian texts from 3000 BCE record the use of mustard as a spice and in cultural rituals. Grown in the temperate regions of the world, it is considered one of the earliest of domesticated plants. As examples of its non-gustatory applications, Hippocrates used mustard packs to treat lung illnesses and to relieve congestion. In Nepal, generations of infants have been massaged with…

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 'Fooducate' yourself on the merits of mustard

Mustard is one of the ancient spices used to flavor foods — or perhaps more accurately, to "mask" undesirable tastes of rotting food in a day when food was not preserved well. As with other herbs and spices, mustard was used medicinally for thousands of years. It was used as an antiseptic and to treat congestion, colds and flu.

 Mustard: Compliments for a Condiment

Mustard has been used since antiquity as a healing device for everything from headaches and the common cold to a bad case of the vapors and spider attacks. History has it that as far back as 500 years before Christ it was considered a proper antidote for the scorpion's bite. Over the years it has been said to be good for ailments involving the “shoulders, chest, hips and loins” and mustard oil was recommended for the likes of “rigid sinews and numbness in the loins.” As anyone who was a child not too many decades ago must know, mustard plasters applied to the chest would cure coughs and colds overnight (and, one might add, leave you hairless and skinless, once they were removed).

Articles of Interest

Why mustard is good for you

The Greeks and Romans were on to something when they used mustard seeds for medicinal purposes. The mustard plant, like broccoli, radish and cabbage, belongs to the brassica family, a group of vegetables that contain health-promoting glucosinolates. Enzymes in the seeds then break these down into isothiocyanates. These compounds give mustard its eye-watering pungency, and many studies now suggest that they also seem to inhibit the growth of cancer cells, most notably in the gastrointestinal tract and colon. Mustard seeds are an excellent source of selenium, a trace element that is also thought to have an anti-cancer effect.UK soils are generally low in selenium so eating mustard, and mustard seeds, can help boost your selenium level.

For the Love of Mustard

Across the continents, the market for this crowd-pleasing condiment is booming.

Mustard Put To the Test

It has been claimed that mixing dry mustard with boiling water produces a hotter result than the addition of cold water. Anyone bent upon discovering the truth of this statement is brave indeed. When something already is as hot as proverbial Hades, it is difficult to judge whether another version is even hotter.

The Benefits of Mustard—From the Jar in Your Fridge to Seeds and Greens

It's easy to overlook the benefits of mustard—especially if you regard it as a one-note condiment best slathered on hot dogs and pastrami sandwiches. But mustard means more than just the jars in your fridge. It turns out that the condiment, plus all parts of the plant from seeds to greens, have dietary advantages.

The Commitment-Phobe's Condiment

Mustard is the condiment for restless souls: There are enough varieties of it to taste forever. This diversity of styles makes mustard more fun than, say, ketchup, which aims for a singular scarlet standard. Here's a guide to some favorites from near and far.

The Health Benefits of Mustard: A Deep Dive into a Flavorful Superfood

Mustard has long been a staple in kitchens around the world, appreciated not only for its bold and tangy flavor but also for its surprising array of health benefits. Derived primarily from the seeds of the mustard plant (genus Brassica), this condiment has been used in traditional medicine for centuries and has increasingly caught the attention of modern nutritionists and researchers. Whether you drizzle it over a sandwich, mix it into a marinade, or use it to spice up a salad dressing, mustard is much more than just a tasty topping.

The Marvel of Mustard: Seeds, Greens, and History

Mustard has been a beloved spice, condiment, and leafy green for centuries, bringing flavour and health benefits to cuisines around the world. With its ancient origins and widespread use, mustard deserves a closer look at its history, types, and surprising benefits.

The Mustard Seed: Humble Herb or Powerful Superfood?

But, how often do you read about mustard seed in the headlines? Never. The mustard seed is largely overlooked and underappreciated. It seems that, because there is not an ongoing conversation about mustard seed, it has become a "humble herb." However, it has much of which to be proud.