Mustard seeds are an integral part of every Indian kitchen. They are tiny circular shape seeds of different mustard plants. There are three types of mustard seeds, one of them are yellow/white mustard seeds, brown mustard seeds, and another is black mustard seeds. It is also known as sarso seed or sarso ke beej(in English called mustard seeds) in the north and rai seeds in the south part of India.
Black mustard seeds are widely used compared to yellow mustard seeds. It is produced in India, Pakistan, Canada, Myanmar, Russia, Ukraine, the United States, and China. Black rai seed is used to temper (tadka) food as a spice. Rai seeds give a spicy aroma and flavor to food. It powder/ dal acts as a preservative in any kind of pickles. It can be consumed in the form of Sarso seeds, Mustard oil, or Mustard seeds powder.
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Types of Mustard Seeds:
There are two main types of mustard seed all over the world. namely,
1. Yellow Mustard Seed
Yellow Mustard Seed (Sinapis alba) is a member of the Brassicaceae family. It has been used medicinally for thousands of years. Yellow mustard seeds are rich in Vitamin C, fiber, protein, iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, manganese, phosphorous, and selenium. It is a Protein rich food and Fibre rich food. They have been shown to help prevent cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis. The best Yellow mustard seeds can be eaten raw or ground into flour and added to bread, salads, soups, and mustard sauces.
2. Black Mustard Seed
Black Mustard Seed (or Nigella sativa) has been used for thousands of years due to its many health benefits. It’s been known for centuries that black mustard seeds have medicinal properties.
Black mustard seeds benefits :
Today, we know that black mustard seeds are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial phytonutrients. They contain high amounts of protein, fiber, iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, manganese, phosphorous, vitamin K, B-complex vitamins, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, folate, biotin, and dietary fiber.
Health benefits of Black mustard seed Oil and Its uses :
The oil from black mustard seeds has been shown to help lower cholesterol levels and prevent heart disease. It can also help reduce inflammation throughout the body, especially in the digestive tract. Black mustard oil contains anti-microbial compounds that kill harmful bacteria in the stomach and intestines.
It’s also been proven that black mustard oil helps fight cancer cells and may slow down tumor growth. It has been used successfully against breast, prostate, colon, lung, skin, liver, and pancreatic cancers.
In addition, black mustard oil has been shown to be effective in treating diabetes. It lowers blood sugar levels and increases insulin sensitivity. This makes it useful for diabetics who need to control their blood sugar levels.
Black mustard seed oil has been used historically to treat asthma, bronchitis, coughs, colds, flu, sinus problems, and sore throats. It has also been used to relieve menstrual cramps, headaches, migraines, and muscle pain.
Types of Oil Produced by Mustard Seed :
Mustard oil is produced by extracting its seeds. They are high in calories. There are two types of Mustard oil. They are as follows:
Essential oil
Essential oil is prepared from grinding seeds and further, it is combined with water. Next, by using the distillation process, the essential oil is extracted.
Cooking oil
In north India, Mustard oil is used in deep frying and preparing vegetables. This cooking oil is prepared by using the traditional method which is pressing the Mustard seeds.
Mustard seed health benefits
What are the health benefits of mustard seeds?
They not only act as a spice to give flavor and aroma but also it has health benefits too. Rai is small tiny seeds with a pack of nutrition. According to USDA, they are an excellent source of lots of minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, selenium, phosphorous, and vitamins like A, C, and essential oil.
Let’s see Sarso seed’s health benefits:
- It helps you to slow down aging, and keep your skin healthy and young.
- In addition, Omega 3 fatty acid present in sarso seeds or their oil is very effective for those who have heart diseases. It helps to maintain your good cholesterol level.
- Antioxidants: Sarso seeds are rich in antioxidants.
- It helps to recover the body from different types of damage/ diseases.
- It has protective properties that help to fight against fungi and bacterial infection.
- Anti-inflammatory: The mustard seed has anti-inflammatory properties. It stimulates enzymes that might be effective to recover from psoriasis.
- Dietary fiber: Mustard seeds are rich in dietary fiber which helps to improve digestion.
- Hair and skin care: Mustard seeds are used to enhance your beauty.
- Sarso oil is rich in omega 3 fatty acids and vitamins A, E which are essential for healthy hair i.e. its growth and strength.
- Mustard seed paste or oil mixed with aloe vera or coconut oil acts as a natural scrub. It helps to hydrate skin, promotes crystal clear skin, and reduces acne.
- Diabetic: sarson seeds/ sarson leaves are helpful to reduce blood sugar levels in the body.
- Pain relief: Now most women are facing menstrual cramps because of the modern lifestyle, but mustard is very helpful to treat this pain. It also treats very effectively muscle pain, and back pain to make it relax.
- Fever and cold: Sarso treats fever and cold. It produces heat which helps in excessive sweating and removes toxins from the body.
- Arthritis: Mustard oil is very useful for those who are suffering from arthritis
- Asthma: Mustard seeds are rich in minerals like copper, magnesium, iron, and selenium which are helpful for asthma patients. It prevents asthma attacks.
Uses of Mustard seeds
Yellow mustard seeds are smaller than black mustard seeds. They have a lighter color and a stronger flavor. Yellow mustard can be used in salads, soups, stews, and other dishes. Black mustard seeds are larger than yellow mustard seeds. They have darker colors and milder flavors. Black mustard seeds can be used to make mustard pickles, relishes, and mustard sauces.
- Yellow mustard seeds/ black mustard seeds are used as a mustard condiment called mustard kasundi to enhance the flavor of various food in different regions.
- It is used in preparing any kind of pickles, sauces, mayonnaise, salad dressing, etc.
- It is also used to give flavor to non-veg dishes like fish and meats.
- In India, Black sarso seeds are used to temper (tadka) chutney, sambar, curry, sabji, etc.
Where to Buy mustard seed?
Mustard seeds are easy to find at any grocery store. You can buy them whole or ground. You can purchase mustard seeds from your local health food store. In India, Best Mustard seeds or rai seeds are also available at online grocery stores like Manvik Foods, Amazon , flipkart. You can check online mustard seed prices today or every day at these online grocery shops.
Mustard seeds side effects :
Mustard has its side effects also; do you have any idea about them?
- If you are trying mustard for the first time, it is always good practice to have it in small quantities to check whether you are allergic to it. Mustard seeds can cause allergic reactions in some people. If you experience any symptoms after consuming them, stop eating them immediately.
- Goitrogens: Goitrogens are a substance present in sarso leaves and their seed. It may affect the function of the thyroid gland. Before consumption of mustard seeds and leaves, you should cook them to neutralize their substances, especially for those who are suffering from a thyroid issue.
- Oxalates: Oxalate is a compound available in mustard plants. It interrupts the absorption of calcium. Consumption of mustard is not recommended for people who have kidney stone problems.
- Skin problem: Mustard plant produces heat. If you are applying mustard oil, or sarso paste (as a scrubber) on your skin, it is always recommended that u should add some cooling products like Aloe vera gel or Coconut oil along with mustard.
- The mustard oil contains sulfur compounds that can damage your liver.
- Mustard seeds may irritate your stomach if you eat too much of them.
FAQ:
How many Mustard Seeds / Sarso seeds you can consume daily?
You can eat 1 tablespoon of sarso seed every day in your daily diet.
How long mustard seeds can be stored?
If you store mustard seeds in a cool and dry place, they can stay good for more than 1-2 years in an airtight container.
Mustard seeds called in Indian Languages :
Different names of Mustard Seeds:
Mustard seeds in hindi called Sarso seed, सरसों के बीज (Sarson ke beej)
Mustard seeds in Marathi called मोहरी (Mohari) , Rai , मोहरीचे बी (Mohariche bee)
Mustard seeds in Gujrati called રાઈ (Rai), રાઈના બીજ (Rai na bija)
Mustard seeds in Punjabi called ਸਰਸੋਂ ਦੇ ਬੀਜ (Sarson ke beej)
Mustard seeds in Tamil called கடுகு (Kadugu), கடுகு விதைகள் (Kadugu vithaikal)
Mustard seeds in Urdu are called सरसों (Sarson), رائی کے بیج (Rai ke beej)
Mustard seeds in Bengali called Sorshe , সরিষার বীজ (Sorishar bij)
Mustard seeds in Telugu called ఆవాల (Avalu),ఆవాల గింజలు (Avala Ginjalu)
Yellow Mustard is also Called Sinapis Alba (yellow mustard), Brassica Nigra (black mustard), table mustard, white mustard, and Brassica Hirta (white mustard).
Rupesh Sagvekar is Content writer, Food blogger and owner of Manvik Foods, an online shop in Mumbai, India that specializes in selling high-quality dry fruits, nuts, berries, whole and powdered spices. Under the authority of Manvik Enterprises Organisation, Rupesh and his team believe that quality is of the utmost importance. They take great care to ensure that their products are verified, tested, and of the best possible quality. Rupesh’s goal is to make sure that every customer is satisfied with what they receive from Manvik Foods.
As an Amazon affiliate, Manvik Foods ships their products all over India, allowing customers from all corners of the country to enjoy their delicious and nutritious products. With Rupesh at the helm, Manvik Foods has become known for their commitment to quality, exceptional customer service, and passion for healthy, natural foods.
