Mustard is one of the world’s oldest condiments. It goes back to early Roman cooks who made the spicy paste mustum ardens, or “flaming must,” by combining mustard seeds with a form of grape juice. Hence the word became mustard.
As per the study “Mustard Seeds as a Bioactive Component of Food,” published in Food Reviews International, Mustard is a plant that farmers are eager to grow because of its adaptability to a variety of agroclimatic conditions and high yield. As a result, mustard seeds have become a valuable source of a variety of bioactive substances, including polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants (carotenoids, phenolic compounds, tocopherols).
As per the study “Sprouting Exert Significant Influence on the Antioxidant Activity in Selected Pulses (Black Gram, Cowpea, Desi Chickpea, and Yellow Mustard),” published in Infona, pulses like mustard are an important source of plant-based proteins and amino acids for people all over the world, and they should be eaten as part of a healthy diet to help prevent and manage obesity, as well as chronic diseases like diabetes, coronary artery disease, and cancer. They are also an important source of plant-based protein for animals.
Mustards are little yellow seeds that have a lot of health benefits. Mustard seeds come in a variety of colors and flavors, including yellow mustard, black mustard, white mustard, and brown Indian mustard. Mustard seeds are what they are. For generations, mustard has been used in a variety of medicines to treat a variety of ailments.
Yellow mustard is a common seasoning for a wide range of dishes. It’s absolutely delicious on dishes like fries, sandwiches, burgers, etc. It is used in a dipping sauce for many main course food items and sides. It belongs to the category of condiments. A condiment is a food preparation that is added to food after it has been cooked to add flavor, enhance taste, or complement the dish.
Nutrition Value of Mustard
Mustard contains low calories and less cholesterol. The protein and omega 3 fatty acid content in mustard are high, which is beneficial for health. It improves the condition of the heart, reducing the chances of high blood pressure. It also helps gain stamina and muscle. Mustard is also rich in essential minerals, like iron, zinc, phosphorus, etc.
Is Mustard Acidic?
Mustard is an acidic condiment. The majority of condiments are acidic. But mustard comes with a lot of benefits which makes it a little different from the other condiments. Even when we have established that mustard is an acidic condiment, it is safe to say that it can help reduce heartburn. Mustard contains several alkaline minerals. Food is broken down into ash residue that might be neutral, acidic, or alkaline when consumed.
Alkaline ash is produced by minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, silver, copper, and iron, whereas acid ash, is produced by sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine, and iodine, which are found in meat, coffee, dairy, and alcohol.
What’s the pH of Mustard?
Mustard has a vinegary flavor. Mustard has a pH of about 3.6, making it slightly acidic. To put it another way, Mustard has a pH that is closer to that of lemons and limes than that of a neutral pH.
If you have acid reflux disease or suffer from heartburn on a regular basis, you’re certainly aware that avoiding acidic meals can help prevent a flare-up and unpleasant symptoms. So, it is better not to have mustard on a regular basis so as to avoid getting heartburn and acidity. Mustard has a different pH outside the body, but once it is digested in the body, it gains a pH of 5.5.
But because of its almost citric and lime-type flavor, every food can be garnished with the vinegary flavor that mustard has. Mustard is an acidic condiment.
Does Consuming Mustard Cause GERD/Acid Reflux?
The alkaline qualities of mustard are ideal for neutralizing stomach acid and thereby preventing or alleviating acid reflux symptoms.
Is mustard acidic or alkaline, remains a big question for all those who are seeking mustard-eating tastebuds but also suffer from the problem of acidity. Mustard is a vinegar-based seasoning. Eating in a proportioned manner is beneficial. However, people with GERD/Acid reflux should not consume it very often.
Can People With IBS Have Mustard?
People suffering from inflammatory bowel syndrome can have mustard if there is no garlic and onion present in the mustard preparation. It is important to read the ingredients list before opting to eat the mustard preparation. People can have it in controlled portions.
Health Benefits of Yellow Mustard
Mustard contains a lot of components. These are fibers, selenium, magnesium, and manganese.
Mustard aids in digestion, lowers blood sugar levels, may prevent constipation, may alleviate upset stomach, prevents anemia, kills bacteria, kills fungus, and relieves arthritic and rheumatic pain.
Mustard is, first and foremost, a plant. Mustard seeds are required to make the sorts of mustard we know today and their different preparations. These can be turned either into a powder form or paste or as spreads which can be blended with any of the food preparations. We can enjoy these as condiments.
Mustard is beneficial for improving the immunity of a person. It helps in the detoxification of the body. Whenever we eat so many foods that are fried, have cheese, and other high fat and cholesterol contents, our body needs a detoxification process to flush out these ingredients. Mustard has the ability to do just the same.
Some studies also show that mustard can help to prevent certain types of cancers. They also lower cholesterol and help in the prevention of many heart-related diseases like arrhythmia, coronary artery disease, etc. There are many other diseases like type 2 diabetes, cancer cell growth, gastrointestinal cancer, prostate cancer, etc. that have shown good preventive behaviors in people who consume mustard in regular eating habits. One of the other major benefits of eating yellow mustard is that it helps to bring down inflammation of many kinds.
Other benefits of eating mustard are that it promotes hair growth, cures psoriasis-related lesions, it also reduces contact dermatitis symptoms, and helps in wound healing. Mustard is very healthy for the human body because it has so many health preventive benefits.
Who Cannot Have Mustard?
While there are so many positive notes to mustard, there is also one downside. Mustard belongs to the category of being a very common spice allergy.
People who are allergic to mustard, if accidentally intake it, suffer from anaphylactic shock. Anaphylaxis is a condition in which there is difficulty in breathing. People suffering from it experience a lack of breath. It is a life-threatening reaction to mustard if not treated on time and may occur in severe cases.
Conclusion/Takeaway
While it is acidic in nature, mustard is one of the healthiest condiments. Another feature of mustard is that it can be either gluten or gluten-free. So, both types of people can take advantage of mustard and its health benefits.
The wonder of mustard’s tartness and heat originates from enzymes that break down the seed into mustard oil. The resulting nasal-clearing burn is a natural protection against pollutants, but it may be stabilized to variable degrees when mixed with a liquid, resulting in a condiment.
References
Getinet, A., Rakow, G., Raney, J. P., & Downey, R. K. (1997). The inheritance of erucic acid content in Ethiopian mustard. Canadian Journal of Plant Science, 77(1), 33–41. https://doi.org/10.4141/p96-074
Sengupta, R., & Bhattacharyya, D. K. (1996). Enzymatic extraction of mustard seed and rice bran. Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society, 73(6), 687–692. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02517941
Wendlinger, C., Hammann, S., & Vetter, W. (2014). Various concentrations of erucic acid in mustard oil and mustard. Food Chemistry, 153, 393–397. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.12.073
