(20-02-14) Four benefits of mustard that you may not know

by J. Anderson

(NaturalNews) The mustard plant comes from the genus of plants (Brassica) that contains such potent and nutritious members as horseradish, cress, kale, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts. This genus is loaded with amazing plants that are great for your health. This may be why mustard was long considered a medical plant (Hippocrates commonly used it in the fashion) before we turned it into the yellow stuff we put on our hot dogs. Here are some amazing benefits of mustard you may not have known.


Cancer fighting powers
Mustard seeds (like other members of Brassica) have been found to contain isothiocyanates which have been demonstrated to suppress and prevent the growth of cancerous tumors. A 2010 study published in the journal Carcinogenesis demonstrated that when this compound is delivered in a specialized manner had the ability to inhibit the growth of cancer in the bladder!


Anti-inflammatory benefits
Mustard seeds are known to be a great source of antioxidants and in fact have a very high content of selenium and magnesium which have been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects. It also contains a powerful dose of potassium, calcium, phosphorus, omega3, and omega-6s to help keep your body running smoothly.


Increases lean muscle mass
A compound in mustard seeds, homobrassinolide, has been found to help increase lean muscle mass. This steroid-like compound can increase your appetite and food intake while helping to develop muscle growth. This can be very important for people trying to gain muscle or older people that are worried about wasting muscles. One Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology study found that the anabolic effects of homobrassinolide are enough to increase strength and lean muscle mass.


Medicinal uses
As stated earlier, mustard has long been thought to have medicinal powers and is still used for such purposes to this day. Mustard has been implicated in being able to alleviate headaches, cold, and flu symptoms. Likewise, some people have used mustard as an external paste to alleviate aching muscles and joints and even to help fight against pneumonia.

Besides using the seeds in cooking you can also get some of these benefits through the condiment form of mustard. The condiment form of mustard is only as good as the seeds that go in it. Gourmet mustards can be loaded with nutrients and anti-oxidants that can help you achieve some of the amazing benefits listed above.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.herbreference.com/mustard_seeds.html

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-09/foas-lwe092911.php

http://www.naturalnews.com/033810_mustard_muscle.html

http://carcin.oxfordjournals.org/content/31/12/2105.full
http://www.naturalnews.com/033720_mustard_seeds_medicine.html

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