Salad mustard (Sarep mustard) came to us from the Mediterranean and grows wild in Central Asia, Transcaucasia, and China. It got its name from the city of Sarepta in the Volgograd region; it is also called siza (Russian). Read about the benefits of salad mustard, varieties, as well as planting and care in our article

Benefits and uses of salad mustard

Young mustard leaves are rich in protein, carotene (up to 4.5%), vitamin C (55–80 mg%), vitamins B, PP, calcium salts, iron, sulfur, magnesium, essential oils and glucosides. These leaves are used as side dishes for meat dishes, for making sandwiches and salads. Young juicy shoots are salted and preserved.

Eating mustard leaves and stems helps improve appetite and strengthen the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Mustard seeds are used to prepare mustard powder and mustard plasters; mustard alcohol is used for rubbing for rheumatism and radiculitis.

Varieties of salad mustard

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Volnushka- an early ripening variety, from germination to technical ripeness no more than 30 days. The rosette of leaves is large, erect, slightly spreading, 25–32 cm in diameter, 24–30 cm in height, number of leaves 4–6. The leaf is large, light green. The weight of one plant is 25–70 g. The taste is good.

Ladushka- early ripening variety of mustard, from germination to technical ripeness 58–60 days. The rosette is compact, vertical, with a diameter of 2330 cm. The leaf is large, entire, elongated-ovate, green, without pubescence, dense, juicy, crispy. Plant weight 150–180 g. Specific taste - slightly spicy.

Ant- early ripening, from germination to technical ripeness 35–40 days. The rosette of leaves is vertical, 2535 cm in diameter, 30–40 cm high, number of leaves 12–18. Plant weight is 60–90 g. The taste is good, it has a pleasant mustard flavor.

Red-leaved- an early ripe variety of salad mustard, from germination to technical ripeness 30 days. The diameter of the rosette is 25–35 cm, there are 10–15 leaves in the rosette. The leaves are vertical, large, round, dark green, with a red-violet tint. The weight of one plant is 15–20 g. The taste is sharp and tart.
477. How is salad mustard grown?

Growing mustard in open ground

Leaf mustard is an early ripening, cold-resistant crop, so the first sowing is carried out in a film greenhouse, and immediately after thawing the soil is sown in open ground. For continuous consumption, leaf mustard is sown every two weeks. The distance between the rows is 20 cm, the sowing rate is 1.5–2 g/m2, the sowing depth is 0.5–1 cm.

To plant mustard, purchase seeds from a specialty store. Soak them in a pink solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes. Rinse the container in which you plan to sow the seeds with the same solution. If you want to speed up the process of seed germination, wrap them in a moistened cloth (gauze). Maintain moisture by periodically spraying with a spray bottle. The resulting sprouts can be planted in the ground or immediately added to the salad. To get a constant supply of green leaves, plant a new batch of seeds 2 weeks after the first sowing (then repeat sowings, not forgetting to disinfect the planting containers).

The biggest problem when growing leaf mustard is the fight against cruciferous flea beetle, especially when sowing during May. Leaf mustard cannot be treated with chemicals, as its leaves are removed 15–18 days after germination. Good results are obtained by growing leaf mustard under spunbond, but the shelter should be tightly pressed with soil around the perimeter. More labor-intensive is dusting plants with ash.

How to care?

Caring for salad mustard consists of loosening, removing weeds, and timely watering. With a lack of moisture, the leaves quickly become coarser and lose their taste. Mustard is harvested when the rosettes of leaves reach 10–12 cm in diameter.

Leaf mustard is an annual salad plant. Its slightly bitter leaves are one of the most nutritious first green salad vegetables, containing many vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant substances. Given its low calorie content, you can eat as much of them as you want without worrying about calories. But, unfortunately, not many gardeners grow this type of green salad and do not know about its beneficial properties. Let's get to know it in more detail.

Leaf mustard or sinapis is an annual cold-resistant plant that produces a harvest in a short time. Already two weeks after sowing, you can get the first vitamin greens. It belongs to the cruciferous family. In the first year, the lettuce produces a rosette of leaves. In the second year, the seeds ripen, from which the seasoning of the same name, mustard, is made.

Mustard was known as a green salad five thousand years ago. It is believed that the birthplace of this salad culture is the Indian Himalayas. Although she was known in many other countries.

Today it is grown all over the world, mainly for its seeds, which serve not only as a base for seasoning, but also for medicinal purposes.

Today, there are many different varieties of salad mustard with leaves of different shapes (smooth and wavy) and colors (from green to dark red). Young tender leaves, which are used as a green salad, are collected in a rosette, the height of which can reach up to 60 centimeters. With further development, the plant can grow up to 1-1.5 meters with further development of peduncles and ripening of seeds.

Leaf mustard beneficial properties

Looking at this type of leafy green salad, you can see that it is actually very nutritious in terms of the presence of biologically significant nutrients. Green lettuce leaves contain significant amounts of:

Vitamin A;

Vitamin K;

Vitamin C;

Manganese;

It is slightly inferior in the content of vitamin E, vitamin B6, phosphorus, and copper.

In addition to minerals and vitamins, mustard also contains:

Carbohydrates;

Dietary fiber.

The leaves have no fat. It is contained only in seeds, so the calorie content per 100 grams of greens is extremely low - only 27 calories.

All these nutrients are extremely beneficial for the human body and can serve as disease prevention.

Dietary fiber lowers cholesterol levels by preventing its absorption in the intestines. They improve the functioning of the intestinal tract, thereby preventing the occurrence of constipation and, as a result, hemorrhoids and colon cancer.

100 grams of mustard leaves contain as much as 257.5 micrograms of vitamin K. This is almost 215 percent of the body's daily requirement for this vitamin. In addition to blood clotting, this vitamin is important for bone tissue and plays a certain role in preserving brain neurons, protecting them from various damages. And this in turn can serve as a prevention of Alzheimer's disease.

Fresh salad greens contain several B vitamins, such as folic acid, pyridoxine, thiamine, riboflavin, which are collectively called folates.

100 grams contains 3 percent of folic acid from the daily requirement of an adult. It may not be much, but this water-soluble vitamin is important for DNA synthesis and cell division.

Fresh leaves are an excellent source of vitamin C. 100 grams contain 70 micrograms or 117 percent of the daily value. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that provides protection against free radicals, viral diseases, and prevents scurvy.

Vitamin A is not inferior in content, 100 grams of which contains 101 percent of the daily requirement of an adult. Vitamin A is also an antioxidant, an important nutrient that is necessary for the maintenance of mucous membranes. Consumption of such products helps prevent cancer of the oral cavity and lungs.

In addition to antioxidant vitamins, mustard leaf is a source of other antioxidant compounds, such as flavonoids, carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, indole, sulforaphane. According to scientific research, indoles (aromatic substances) and sulforaphane can prevent prostate, breast, colon, and ovarian cancer. They can inhibit the growth of cancer cells by having a cytotoxic (damaging) effect on them.

Mustard leaf benefits

Eating salad will be useful for the prevention of:

Cardiovascular diseases;

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;

Obesity;

Osteoporosis;

Iron deficiency anemia.

It is useful to include it in your menu when losing weight, since it has no calories, but many nutrients, which are sometimes not enough with a limited diet.

Mustard greens are great for cleansing the liver as the leaves contain high amounts of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll has the ability to literally pull toxins out of the blood, neutralize the effects of heavy metals, chemicals, and pesticides. It may play a significant role in cancer prevention.

The liver uses cholesterol to produce bile acids, which are needed to break down fats. While the liver produces primary bile acids, the intestine produces secondary bile acids.

Bile is needed to digest fats, otherwise we will all suffer from constipation. However, it must be in a certain balance in the body. People who have high cholesterol either produce little bile or have difficulty converting cholesterol into bile. This may be due to high consumption of fatty foods and insufficient consumption of dark greens, or disruption of the liver and intestines.

Eating leafy greens like mustard and other greens helps the liver produce enough bile, thereby reducing bad cholesterol levels. Recent research shows that mustard's ability to lower cholesterol is greater when it is steamed compared to fresh greens.

How to select and store leaf mustard

Mustard as a salad plant is easy to grow even at home. But if this is not possible, then when buying at the market, first of all you need to pay attention to the freshness of the leaves. They must be evenly colored, without light or dark spots or signs of damage. Light or yellow leaves may indicate that they were collected a long time ago. There is no benefit in such a salad.

The salad should be stored in the refrigerator for no more than three days. It is better to immediately wash the leaves, dry them and place them in a container with a lid. In general, it is better to consume any fresh greens immediately. Then you can get the maximum amount of beneficial nutrients.

Mustard leaf use in cooking

Mustard is grown in many countries as a salad plant and to obtain the seeds from which mustard oil is made and used for other purposes.

Mustard oil is considered one of the best vegetable oils and is used in cooking, canning, and baking. It is also added in the production of some types of margarine.

There are many ways to use mustard greens. Each country has its own unique ways of incorporating this nutritious, healthy green salad into different dishes. For example, in Africa, mustard greens are added to fish. In India they marinate it. Add leaves to rice and serve with toasted bread.

Before cooking, the leaves should be rinsed well with cold water to remove sand and other debris. Then place them in salt water for at least half an hour. This technique will help remove pesticides and other harmful substances. Then trim the leaf petioles.

Fresh greens can be added to the salad with other green leafy salads: spinach, fenugreek, etc. You can add garlic, onions, tomatoes, red pepper to it.

It goes well with cucumbers, apples, ginger, lemon, and cabbage. It is served with meat dishes of beef, chicken and other poultry, bacon, and pork. Add mustard to soups and green borscht. There are many options. The spicy flavor of mustard, combined with the milder flavors and aroma of other vegetables and salads, can give a dish a balanced taste. Not everyone likes mustard precisely because of its hot-spicy taste. Compared to other green salads, it is spicier. To soften its taste, you can add greens with a mild or neutral taste.

Instead of boiling, it is better to fry or steam the leaves.

Leaf mustard contraindications and harm

Like spinach, reheating cooked mustard can cause nitrates to convert to nitrites and nitrosamines. It may be harmful to your health.

People who are taking blood thinning medications should avoid consuming mustard, as it increases the concentration of vitamin K.

Like spinach, mustard leaves contain oxalic acid, which can crystallize into oxalate stones. People who suffer from kidney or bladder stones should avoid consuming it.

What are the benefits and harms of green leafy salads?

Salad mustard– this is a real storehouse of useful substances, microelements, vitamins and amino acids. It can be used as a herb or as a salad base. Proper consumption of this vegetable crop protects the human body from premature aging and acidification. Therefore, it is worth learning about how cultivation from seeds is carried out on a personal plot and what subtleties of crop farming technology should be taken into account.

You can choose the right varietal group taking into account the main types of future use. If you plan to use it as a seasoning, then you can choose spicy varieties. And if you want to use this crop to compensate for the deficiency of healthy plant fiber in your diet, then it is important to choose low-spicy table varieties.

Leaf mustard grows well even in unfavorable climatic conditions. Therefore, its sowing can be done from early spring to late autumn.

Beneficial properties of leaf mustard

Mustard originates from Central Asia or Northern India. It probably arose as a result of natural hybridization of closely related species of mustard and rapeseed. It began to be cultivated in Russia in the 18th century.

Salad mustard- an annual herbaceous plant with a height of 0.6 to 1.5 m. It has an erect, branched stem covered with a waxy coating. The root system is taproot, the main root can penetrate to a depth of 2 m, but the bulk of the roots are located in the upper layer of soil (20-50 cm).

The salad variety of mustard is cultivated for its leaves. In mustard they are petiolate and slightly pubescent. The upper leaves are thinner and smaller than the lower ones.

Mustard- a long-day plant, blooms in May - June, depending on the place of growth, produces fruits from July to September. Its flowers are small, yellow, collected in loose corymbose or racemose inflorescences. The fruit is a cylindrical tuberculate pod, 2.5 to 6 cm long, with a thin awl-shaped nose. The seeds are spherical, small, dark brown.

See what salad mustard plantings look like in the photo illustrating adult shoots and shoots:

Speaking about the beneficial properties of leaf mustard, it is worth mentioning that the aerial part contains ascorbic acid, B vitamins, PP, iron, calcium, etc. The seeds contain fatty oil, volatile mustard, and proteins. Powder from defatted mustard seeds is used to prepare mustard plasters, which are recommended as a warming and distracting remedy for colds and pneumonia.

The beneficial properties of salad mustard are that it stimulates appetite, increases the secretion of gastric juice, and is indicated as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent.

Young leaves - rosettes are used to prepare salads, after cooking as a side dish for meat and fish dishes.

Growing salad mustard from seeds

In general, when growing, salad mustard is not demanding on the soil; but it is best to grow it on loose, fertile, sufficiently moist, neutral and slightly alkaline soils.

Peas, onions, and cucumbers are considered good predecessors; it is not recommended to grow them after cruciferous crops.

Mustard is a cold-resistant crop that tolerates light frosts (no more than -9°C) without damage. Seeds germinate at a temperature of 1-3°C. It is quite drought-resistant, but with a severe lack of moisture, mustard leaves become coarse and stiff, and flowering stems form prematurely.

A site for growing salad mustard from seeds is prepared in the fall, adding organic matter (3-4 kg/m2), superphosphate (20-25 g/m2), and potassium salt (10 g/m2) for digging. In spring, ammonium nitrate (15-20 g/m2) is added.

Seeds are sown in late April - early May and before winter in rows with row spacing of 45 cm, planted to a depth of 1.5-2.5 cm. They can be sown repeatedly every 10-15 days. To obtain seeds, sowing is done as early as possible. In the phase of two true leaves, seedlings are thinned to a distance of 7-10 cm between plants.

Note: If weather conditions permit, mustard can be planted at the end of summer. August plantings produce a harvest in September.

You can sow mustard as a compactor to other crops or as green manure (fertilizer). To do this, it must be sown in the garden bed before sowing the main crop.

Basic care. Salad mustard sprouts 6-8 days after sowing. In the phase of 1-2 leaves, the plants are thinned out, leaving 5 cm between them. Thickened crops lead to poor formation of greenery and rapid formation of flowering stems.

Simultaneously with thinning, the soil is loosened and weeds are removed. At the same time, mustard is fed with nitrogen or liquid organic fertilizers. The plants are also carefully watered regularly. After some time, when a leaf rosette develops, the mustard is thinned out to 10-15 cm. The removed plants can already be used for food.

Three weeks after sowing, when the height of the salad mustard reaches about 15 cm, it is completely ready for use. When harvesting, plants are selectively cut off. The mustard is finally removed until a flowering stem forms.

Several specimens can be grown to produce seeds for next year. One pod contains about 12-20 seeds.

Varieties.

The State Register of Breeding Achievements includes 18 varieties of salad mustard:

Arigato, Freckles, Vitamin Volnushka, Beauty of the feast, Ladushka, Mei lin, Mustang, Adorable Prima, Sadko, The Old Doctor, Ditty, Miracles in a Sieve.

Mustard leaves: benefits and harm to the body

Mustard plant: benefits and harm to the human body

The mustard plant contains a large number of useful substances and is considered a medicinal plant. It is used for the treatment and prevention of various diseases. This seasoning is also actively used in cooking. It is indispensable in Asia, Europe, America.

Mustard is a nutritious food. 100 g contains more than 500 kcal. Substances such as proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and dietary fiber are present. The composition contains folic and pantothenic acids, niacin, pyridoxine, riboflavin, thiamine, as well as vitamins C, A, E, K. Micro- and macroelements include sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, copper, manganese, zinc and selenium .

Mustard belongs to the Brassica family. Outwardly, it looks like a weed called colza. It is an annual herbaceous plant. The root has a taplike appearance. It can go 2-3 m deep into the ground. The stem is erect and branched. The leaves below have a pinnately incised shape. They are quite large and completely green. The top greens are short-petioled. The shape of the plates is the same as the bottom ones. They have a bluish tint.

The inflorescences are collected together and located at the top of the trunk and branches. The fruit is a thin cylindrical pod. It has an awl shape. It grows from 0.7 to 1.2 cm in length. The veins intertwine on the valves. The seeds are small balls with a diameter of up to 1 mm. They have a brownish-red, black-gray and sometimes yellow tint. The crop blooms in May. The seeds ripen in June. Mustard is an excellent honey plant.

There are 3 main types of such culture:

1. 1. Black. It is also called French. This variety is grown in France and Italy. The seeds have a faint aroma. The famous table mustard is prepared from them. An example is ravigote sauce and Dijon mustard.
2. 2. Gray. It is also known as Sarepet. It is grown in Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Russia. It tastes like black. Sold as flour. The lighter it is, the better the quality. Popular varieties of this type of mustard are Mustang, Zelenolistnaya, Zarya, Prelestnaya, Vigorous, Sadko, Vesnushka, Donskaya 5, Slavyanka, Aregoto, Yubileiny.
3. 3. White. Also called English. This variety has no aroma at all, so when preparing various dishes it is supplemented with other seasonings. It is usually not eaten but used to make mustard oil. Popular plant varieties are Carolina, Etalon, Talisman, and Zelenda.

Separately, breeders created salad varieties of mustard. Their foliage is more delicate in flavor and texture. The greenery is growing quickly. It is used for preparing salads and side dishes. Only young leaves are used. Some varieties have a thick root that can also be eaten. The plant reaches a height of 30-60 cm. The most popular salad mustard varieties are Krasnolistnaya, Muravushka and Volnushka.

The beneficial properties of mustard are that it:

1. 1. Helps with malignant neoplasms. In particular, this applies to cancer of the cervix, breast, colon and bladder. Anti-cancer properties are associated with the presence of phytonutrients in the composition, which inhibit the development of malignant cellular structures.
2. 2. Treats psoriasis. Scientists have proven the ability of seeds to influence the synthesis of the enzymes catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, which affect the development of chronic autoimmune disorders. When using mustard for psoriasis, the therapeutic effect has been confirmed.
3. 3. Used to treat contact type dermatitis. Seed extract accelerates the regeneration process and eliminates swelling, which is associated with skin irritation as a result of exposure to chemicals and toxic substances.
4. 4. Used for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Mustard oil contains fatty acids, including Omega-3. It prevents myocardial infarction. If you use such a product, the likelihood of disruption of the rhythm of the heart muscle decreases. Also, mustard-based products can eliminate pain in this area.
5. 5. Suitable for the prevention and treatment of respiratory system diseases. The seeds have a warming effect, which is very beneficial for human health. That is why the plant is used for baths and mustard plasters in the treatment of bronchitis, cough and other things. You can make compresses from mustard oil and camphor. They improve blood flow, suppress asthma attacks, and clear the respiratory tract of mucus. Mustard extract can be used as a gargle to relieve swelling from a sore throat.
6. 6. Eliminates pain and spasms. It is recommended to make applications with mustard oil, as they have an analgesic effect. They can be used for muscle pathologies such as paralysis of the limbs and rheumatism.
7. 7. Helps with poisoning. If the body suffers from intoxication caused by drinking alcohol or other drugs, it is recommended to drink a decoction of mustard. This remedy quickly removes toxins and eliminates the symptoms of poisoning.
8. 8. Promotes hair growth. Mustard oil is a strong stimulator for these processes. In addition, the product contains a large amount of vitamin that will nourish the hair, so that the strands will look much better.
9. 9. Improves the condition of the skin. The seeds are used to prepare a paste, which is used in cosmetology to treat acne. This composition eliminates ringworm. To cleanse your facial skin, you can use mustard seed scrub.
10. 10. Helps with diabetes. It has antioxidant properties, reduces the level of glucose concentration in the blood, thereby preventing lipid oxidation. It also helps stimulate metabolic processes in the human body.
11. 11. It has a beneficial effect on the health of the reproductive system of men and women, as it improves hormonal levels.
12. 12. Maintains healthy bone tissue, as it contains large amounts of calcium and magnesium. Reduces the likelihood of developing osteoporosis.
13. 13. Reduces blood cholesterol levels. Substances from the plant extract bind bile acids, which consist of cholesterol, and promote their excretion. Thanks to this, the product cleanses blood vessels of plaque, prevents the formation of blood clots, and reduces the risk of developing atherosclerosis and thrombosis.
14. 14. Slows down the aging process. This is due to the antioxidant properties of the plant, which are due to the presence of folic acid, vitamin A, flavonoids, carotene, and lutein.

Despite the great benefits for the body from a plant such as mustard, it is necessary to remember the contraindications. These include pulmonary tuberculosis, pneumonia, and kidney pathologies. People who have heart problems, stomach ulcers, or chronic enterocolitis need to be careful. The plant can be harmful to people who have individual poor tolerance to such a product. In this case, an allergic reaction develops. In addition, it is necessary to remember that prolonged contact with mustard plasters causes irritation on the skin, so you should always monitor the timing of the procedure.

In folk medicine, there are many recipes with mustard. They help in the treatment of various pathologies:

1. 1. For a cold. It is recommended to pour mustard powder into woolen socks and put them on your feet. In this case, you need to drink a lot of water or other warm drinks (a decoction with raspberries, linden inflorescences, and black currant leaves is suitable).
2. 2. For pain in the feet and knees. It is necessary to apply a compress. You will need 1 tbsp. l. table salt, soda, vinegar and mustard powder. Mix all ingredients thoroughly and apply the paste to the sore spot. After 2-3 days the problem will disappear.
3. 3. For hiccups. It is necessary to prepare a paste by mixing a small amount of vinegar and mustard powder. Apply the resulting product to one third of the tongue. The sensations will be unpleasant, but after a few minutes the hiccups will disappear. The pulp will need to be washed off and rinsed out.
4. 4. For pneumonia and chronic bronchitis. You need to prepare a healing compress. You will need to take 1 tsp. mustard powder, medium-sized onion (grid it), 1 tbsp. l. honey, sunflower oil, goat fat and alcohol. Mix all ingredients thoroughly to obtain a homogeneous thick mass. You need to lubricate wax paper with it, and then apply everything to a place on the body in the lung area. It is recommended to leave this warming compress on throughout the night. Unlike mustard plasters, it has a more gentle effect, so a strong burning sensation will not appear.
5. 5. When coughing. It is recommended to prepare a compress cake from 3 tbsp. l. wheat bran. Add 1 tsp to them. sunflower oil, vodka, honey and mustard powder. Knead everything, adding a small amount of warm water. The skin must first be covered with a cloth, and then the resulting cake must be laid out. For children, you can make a different compress. Mix 1 tbsp. l. honey and mustard powder, and then add 2 tbsp. l. boiled mashed potatoes.
6. 6. For hemorrhoids. It is recommended to do steam baths. You need to take 4 tbsp. l. mustard powder per 3 liters of boiling water. Pour the liquid into a bucket and sit on it, wrapping your lower body in a blanket. The procedure should last no more than 5-10 minutes.

Mustard is actively used in cosmetology. You can mix 3 tbsp. l. powder with 1 teaspoon of vinegar and a small amount of water. This paste helps with oily hair. You can also make masks for your face. But before applying it is necessary to lubricate the skin with olive oil.

The use of mustard seeds in cooking is very extensive:

1. 1. Used as a regular spice, both as a sauce and in granular form (French). It emphasizes the taste of any type of meat: it gives spice to pork, beef – nobleness, and makes lamb softer.
2. 2. Used to make mayonnaise.
3. 3. Used in creating various sauces, including sweet ones, which are very popular in Italy.
4. 4. Is one of the main components in the curry spice mixture.

The grains add a piquant flavor to vegetable salads. Grain mustard is added to soups, but only in small quantities. This mustard can be used to coat meat before placing it in the oven. This product is used along with mayonnaise and honey. Even the toughest cut will become much softer.

Many people are interested in whether it is permissible to eat mustard leaves. You can eat these parts of the plant, but only in special salad varieties. Typically, mustard leaves are used to prepare meat dishes, snacks, and salads. It is often used to decorate food when serving. In America they prefer to add it to steaks, and in Italy it is used to make pasta.

Salad mustard tastes similar to green salad, horseradish and spicy mustard. These greens add flavor to dishes. In some recipes it can replace hot mustard. Leaves should be consumed fresh. They can be heat treated before adding to meat or fish dishes. Leaf mustard can be prepared for the winter: it can be canned or pickled.

Salad mustard leaves are used in the food industry. They are used to make emulsifiers for mayonnaise and sauces. At home, you can make a delicious salad from these greens. It is necessary to scald it with boiling water, cut it and season it with mayonnaise.

plantsmed.net

Mustard leaf

Leaf mustard belongs to the Cruciferous family. Its homeland is India and China. Leaf mustard is widely used in China, Japan, Indonesia, and Southeast Asia.

This plant is annual, early ripening and resistant to cold. Over the course of a month, leaf mustard develops large leaves with original colors. The flowers are yellow, small, form a spike-shaped inflorescence, and the fruit is in the form of a pod.

It is very rare to find mustard greens grown indoors. But it has a very beautiful appearance, so it will look very attractive in the house, in addition to this, mustard is a good source of vitamins.

This beautiful and healthy plant contains a very large amount of vitamins and nutrients. Among them are copper, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, potassium, proteins, iron, calcium, vitamins B6, A, C, E, K. There is no cholesterol in the plant, and there are also no saturated fats.

The product is non-caloric, approximately 25-30 calories per 100 grams. With all this, mustard leaves have a lot of fiber, so it is a very useful dietary product.

• Anti-inflammatory effect. Thanks to vitamin K, which is found in large quantities in fresh mustard leaves, mustard has anti-inflammatory properties. Mustard also has an anti-inflammatory effect due to the content of glucosinolates - gluconasturtin and sinigrin, omega3 fatty acids alpha-linolenic acid.
• To improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system. If a person has any problems with the functioning of the cardiovascular system, then he is recommended to include mustard in his daily diet. Mustard greens can have a very surprising and positive effect. Mustard contains folic acid and glucosinolates. And if you regularly consume mustard, the condition of the heart and blood vessels improves, and cholesterol levels decrease. Mustard contains a very large amount of folic acid; in terms of folic acid content, mustard is inferior only to turnips. Mustard leaves contain 500 mcg of folic acid (per 100 calories).
• Protection against cancer. Such a dangerous disease as cancer can be prevented through regular consumption of mustard leaves. Many vegetables and fruits contain large quantities of antioxidants, which have antitumor activity, but only leaf mustard differs in that when consumed, all these substances act in a complex manner. It contains various vitamins, but besides them there are also such important phytonutrients for the body as kaempferol, quercetin, isorhamnetin, and hydroxycinnamic acids.

The leaves of this plant are very aromatic and spicy; they complement vegetable salads with beans, corn and other greens very well. In America, they prefer to eat mustard greens with steaks. In Italy they cook pasta with very tasty salads.

Harm from consuming mustard leaves

Mustard contains substances such as oxalates. This substance is very harmful to people who have problems with kidney function and gallbladder function. In addition, oxalates interfere with the normal absorption of calcium.

If a person is healthy, then consuming mustard leaves does not cause any side effects.

mamapedia.com.ua

Mustard and its properties used in cooking and cosmetology. The benefits of mustard and harm to the body. » Suseki

Mustard has long earned respect from humanity. It has become one of the most worthy seasonings in the vast sea of ​​spices. The long range of vitamins and beneficial components it contains increases appetite and actively helps the digestive system absorb fatty foods.

In history, the mention of mustard dates back to the 3000s BC and this happened in India, in whose cuisine mustard seeds were already used then. But one of the first popular recipes even today dates back to the 40s AD. In the 9th century, mustard production became very popular in France. To put it in modern terms, it was one of the main “businesses” that brought good income. In those days, mustard was sold by weight and became increasingly popular in kitchens.

Mustard includes some types of annual herbaceous plants of the cruciferous family. Most often, only seeds are used, which are ground into powder and mixed with water and other spices.

As mentioned above, mustard contains a number of vitamin groups A (prevents visual impairment, fights dermatological problems), B (positively affects the functioning of the nervous system, calms, improves mood), D (strengthens bone tissue) and E (preserves youth, helps smooth out wrinkles, fights diseases in the cardiovascular system), contains components such as Fe (iron), K (potassium) and P (phosphorus).

When mustard powder comes into contact with water, a light yellow paste with a piquant taste and pungent odor is formed. And mustard essential oil, which is contained in seeds up to 47%, is widely used in cooking for canning.

Due to its composition, mustard has found wide use in cooking. It is used as a seasoning and flavoring for hot and cold dishes, especially sausages and fatty meats. It successfully extends the shelf life of products. It is used as one of the important ingredients in savory sauces and dressings. Mustard goes perfectly with honey and acts as an excellent emulsifier, it prevents juice secretion and adds a deep aroma. Therefore, before baking, it is used to cover both meat and fish dishes. If you want to get juicy meat, add mustard, even a small amount will have a positive effect on the frying process; if you want to make the salad more vitamin-rich, add young mustard leaves.

• 1 The benefits and harms of mustard
• 2 Mustard in cosmetology

The benefits and harms of mustard

Let's consider the benefits and harms of mustard for the human body and its use in folk medicine.

The effect of mustard on the body is such that the body’s protective properties are awakened. For colds, this is the number one aid; it is used both internally and externally. In the absence of high temperature, feet are hovered in mustard powder or mustard plasters are applied to the chest. This relieves severe coughs and other unpleasant symptoms of a cold. When doing such procedures, it is important to be careful - excessive use of mustard lotions can lead to burns. In addition, mustard oil reduces the risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Perhaps one of the most important benefits of mustard is that it helps the stomach. Every fatty meat dish, especially fried meat, should be taken with mustard. It perfectly “settles” problems with any meat. With her, the most satisfying dinner will never become a “nightly” problem.

But, like other useful plants, mustard has contraindications. It is strictly contraindicated for ulcers and gastritis. You shouldn’t make your stomach problems worse, you just need to stop using it internally. Also, drinking mustard is not advisable before bedtime (internal use), because it has a stimulating effect and can contribute to insomnia.

In a word, the main thing to remember is that moderation is needed in everything. If you follow this rule, then benefit will never turn into harm.

Mustard in cosmetology

The composition of mustard gives it the opportunity to take its rightful place among the so-called “homemade cosmetics”. Today, a wide variety of expensive store-bought creams have filled our home and cosmetic bags, and the properties of mustard, suitable for use in cosmetology, have undeservedly faded into the background. But in vain, because mustard is affordable and will easily help you achieve great results in the fight for ideal skin and a slim figure. The fatty acids contained in mustard have a beneficial effect on metabolism, which helps with losing extra pounds. It has rejuvenating properties. Its fans have long been convinced that mustard improves skin color, eliminates oily sheen, and helps in the fight against the appearance of cellulite.

With mustard, as with any drug, before use you should do a test to identify allergic reactions. After pinning the mustard mask, apply a small amount of it to the inner (tender part) of the hand and wait a couple of minutes. No allergies have been identified - we can safely proceed to the procedures. Let's look at some of them.

1. The most common way to tidy up your face.

For the mustard mask you will need:

1 teaspoon mustard powder;

1 tablespoon water;

2 tablespoons olive oil (warm slightly).

Dilute all components. Apply to face, avoiding the area around the eyes and lips. Leave for 5 minutes and rinse with warm water. Repeat the procedure weekly: 1 mask per week, but no more than 10 masks in a row.

2. Lightly lubricate cleansed facial skin with olive oil. Dilute a tablespoon of powder in a glass of water, apply to a cotton towel and place on your face. Place an additional terry towel on top to create a “bath” effect. Leave for 5 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

3. When fighting cellulite, you should also seek help from mustard. Wraps using it are a huge success.

Combine mustard powder with honey in a 2:3 ratio. Apply to problem areas and massage thoroughly with a massager. If there is none, then just use your hands. We apply cling film or cellophane and wrap ourselves in a warm blanket. After half an hour, take a warm shower. Wraps should be done no more than every 1-3 days throughout the month.

ATTENTION: this wrap is contraindicated for people suffering from varicose veins!

We end the post with a video from which you will learn why mustard is called the flower of happiness and health.

And in this video there is information about the beneficial properties of mustard leaves, which we did not write about in the article.

suseky.com

Mustard: benefits and harm to the body. Mustard seed: benefits and harm:: SYL.ru

Throughout the northern hemisphere of the Earth - in India, Japan, America, Europe - an elegant, fragrant plant half a meter tall with bright yellow brushes of flowers grows. This is mustard.

The benefits and harms of the plant have been studied from ancient times to the present day. In addition to the hot spicy seasoning, people have found many areas of its use: in cosmetology and medicine, in animal husbandry, as green fertilizer or valuable honey plant.

A little history

There are many different stories and legends about how mustard came into our lives as a seasoning and medicinal plant. The first mentions of mustard seeds were found in ancient manuscripts dating back to the 3rd century. BC e. It is also mentioned in the Bible, where the mustard seed personifies the prototype of faith and hope.

Mustard seeds were first introduced into Russia in the 18th century along with some grain crops from India. At that time it was still considered a weed, but later it became widespread as a crop with great medical, gastronomic and cosmetic value.

A little biology

Mustard is an annual plant belonging to the cruciferous family. This is a half-meter plant with a straight thin stem, simple sparsely spaced leaves and yellow flowers collected in a thick brush. The fruit is a thin pod with small round seeds.

Mustard, the benefits and harm to the body of which are the subject of debate among doctors, is undoubtedly a very valuable crop for agriculture. It is both green manure, green fodder, and a valuable oilseed and honey crop. Mustard honey is considered one of the most delicious and healthy.

Attitude to the plant in ancient times

One of the most important qualities of mustard is that during its growth it absorbs from the soil many minerals and trace elements that are simply necessary for a person to live a full and healthy life. Thanks to this quality, it acquired its exceptional healing properties. Even one small mustard seed contains enormous natural potential and strength. A mustard seed can germinate in heat, drought, and severe frost, therefore, among some eastern peoples, mustard was a prototype of the feminine, maternal principle.

Mustard, the benefits and harms of which were known in China and India more than three thousand years ago, was actively used to treat many diseases, prepare ointments and balms, it was eaten as a hot seasoning, and used as an offering to the gods. Hindus considered it a plant capable of prolonging life, and there is some truth in this.

Place in cosmetology

Mustard seed powder, both in ancient times and today, is often used for baldness. It is mixed with a small amount of water to obtain a homogeneous paste, which is rubbed into the scalp until a characteristic burning sensation appears, held for several minutes and washed off. Mustard stimulates blood circulation, thereby improving metabolism in the skin, which promotes active hair growth and strengthens hair follicles. This property is also used in the manufacture of all kinds of anti-aging masks, shampoos, and body wraps for weight loss and giving skin elasticity.

An interesting plant is mustard. The benefits and harms of its use in cosmetology can be equivalent. When using cosmetic masks with the addition of mustard, you can get a severe burn. And when doing wraps, which are so often done in order to lose weight, it is necessary to take into account that mustard contains active elements that irritate the skin and capillaries. Therefore, everything is good in moderation. For a positive result, mustard should be used sparingly; it is advisable to first try its effects on a small area of ​​skin to avoid allergies.

Gastronomic value

Mustard seeds are used in cooking. Its benefits and harms also depend on correct use. Some dishes are seasoned with seeds, which gives them a pleasant aroma. It is thanks to the various methods of processing the seeds that we enjoy the spicy and tangy taste of mustard as a sauce.

It is known that this plant belongs to the cabbage genus. In this regard, mustard leaves are often used as food. The benefits and harms of plant parts also cause debate. Fans of gastronomic delights add greens to salads and other dishes, make sauces, marinades, and gravies from them. Proponents of dietary nutrition claim that such food is very irritating to the stomach and intestines.

Mustard greens, the benefits and harms of which are due to the presence of active substances in the composition, are not as biologically active as the seeds. If mustard leaves are first doused with boiling water, they lose their characteristic mustard aroma and pungency and become similar in taste to ordinary cabbage leaves.

Treatment potential

The composition of mustard seeds includes essential oils, saturated fatty acids, vitamin E, as well as the glycoside synirgin and the enzyme myrosin. All this variety of useful substances gives mustard a reputation as a very valuable plant in the medical sense.

Mustard seed powder is often used for medicinal purposes. The dough from these seeds, applied to the skin, causes irritation of sensitive nerve endings. The consequence of this is a strong blood flow to the surface of the skin, its redness and increased protective reactions of the body. It is this principle that underlies the well-known mustard plasters. Mustard powder, while irritating, helps in the resorption of various tumors and with inflammatory processes and pain of various types, cleanses the skin. The powder is diluted in water and a bath is taken in this solution for lung diseases, to separate phlegm and ease breathing.

Mustard seeds produce oil that is widely used for medicinal purposes as an effective warming agent. Taken orally in small doses, it enhances the secretion of gastric juice, stimulates mental activity, lowers blood sugar levels, helps with constipation and antispasmodic pain. It should be remembered that with prolonged exposure, mustard oil causes severe irritation and inflammation not only of the skin, but also of the deep subcutaneous layers, which can lead to burns. In large doses, it can cause serious harm to the gastrointestinal tract.

A valuable plant is mustard. Its benefits and harm to the body are incomparable. When used correctly and in doses, the plant can give health and a second youth.

Be careful - mustard! Benefits and harms

This plant has both healing and destructive and even poisonous, toxic properties. Therefore, it is always necessary to remember that mustard must be used for medicinal and other purposes very carefully.

If you eat leaves in small quantities, it will only bring benefits: it will fill the body with vitamins and strengthen the immune system. But if they are abused, it can lead to the formation of kidney and gallstones. This is due to the presence of a high concentration of oxalates in mustard leaves, which bind salts in the body and contribute to the formation of dense crystals.

Mustard can cause various allergic reactions due to the concentrated essential oils it contains.

Before eating the plant, you should consult your doctor. If you have diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, peptic ulcer, inflammation of the duodenum, it is better to completely abandon it.

The consumption of mustard is completely contraindicated for people suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis.

Instead of a conclusion

Since ancient times, people have known about the benefits of mustard and skillfully used it in cosmetology, medicine and cooking in various situations. However, it is always worth remembering that there are 2 sides to a coin. This means that no matter in what capacity we use mustard, we must always remember not only its benefits, but also the potential danger that it poses, the harm that can be caused to ourselves and others through carelessness or ignorance.

Everyone is accustomed to mustard sold in any grocery store. We add this mustard to dishes as a seasoning or spice, spread it on a roll or bread. We know the wonderful property of mustard - to protect the human body from the harmful effects of microbes, equating it to products such as horseradish or garlic.

But mustard can be eaten green, it contains a lot of useful substances. To use green mustard, people grow leaf or salad mustard.

Description of mustard leaves

Mustard leaf, or salad- annual plant. It can reach one and a half meters in height. Its stem is bare and branched. The leaves are pale green with purple-blue veins. The leaves have a mustard smell and a delicate, subtle bitter taste. The flowers are quite small, golden yellow in color, collected in inflorescences. The fruit is a pod. The seeds are yellow or dark brown, small, round in shape.

The most common varieties of leaf mustard are: early ripening, southern, non-shattering, as well as some Japanese varieties.

Useful properties of mustard leaves

Leaf mustard is a very healthy plant, rich in vitamins. Its leaves contain a large amount vitamin C, as well as vitamins B 1, B 2, RR, A. In addition to vitamins, mustard leaves are useful iron, phosphorus, magnesium.

Growing Mustard Leaf

• Mustard greens - enough cold-resistant plant. Moreover, she famous his precocity. It can be eaten within half a month after sowing.
• Leaf mustard can be grown both indoors and outdoors.
• Leaf mustard not demanding on soil composition. However, fertile soils, well fertilized and rich in organic matter, are best suited for it.

How and when to plant leaf mustard?

Salad mustard seeds should be planted early spring. Usually they are sown thickly; if necessary, they can then be pulled back. 15-20 days after sowing the first mustard seeds, the seeds should be sown again. This is done several times during the summer. It all depends on the amount of leaf mustard you need.

• Rows in the garden should be located at a distance thirty centimeters(plus or minus five centimeters). Planting depth should be no deeper half a centimeter.
• Thin out mustard shoots ten centimeters between plants. It is necessary to thin out only when two or three leaves appear on them.
• Care behind mustard greens lies in weeding and sufficient watering. Salad mustard is very demanding on the amount of moisture. With a lack of water, crops develop poorly.
• Leaf mustard is a relative of watercress. Therefore it should also be grown with slight shading. In the sun, at high air temperatures and low humidity, mustard leaves become rough and acquire a not particularly pleasant taste.
• If mustard grows poorly, it can be feed(after thinning!) nitrogen fertilizers.
• When the plants have grown ten centimeters, they can already be harvested. To do this, they are pulled out along with the roots.
• To obtain seeds plants shoot 25 days after sowing. They bloom and produce seeds.

Applicationmustard greens

Mustard leaves are used fresh for food. They are put in sandwiches, added to various salads, and used as a side dish for all kinds of fish and meat dishes.

Juicy young stems of salad mustard are canned, dried and salted. Leaf mustard increases appetite, promotes the secretion of gastric juice, and has an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effect.

A spicy condiment for sandwiches is prepared from mustard sprouts. Bon appetit!

Especially for Lucky-Girl.ru — Margot