Mustard oil, when consumed in the right quantities, is not harmful and more beneficial to your health. It contains erucic acid which when consumed in higher quantities than what is recommended can cause problems with digestion, respiration and even cardiovascular issues.
Changing your cooking oil can lower your blood sugar? True!
Most refined or processed oils are high in LDL (low density lipoprotein), often called “bad” cholesterol and low in HDL (high density lipoprotein), the “good” cholesterol. Regular use of refined oils can increase the risk of certain health conditions such as heart diseases, diabetes and obesity. Therefore, choosing virgin cooking oils that are less processed and rich in healthy fats and nutrients would be a better option in the long run.
Using the right cooking oil can benefit your overall health and help bring down your blood sugar levels and mustard oil is one such recommended oil. Let’s find out how mustard oil can benefit diabetics.
What is Mustard Oil?
Mustard oil is derived from the seeds of organically grown mustard plants. Essential mustard oil is extracted by steam or dry distillation of mustard seeds. It is called ‘Sarson ka tel’ or ‘Kadwa tel’ in Hindi. It is reddish-brown in colour, has a pungent aroma, a strong flavour, and a high smoking point. Essential mustard oil is widely used for culinary purposes and pure mustard oil is mostly used for topical application.
Mustard Oil: Nutritional Profile
One tablespoon of mustard oil contains 14 grams of fat that makes up for 124 calories. It has high levels of monounsaturated fatty acids, which are known to benefit your heart health. It also contains oleic acid, which helps lower cholesterol levels in the body and reduces inflammation. Mustard oil is high in omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid, and omega-6 fatty acids that help maintain a normal heart rhythm and improve circulation.
Mustard Oil Benefits For Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that affects your body’s ability to produce or use a hormone called insulin efficiently, which causes high blood glucose (sugar) levels. Your body digests the food you consume and turns it into glucose (sugar). Insulin, a hormone produced by the beta cells in your pancreas, helps the sugar in your bloodstream to enter your cells where it is converted into energy.
When you have Type 1 Diabetes, your pancreas produces little to no insulin. If you have Type 2 Diabetes, your cells become insulin resistant, i.e., they are unable to utilize the insulin present in your body.
Mustard oil contains a fatty acid called erucic acid. It suppresses the activity of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) and that in turn decreases insulin resistance in the body. This makes your cells more sensitive to insulin and thus helps manage your blood sugar levels.
Mustard oil also contains high levels of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), Omega-3, Omega-6 fatty acids, Vitamin E, and minerals. It has anti-inflammatory properties and contains antioxidants that make it suitable for diabetic patients. The MUFAs present in mustard oil is also beneficial for your heart health.
Ways to Consume Mustard Oil For Diabetes
Best Time to Consume Mustard Oil for Diabetes
Risks of Overconsumption of Mustard Oil
Other Health Benefits of Mustard Oil
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Frequently Asked Questions
Mustard oil is considered good for diabetes as it improves the action of insulin in lowering your blood sugar levels. It is also rich in antioxidants and monounsaturated fatty acids, which help in reducing the risk of developing diabetes.
Mustard oil contains erucic acid that suppresses the activity of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor. This helps improve insulin sensitivity and decreases insulin resistance in the body of a diabetic patient.
Regular use of mustard oil helps decrease your cholesterol levels. Mustard oil is rich in Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). They help in decreasing the level of bad cholesterol (LDL) in the body and increase the levels of good cholesterol (HDL).
Mustard oil, when consumed in the right quantities, is not harmful and more beneficial to your health. It contains erucic acid which when consumed in higher quantities than what is recommended can cause problems with digestion, respiration and even cardiovascular issues.
You can consume up to 600 to 700 ml of mustard oil in a month, which comes down to one teaspoon per meal.