Fight Hypertension with Mustard Oil

In 2015, the Global Burden of Disease report pointed out that Hypertension causes more than 1,600,000 deaths every year in India. This disturbing finding compelled the Indian Council of Medical Research to conduct a study of its own in 2016. The results were as scary; they indicated that 34 percent of the urban population in India suffered from Hypertension – the Silent Killer lurking in our midst.

However, the good news is that in India we already have an ancient, time-tested weapon to fight Hypertension – a weapon known as Mustard Oil. Mustard Oil is rich in monounsaturated fats and Omega-3 fats, both of which play a key role in lowering the risk of hypertension and heart disease.

In fact, research indicates that a balanced diet incorporating Mustard Oil, mustard seeds and mustard greens is highly effective in controlling blood pressure and fighting Hypertension. A study in the highly respected medical journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology published by the American Heart Association indicated that mustard-infused treatments (and diets) led to significant reduction in the risk levels pertaining to Hypertension.

The American Heart Association points out that just one tablespoon of Mustard Oil in your daily diet can lower your blood pressure and control cholesterol levels. Mustard Oil is also an integral part of the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) recommended by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

Well, the Americans have only just begun to discover the power of Mustard Oil in the battle against Hypertension but we Indians have known about this for centuries. Come on, India – let’s go back to Mustard Oil… and defeat Hypertension!

International Chefs talking about Mustard Oil

Chef Ken Oringer had never thought of trying Mustard Oil as an ingredient for any of his recipes till the well-known actor and food writer Madhur Jaffrey visited his restaurant in Boston. He worked with Jaffrey on a few recipes and found – to his delight – that no single ingredient could add as much flavour to a dish as mustard oil. And he soon discovered that many of his American customers too loved the unique taste of this typically Indian cooking oil.

Another American chef, Michael Hodgkins, uses Mustard Oil as his preferred seasoning for everything from salad dressings to fried items. It’s his favourite ingredient even when he’s not making Asian dishes. “It doesn’t coat your mouth”, he says; “You taste it – and then it’s gone!”

Chef Alex Raij has something to say about the heating sensation that mustard oil typically creates. She points out that mustard oil has a delectable heat that does not linger; it’s a flavour that hits the tongue differently and creates a completely different culinary experience.

Laurence Edelman is another American chef who fell in love with Mustard Oil’s “silky heat”. When he discovered this enticing ingredient from exotic India, he initially used it sparingly. But now he uses it quite liberally. He says: “Mustard oil has a clang – once you get a taste of it, all of a sudden everything is lacking mustard oil.”

The very idea of American chefs using mustard oil is strange because in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration has banned the use of mustard oil as a foodstuff. The packs must be labelled ‘For External Use Only’. There is no basis for this. In fact, scientists at the Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health say that there is absolutely no evidence of mustard oil being harmful for human beings.

Here’s a funny twist in the tale: Jean-Georges Vongerichten, another American chef, says that he specifically looks for the ‘External Use Only’ label when he goes shopping for Mustard Oil. He says it signals that it’s the “real stuff”.