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Suddenly, the entire world seems to be sitting up and taking notice of Indian cold-pressed Mustard Oil. This blog has frequently written about research studies being conducted around the globe with a view to uncovering the amazing attributes and health benefits of this oil.
According to a study published in the Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture, a team of researchers adopted a complete back-to-basics approach to Mustard Oil by setting up their own cold-pressing equipment under laboratory conditions. In this oil press the annular gap of the grain chamber was 0.6 millimetres. The screw rotation speed was set to 166 RPM. The pressing temperature was maintained at 70o C. This low temperature during cold-pressing is very important because it keeps all the nutrients in the Mustard Oil intact.
The oil extracted was then analysed using Gas-Liquid Chromatography (GLC). The researchers found that Mustard Oil extracted using cold-pressing was a “stockpot of valuable fatty acids and vitamins”. The nutrients included 47 per cent Monounsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFA) and 32 per cent Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFA). The oil was also packed with Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA), vital Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Beta-carotene and tocopherols. No other edible oil is known to have such an impressive line-up of nutrients.
Vitamins E, A and K are immunity boosters; they also strengthen the walls of blood vessels. Moreover, the presence of tocopherols offers a range of skin and hair care benefits. The fatty acids mentioned earlier along with their optimum ratios also make cold-pressed Mustard Oil very good for cardiac health.
Of course, in India we have known about the unique health benefits of Mustard Oil for thousands of years and in recent decades, scientific, medical and nutritional research has been reconfirming and revalidating these attributes and benefits. The world, it seems, is a little late in catching up. But hey – better late than never!
