Benefits Of Eating Mustard Greens

Mustard greens are among the most nutritious foods you can have on your plate. It possesses delightfully succulent stems, thus making them a delicious garnishing or core ingredient in any recipe.

Researchers are studying these greens for their role in cancer prevention. There are key components or systems in the body that is targeted by this vegetable and these are the antioxidants in the body, detoxification process, and the anti-inflammatory system to prevent cancer.

Top Health Benefits Of Mustard Greens:

Besides cancer prevention, mustard greens also offer a lot of health benefits.

Rich Source Of Vitamins And Minerals

Mustard green is packed with vitamins A, C, and K. which are all needed for the healthy functioning of the body.

Vitamin A is necessary for maintaining healthy mucus membranes that are needed for good eyesight. Vitamin C is a natural antioxidant offering protection against flu-viral infections and free radical-induced injury. Vitamin K is important in the bone mass building as it promotes osteo-trophic activity in the bone.

It is also rich in iron, calcium, potassium, zinc, magnesium, proteins, dietary fiber, folates, manganese, and selenium. Magnesium helps soften the walls of the bronchial tubes while the dietary fiber reduces cholesterol levels in the body, thereby reducing the risk of a heart attack. Also, folate prevents neural tube defects in a newborn baby and has an important role in DNA synthesis.

Cancer Prevention

Mustard greens have significant Glucosinolates, which are phytonutrients that can be converted into isothiocyanates (ITCs) that have cancer-preventive properties. Found in this cruciferous vegetable are the two important glucosinolates: sinigrin and gluconasturtiin which are both anti-inflammatory agents and cut the risk of cancer in the body.

Cardiovascular Support

The liver uses cholesterol as a basic building block to produce bile, which is a specialized molecule that aid the body in digestion and absorption of fat molecules through the process called emulsification. Bile is stored in fluid form in the gallbladder and later on, it is released into the intestine for proper digestion of fat and its eventual absorption into the body.

Rather than being absorbed into the bloodstream, the fibers present in mustard green and bile combine together and then, get ejected from the body when there is a bowel movement. This forces the liver to replace the lost bile acids by drawing upon the body’s supply of cholesterol, keeping the cholesterol level in the body under control.

Anti-Inflammatory Agent

Mustard greens have natural anti-inflammatory agents, which prevent chronic inflammation and reduce the risk of arthritis and heart diseases.

Some of its anti-inflammatory agents are vitamin K and omega-3 fatty acids which regulate the body’s anti-inflammatory system and strengthen the immune system of the body.

Detoxifying Agent

Antioxidants and sulfur-rich nutrients present in mustard greens stimulate detoxification which is good for cardiovascular health, preventing cancer, and other chronic illnesses.

Mustard greens are a rich source of phytonutrients called glucosinolates that activates detoxification enzymes in the body and regulates their activity.

It also helps to regulate the body temperature, stimulate ejection of waste from the body, and cleanse the system of toxins.

Powerhouse Of Antioxidants

The antioxidants present in this vegetable can prevent the onset of cancer in the body by preventing free radicals and oxidized cells from destroying neighboring cells. It a is also a good source of phytonutrients or plant produced nutrients such as quercetin, kaempferol, Hydroxycinnamic acid, isorhamnetin. Due to its richness in phytonutrients, it can reduce oxidative stress on cells in the body and according to many studies this vegetable can also help in preventing lung, prostate, colon, bladder, ovarian, and breast cancer.