Mustard and Fat Burning

From LoveToKnow Diet

Mustard and fat burning are often talked about together because the spiciness of mustard is thought to help give the metabolism a boost. Is there any truth to the legend?

Spicy mustard can give your metabolism a boost.

Mustard and Fat Burning Improvement

There is some evidence that eating hot and spicy foods can help boost your metabolism and allow you to burn more fat more quickly. However, regular yellow mustard isn't going to get you there.

Spicy mustard and whole-grain mustards are probably a better choice when you're looking at mustard and fat burning, since this puts mustard in the category of hot and spicy foods that kick up your body's fat burning processes.

Spicy mustard can be found in many grocery stores, and for the best kick you should look for varieties that are Mexican or Asian. These are spicier than the American "spicy" mustards, and provide more of the spicy chemicals that will get you burning more fat.

A researcher from England's Oxford Polytechnic Institute says eating a teaspoon of the hot mustard can boost the metabolism 20 to 25 percent for several hours after eating, resulting in an additional burn of about 45 calories if a 700 calorie meal is consumed.

What Makes Mustard Work?

Mustard seeds are surprisingly full of nutrition for something that is so small. They have a good amount of selenium, the amino acid tryptophan and Omega 3 fatty acids, as well as phosphorus, manganese, magnesium, iron, calcium, niacin and zinc. They also have a little protein and fiber and contain just 35 calories in two teaspoons.

The health benefits of mustard seed are well documented through the years. The phytonutrients in mustard seed are protective against gastrointestinal cancer, and the selenium and magnesium make it a good anti-inflammatory. It is thought to be helpful for people with asthma and can help re-establish normal sleep patterns for menopausal women.

It also speeds the metabolism, aids in digestion, increases the amount of saliva produced and may help prevent migraines.

When spices such as cayenne or chili peppers are added to the mix, as in traditional hot mustard (and many concoctions that can be purchased at your favorite hot sauce store), the capsicum adds another fat burning punch. The chemicals in hot peppers improve circulation and boost the metabolism, allowing you to burn even more calories.

Cayenne pepper is often used in herbal remedies for weight loss, or some people who are trying to lose weight and cleanse their systems take a teaspoon or so of cayenne pepper daily to give their diet a boost.

Adding Mustard to Your Diet

An important point to make about mustard and fat burning is that eating more mustard alone is not going to make you reach your weight loss goals. Fat burning foods need to be added to a diet that is already full of healthy, low calorie and low fat foods as an extra boost to the system.

Mustard can be enjoyed as a condiment on sandwiches, mixed into homemade salad dressings, or used as a glaze on fish or chicken. Mustard sauces are good to eat alongside meat (think fancy sausages instead of hot dogs) or even as a vegetable dip.

Mustard seeds are a wonderful addition to cuisine from all over the world. A teaspoon or two of toasted mustard seed adds spice and depth to curries, bean dishes, and spice rubs for meat. Just toast the seeds in a dry pan on medium heat for a couple of minutes, until you smell mustard and the seeds start to pop, before using them.

You can also grind whole mustard seeds to use in cooking, or try your hand at making your own mustard. There are many different recipes on the Internet to suit a variety of tastes. Remember to add some cayenne or hot peppers to give your mustard a one-two fat burning punch.

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