Due to its rather pungent taste, mustard is kind of like Marmite – you either love it or hate it.

However, if you’re not a fan of the yellow condiment, you may be missing out, as mustard is actually good for you.

The ingredient does more than just bring a kick to your curry or thicken a sauce –  it is also an excellent source of selenium, an element that is thought to be cancer-fighting.

You can thank the process that breaks the glucosinolaes into isothiocyantes (yay, science!) for the yellow sauce’s eye-watering taste. However, that process also seems to inhibit the growth of cancer cells, most notably in the gastrointestinal tract and colon.

The condiment can also help control symptoms of asthma, help you lose weight, slow the ageing process, and relieve arthritic and muscle pain. That little sauce certainly does a lot of work.

Mustard sauce can be used to spice up dishes, mustard oil is great for cooking with and the powdered form can be use for garnishing.

Before you use any form of it in your food, be sure you’ve picked the right kind; English mustard is stronger than the European one, while wholegrain mustard can be very vinegary.