Saffron is a medicinal plant with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It may offer several health benefits, such as helping manage diabetes, boosting mood, relieving PMS symptoms, and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
The main properties of saffron are found in the orange-red threads of the flower. These threads are rich in crocin, crocetin, safranal, and kaempferol.
Saffron can be used as a spice, tea, or supplement. It may also support weight loss when combined with a healthy diet and regular physical activity.
Health benefits
The main benefits of saffron are:
1. Helping manage depression
Crocin and safranal, compounds found in saffron, have an effect similar to some antidepressant medications, such as fluoxetine and imipramine. They help inhibit the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine, which are neurotransmitters involved in mood regulation.
For this reason, saffron, also known as true saffron, may help support the treatment of depression, anxiety, and mood changes.
2. Helping control diabetes
Saffron has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that protect pancreatic cells and improve insulin production. This helps regulate blood glucose levels and may help control diabetes.
3. Supporting weight loss
Some studies show that saffron may help with weight loss because it improves mood and reduces appetite, which can lower calorie intake throughout the day.
Another study showed that saffron supplements may also help reduce body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and total body fat. However, it is important to remember that, to support weight loss, saffron should be used together with a healthy, balanced diet and regular physical activity.
4. Relieving PMS symptoms
Because of its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antidepressant properties, saffron may help relieve some of the most common PMS symptoms, such as irritability, anxiety, headaches, cramps, and cravings for sweet foods.
5. Helping manage symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease
Saffron has antioxidant properties that reduce damage caused by free radicals in neurons. It also helps increase acetylcholine levels, an important neurotransmitter for memory that is reduced in Alzheimer’s disease.
In addition, saffron has anti-inflammatory properties that reduce the production of inflammatory substances that are toxic to neurons. However, more studies are still needed to confirm this benefit.
6. Potentially helping prevent Parkinson’s disease
The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of crocetin, a compound found in saffron, help protect neurons. This may help prevent Parkinson’s disease and support its treatment by improving motor coordination problems.
However, more studies are still needed to confirm this benefit.
7. Reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease
Because of its antioxidant action, saffron helps reduce levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol in the blood. According to the CDC, excess LDL cholesterol can build up as plaque in blood vessels and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
8. Improving sexual health
Saffron has aphrodisiac properties that help increase well-being, sexual desire, and libido, especially in people who take antidepressants. It may help improve erectile dysfunction in men and vaginal lubrication in women.
9. Potentially helping treat cancer
Laboratory studies using skin, colon, breast, cervical, prostate, and lung cancer cells show that the antioxidant substances in saffron may help reduce the growth of these cancer cells or promote cancer cell death.
In addition, saffron may make cancer cells more sensitive to chemotherapy. However, human studies are still needed to confirm this benefit.
How to use
Saffron is commonly used as a spice to season foods, especially meats and sauces. It is also used in teas and is available in supplement form.
1. Saffron tea
Saffron tea is prepared with the red threads found in the center of the flowers, where the substances with medicinal properties are extracted.
Ingredients:
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1 teaspoon of saffron threads
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500 mL (2 cups) of water
Preparation:
In a pot or kettle, bring the water to a boil. After turning off the heat, add the saffron threads to the water. Cover and let steep for 5 minutes. Strain, allow it to cool slightly, and drink 1 cup of saffron tea once a day.
Because saffron tea has a slightly bitter taste, other ingredients, such as cinnamon, ginger, or honey, can be added to make the drink more pleasant.
2. Saffron capsules
Another way to use saffron is as a capsule supplement. The generally recommended dose is 20 to 200 mg per day, for up to 3 months.
However, the duration and dose of the supplement vary depending on the person’s age and the condition being treated. Based on the FDA, dietary supplements are not approved for safety and effectiveness before being sold, so saffron supplements should only be used under medical supervision
Possible side effects
Saffron is safe for most adults when used in small amounts in food or consumed for short periods of time.
However, when saffron is used as tea or capsules, doses above 200 mg per day may cause side effects such as drowsiness, headache, delirium, dizziness, nausea, changes in appetite, vomiting, or diarrhea.
In addition, saffron may increase the risk of bipolar hypomania, a phase of bipolar disorder marked by euphoria, racing thoughts, or agitation.
Saffron can also cause poisoning, especially when consumed in doses of 5 g or more, which can be life-threatening.
Is saffron bad for the liver?
Studies conducted mainly in animals have shown that saffron may harm the liver when taken as a supplement at doses much higher than recommended.
Excessive saffron intake may increase levels of liver enzymes such as ALT, AST, ALP, and LDH, which are important markers of liver damage.
Contraindications for use
Saffron in teas or supplements should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding, because it may stimulate uterine contractions and increase the risk of bleeding or miscarriage.
In addition, people with kidney disease or those taking anticoagulant medications should speak with a healthcare provider before using saffron as a tea or supplement.
Because this plant may increase the risk of bipolar hypomania, people with bipolar disorder should only use saffron if recommended by their doctor.