7 Health Benefits of Saffron - How and Why You Should Add It To Your Diet

Saffron is considered to be one of the most expensive spices, which is why it is also known as the "King of Spices". Widely known in India as “Kesar”, It is extracted from a plant called Saffron crocus ( Crocus Sativus ). The plant is cultivated mostly in Iran and some parts of Asia. The flower of this plant has a three-strand "stigma". Ultimately, this red strand is dried and used to make Saffron spice.

Due to its rarity and the high level of manual labor required to produce it, saffron is expensive. Saffron blooms only during a particular week in the whole year and each flower gives only three stigmas. It needs to be handpicked, carefully transported, and taken care of. Throughout the year, laborers put in hard work that yields benefits only during a particular season of the year.

Another reason for its high cost is the benefits it brings to the diet. It also accounts for many medical benefits. Saffron is used as a natural food colorant and also as a preservative.

Where Does Saffron Come From?

During the Bronze Age, Saffron was discovered in Greece. Currently, it grows across some parts of Asia and Europe, with Iran producing 85%of the world's Saffron.
The Minoans and Mycenaeans, who resided on what is now the Greek island of Crete, used Saffron as incense throughout the Aegean Bronze Age (3000–1000 B.C.). It was a component of the fragrant kyphi, which was utilized in ancient Egyptian temples honoring the goddess Isis.
Arabs brought the spice to Spain during the European Middle Ages, and it spread throughout Western Europe as a delicacy, dye, and mood booster. Hinduism considers the color Saffron to be sacred, and it also appears in the Indian flag.
In some parts of India like Kashmir, it is still cultivated on a small scale.

How is the best quality Saffron produced?

Saffrons are harvested from a plant called CROCUS SATIVUS and specifically from their stigmas. These plants grow in certain parts of Kashmir, the place famously known as “Heaven on Earth”. A native of the foothills of breathtaking mountains, the Saffron plant is accustomed to growing well and blooming in a special climate.
The best quality Saffrons are checked thoroughly, segregated, and Handpicked by Farmers. They start the process by manually separating the fine threads from each blossom.
The threads are then heated and cured to improve their flavor. It takes 75,000 blossoms to generate 1 pound of Saffron! Since there is a lot of hard work involved in manufacturing and delivering Saffron to various parts of the world, it is very costly.
However, if we take into account the labor and benefits of Saffron, the high cost of this spice is justified.

Why do you need Saffron in your diet?

Saffron has many medicinal benefits, so incorporating it into your diet is essential for everyone. It reduces both mental and physical problems. It is a tasty way to improve your health.
You should know how to add Saffron to your diet before consuming it. Saffron may have some side effects and restrictions for people who have some medical conditions. Saffron is used in many cuisines as a spice and in many different ways besides this precaution.

Three Top Ways of Adding Saffron to Your Diet:

Adding Saffron to your diet is one of the best things you can do to improve your overall health. Saffron, true to its name, when added to food, gives it a slightly orange color. The taste of Saffron is almost unrecognizable. But it still gives out a quite nice aroma to the food to which it is added.
Adding Saffron to your diet is highly recommended due to its high medicinal value, but what are the best ways to do so?
Here are the three most popular ways that people include Saffron in their daily food consumption.

1. Saffron Milk

Saffron is used in both the traditional Holi drink, thandai, and the Saffron milk that Indians drink before night. The best way to consume Saffron is to mix a tablespoon of Saffron when the milk is boiling and drink the Saffron milk. It induces better sleep when drunk at night.

2. Saffron Tea

Mixing Saffron with Tea is one of the traditional methods. Zafrani chai is another name for Saffron tea in Iran. People who are lactose intolerant can mix Saffron with their Tea. Saffron tea is a very tasty, refreshing, and energetic drink that keeps you on your feet the whole day.

Kozani Chicken

Saffron is used to prepare Paella in Spain and Kozani chicken (a dish called Kozani, a region of Greece known for its Saffron). Instead of mixing Saffron with drinks, in this method you add Saffron at the last stage of preparation. It gives an additional flavor to the dish which is also very healthy.

7 Health Benefits of Saffron:

Saffron has a stunning color and a potent scent. Saffron is valued in Ayurveda as a natural sedative and expectorant. It is a plentiful source of antioxidants and has many positive health effects.
Saffron is also essential in the treatment of asthma. It functions as both an apoptogenic and emmenagogue. As a result, it may be helpful to include natural immune boosters like Saffron in your regular diet. Saffron contains a wealth of aphrodisiac, diaphoretic, and carminative effects.
Saffron was once used as a painkiller or analgesic in opioid formulations. According to studies, Saffron improves mood and prevents oxidative stress. In general, Saffron is safe to ingest at the recommended doses by people of all ages.

1. Powerful Antioxidant

A remarkable array of plant components can be found in Saffron. These components function as antioxidants, which are chemicals that protect your cells from oxidative stress and free radical damage.
Among the notable antioxidants in Saffron are:
● Crocin
● Crocetin
● Safranal
● Kaempferol

The carotenoid pigments crocin and crocetin are responsible for giving Saffron its red hue. Both substances,

● Possess antidepressant qualities
● Shields brain cells from deterioration
● Decrease appetite and reduce inflammation to support weight loss

The flavor and perfume of Saffron are unique to safranal. According to a study, it may enhance your mood and learning capacity and protect your brain cells from oxidative damage.
And finally, the petals of the Saffron flower contain kaempferol, and its health advantages include lowered inflammation, anticancer capabilities, and antidepressant action.

2. Healer from Depression

The spice known as "sunshine" is Saffron. This is not only because of its distinctive color but also because it could lift your spirits. Saffron pills treat mild-to-moderate depressive symptoms much better than pills.
According to other research, Saffron supplements containing 30 mg daily were just as efficient at treating depression as Fluoxetine, Imipramine, and Citalopram. Saffron also had fewer negative effects than other therapies.
The thread-like structure of stigma and its petals both seem to work well for managing mild to moderate depression. Even though these results are encouraging, more human research with more subjects is required before specialists can suggest Saffron as a depression cure.

3. Helps to prevent cancer

Antioxidants, which aid in scavenging damaging free radicals, are abundant in Saffron. Chronic disorders, including cancer, have been linked to free radical damage. Saffron has been demonstrated in test-tube research to specifically kill or restrict the growth of colon cancer cells while sparing healthy cells.
The skin, prostate, bone marrow, lung, breast, cervix, and several other cancer cells are also affected by this impact. Additionally, research conducted in test tubes suggests that crocin, the primary antioxidant in Saffron, may increase the sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapy drugs.

4. Reduces PMS symptoms

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is described as a variety of symptoms that appear before the first day of a period in women. Saffron is used to relieve such PMS symptoms.
Taking 30 mg of Saffron daily for women aged 20 to 45 reduced PMS symptoms like irritability, headaches, cravings, and pain. It is said that a mere 20 minutes of Saffron inhalation alone significantly decreased the stress hormone cortisol levels and PMS symptoms like anxiety.

5. Acts as an aphrodisiac

Aphrodisiacs are substances or foods that help increase libido. Saffron may have aphrodisiac effects, especially in those using antidepressants. For instance, in men with antidepressant-related erectile dysfunction, consuming 30 mg of Saffron daily for four weeks dramatically improved erectile performance.
Additionally, a study revealed that Saffron consumption significantly increased libido, general satisfaction, and erectile function but not semen qualities. In contrast to a placebo, 30 mg of Saffron taken daily for four weeks enhanced lubrication and boosted sexual desire in women who had low sexual desire as a result of taking antidepressants.

6. Aids in weight loss

Snacking is a behavior that can make you gain weight. Saffron may help you reduce eating by reducing your appetite. Women in one 8-weeks research who took Saffron supplements reported feeling noticeably fuller, snacking less, and losing noticeably more weight than those in the placebo group.

7. Skincare benefits

In addition to its culinary purposes, Saffron has a number of favorable effects on the skin. Your skin will have a radiant appearance without any blemishes because of the anti-inflammatory component.
Because of this effect, Saffron is a common ingredient in cosmetic items like beauty creams. It hydrates and softens the skin, giving it a radiant appearance. It results from the antioxidant qualities of Saffron, much like all the other advantages. The topical applicant for Saffron is:
● Skin Texture And Lightening
● Pigmentation
● Wound Healing
● Cure For Acne And Pimples

These are some of the benefits of Saffron; we may have so many advantages of using them, which are unexplored to date. All these benefits in one product it's just amazing.

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A valuable culinary herb is Saffron. The presence of antioxidant chemicals in Saffron is its main advantage. It might aid in lowering or eradicating the risk of several chronic illnesses linked to oxidative stress. The fact that it is generally safe for people of all ages is its best feature.
Even though it's costly, it's worth the money spent. You might be wondering where to get high-quality Saffron at an affordable price. To save you from those worries, Scashews are delivering quality Saffron right to your home.
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Frequently Asked Questions:

Although we have given every single piece of information we could find on Saffron and its health benefits, here are some of the questions you may have in mind after reading about Saffron.

1. What are Saffron's health advantages?

Antioxidants are abundant in Saffron. As a result, it protects us against cancer, works as an antidepressant, stimulates libido, and prevents nervous system diseases. However, Saffron also has a number of other advantages.

2. Can I consume Saffron after dark?

Drinking it before bed is safe. Saffron has sedative qualities that may be used to treat insomnia and enhance sleep. Saffron water is best consumed during the day, though.

3. What advantages does Saffron milk have?

Saffron milk has a number of advantages. It improves memory, is good for your heart, and guards against the flu. Additionally, it eases premenstrual syndrome symptoms and menstrual cramps and may help treat insomnia and enhance sleep quality.

Saffron the rarest and costliest of the spices?

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