The many benefits of saffron for your health
Saffron is rich in many nutritional values that make it have many health benefits. Learn about the most important benefits of saffron in the following article.
saffron benefits
The active ingredients contained in saffron and the high nutritional values make it have many benefits and therapeutic applications, and the pharmaceutical industries.
Learn the following about the most important benefits of saffron:1- A source of high nutritional values
Some research has shown that the active substance contained in saffron known as Safranal, in addition to a group of antioxidants, makes saffron a strong role in the fight against cancer, and it is also an anti-convulsive, depression and insomnia substance.
And its richness in manganese (Mn) helps regulate blood sugar, regulates carbohydrate metabolism, and calcium absorption. It also helps the formation of tissues, bones, and sex hormones. It is a source of iron important for the formation of hemoglobin and contributes to enhancing the nutrition of cells in the body, transporting oxygen, and eliminating waste.
Its content of vitamin C and carotenoids make it an advantage in fighting infection, and its content of vitamin B6 helps in the formation of red blood cells and enhances the work of nerves, and potassium helps to balance fluids in the body, control blood pressure, and enhance the work of nerves.
2- Asthma treatment
Asthma patients usually suffer from shortness of breath and the inability to enter the air, and eating saffron may contribute to the expansion of the bronchi in the asthmatic patient, which contributes to making the breathing process easier.
However, the evidence in this field is still insufficient. What some research has shown is that drinking a mixture of herbs containing saffron, nigella, anise, chamomile, cardamom, and licorice is what has contributed to reducing asthma symptoms in people with allergic asthma.
3- Anti-depressant
Eating saffron properly may have positive effects on your mood, and may contribute to the treatment of depression, and this may be due mainly to its contents of active substances and the amount of potassium and vitamin B6.
In addition, it works to increase blood flow to the brain, which contributes to increasing the production of serotonin, known as the hormone of happiness in the body, which contributes to improving mood, and saffron is included in the composition of some medicines and folk prescriptions prescribed to treat depression.
4- Sleep disturbances
Eating saffron helps to relax and calm the nerves, which contributes to the treatment of insomnia and sleep disorders, thanks to its potassium content and some substances with sedative properties, so add a little saffron to a cup of hot milk and drink it before bed to get this benefit.
5- Anti-cancer
According to research, saffron may have an effective role in the fight against cancer, due to its content of active substances and strong antioxidants. It is also believed that the carotenoids contained in saffron may work to kill certain types of cancer cells, such as leukemia cells, skin cancer, and lymphoma cancers.
6- Alzheimer's disease
Saffron is popularly used in Japan to treat age-related nerve problems such as memory loss, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's.
7- Promote sexual health
Some evidence found that eating saffron may contribute to the treatment of some sexual problems and infertility problems in men, as some research indicated that eating saffron may reduce erectile dysfunction and increase its duration and number.
Other studies have also indicated that saffron may contribute to improving sperm functions, and addressing the problem of premature ejaculation, but this area still needs more evidence and clear evidence.
8- Treating menstrual disorders
It was found that eating saffron can contribute to relieving symptoms and pain of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and it may also help women who suffer from irregular menstruation to regulate their cycle.
It was also found that taking saffron herbs as a supplement may contribute to reducing chronic uterine bleeding.
9- The benefits of saffron for the heart and arteries
Eating saffron may be very beneficial for patients with heart and blood pressure, as its high content of copper, potassium, manganese, iron, zinc, and magnesium plays an important role in this.
Potassium is an important element for the regulation and maintenance of blood pressure, as it is responsible for the fluid balance in cells, and is necessary for the functioning of the heart and the regulation of its rate of beat. The content of antioxidants and selenium in saffron contributes to preventing the oxidation of cholesterol and prevents infections that may lead to cardiovascular disease.
Those who are prone to atherosclerosis are advised to eat saffron, as it reduces the chances of atherosclerosis. Saffron acts as an antioxidant and enhances blood flow and circulation throughout the body.
10- Benefits of saffron for the eyes
A group of Italian scientists from the ARC Center at the University of (Excellence in Vision Science and the University of L'Aquila) found that saffron can be a treatment for vision loss caused by age, and contributes to the treatment of some eye diseases.
It was found that saffron has a remarkable effect on the genes that regulate the basic vision cells of the eye and protects the photoreceptors from damage, and may have a role in the prevention of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis.
And in clinical trials with patients suffering from macular degeneration, it was found that taking saffron in the form of a dietary supplement contributed to enhancing the healing process of the affected eye cells.
This claim is also reinforced by The Vision Center in Australia, about the fact that saffron is not only an antioxidant but also has properties that contribute to the protection of vision by affecting the genes that regulate the content of fatty acids in the cell membrane and this makes vision cells More flexible and rigid.
11- Benefits of saffron for pregnant women
It may be said that saffron may have positive effects for pregnant women if it is eaten in moderation and properly, such as mixing a little of it with milk, but many warnings may revolve around its safety for pregnant women, as the evidence is still insufficient and clear about its effects, as well as several effects. Side effects and dangers may occur when ingesting large amounts of it and orally.
The most famous benefits of saffron that may be marketed by fans of eating it during pregnancy include:
- Aiding indigestion, which is usually slow during pregnancy.
- Soothe the acidity of the stomach.
- Mood improvement.
- lowering blood pressure;
- Treating some digestive problems such as; constipation ;
- Get rid of bloating and gas.
- Fight morning sickness.
- It prevents convulsions.
- It fights anemia thanks to its iron content.
- Promotes sleep and prevents insomnia.
- It relieves inflammation, fights cough, asthma, and some allergy symptoms that may affect pregnant women.
- Promotes hair growth.
- A source of some essential nutritional values during pregnancy such as; Folic acid, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin A, and vitamin C.
Certainly, all of these effects still lack clear evidence and determine safe quantities of them, so our advice to you may be to search for proven and safe methods for your health to solve such problems that you may encounter during this sensitive stage.
High doses of saffron can act as a uterine stimulant and in severe cases can cause a miscarriage ( abortion ), so pregnant women are advised to avoid this spice, as it may have dangerous side effects on their health, and may include:
- Abortion: It is usually not recommended to eat more than 10 g of saffron per day for pregnant women, as this may raise the risk of miscarriage, as it acts as a stimulant for the uterine muscles and contributes to an increase in body temperature and muscle relaxation.
- Vomiting: Taking high doses of saffron may increase the incidence of stomach upset and vomit.
- Allergies: Some pregnant women may be allergic to saffron and show the following symptoms: dry mouth, headache, nausea, and tension.
- More dangerous symptoms: When you eat a lot of saffron, such as; Bleeding from the nose and eyelids, blood in the urine or stools, numbness of the extremities.
Other benefits of saffron
Among the most prominent other benefits that saffron may contain are the following:
- Enhance athletic performance: Some research has shown that eating saffron may contribute to enhancing athletic performance and reducing fatigue in men during exercise, due to a chemical contained in saffron known as (Crocetin), but this feature needs more evidence to support it.
- Psoriasis treatment: Some studies have indicated that taking saffron tea daily along with a healthy diet rich in vegetables and fruits may reduce psoriasis symptoms, but more studies are needed to support this.
- Other treatments: Some other treatments may include saffron, but need more scientific evidence to support its role in this, such as: expelling gases, getting rid of flatulence, treating pain, and treating alopecia.
saffron uses
Saffron is used as one of the colored spices that give food a yellow color, in addition to giving flavor to foods. It is also widely used in the medical world. It may be used in:
- Asthma and cough treatment.
- Expectorant and expectorant .
- Prevention of many chronic diseases such as; Heart disease and cancer.
- It may have a role in treating depression and Alzheimer's.
- It works to combat the problems of sleep disorders.
- It is a gas repellent.
Women may use saffron to treat menstrual pain and cramps, while men may accept it to treat some sexual problems, and to delay premature ejaculation, and it can also be used as a sexual stimulant, and we may find saffron aesthetic uses, as it enhances the health of the skin and relieves its dryness. Head straight may help treat alopecia and baldness.
In the world of industries, saffron is used in the manufacture of perfumes, fabrics, and as a dye.
Nutritional value
Saffron contains many active compounds and nutrients. It is a source of antioxidants and a group of essential volatile oils, the most famous of which is Safranal, which is responsible for the flavor of saffron.
It also contains Cineole, Panthenol, Geraniol, Limonene, and many other volatile oils. The substances responsible for its bright attractive color are all of the carotenoids and an active substance is known as A-crocin.
Saffron contains a group of vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin C, folic acid, and niacin. It is also a source of many important minerals such as; magnesium, potassium, calcium, phosphorous, copper, zinc, manganese, iron, and zinc.
Here is the nutritional value table for 100 grams of saffron, according to the USDA:
| Calories | 310 calories |
| carbohydrates | 65.4 g |
| Proteins | 11.4 g |
| Fats | 5.6 g |
| Dietary fiber | 3.9 g |
| potassium | 1724 mg |
Sodium | 148 mg |
permissible dose
In general, saffron is considered safe to use for most people when it is eaten as a spice in food and in moderation or taken orally as a medicine for up to 6 weeks, and the safe doses of saffron are used to treat some conditions according to scientific research are as follows:
- Premenstrual syndrome: 15 mg of saffron taken orally twice daily.
- Treating depression: 30 mg orally daily.
- Alzheimer's treatment: 30 mg orally daily.
It must be noted that taking a dose of 12-20 grams can cause death in some cases.
Side effects and interactions
Taking large amounts of saffron orally is not safe. If it exceeds the recommended amount, you may notice some potential side effects, including:
- Anxiety and stress.
- drowsiness, nausea;
- Dry mouth.
- Changes in appetite.
- dizziness and headache;
It can also cause allergic reactions in some people, and large doses may cause poisoning in addition to some serious symptoms such as:
- Yellowing of the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes.
- dizziness, nausea;
- numbness;
- vomiting;
- Bleeding from the nose, lips, and eyelids.
- bloody diarrhea;
- Also, taking a dose of 12-20 grams can cause death.
As for the interactions of saffron with drugs, so far there is no clear and specific information, and it needs a study.
Warnings
Usage warnings include:
- Pregnancy and lactation: not recommended for pregnant or nursing mothers to eat high amounts of saffron by mouth it is unsafe and has unknown negative effects on the fetus or infant, as the intake of pregnant high amounts of which may be associated with the occurrence of abortion.
- Allergies: You may find that some people are allergic to some plants close to saffron, such as Lolium. They should also avoid eating saffron.
- Heart patients: Eating saffron may lead to an increase in heart rate and affect its strength, so the heart patient should beware of the quantities he eats of saffron.
- Blood pressure patients: Eating saffron may lower blood pressure, so those who suffer from low blood pressure problems should be careful.
- Bipolar disorder: Saffron may affect mood, which may compound some of the side effects such as mania for those with bipolar problems.