Saffron is a spice that could used forflavorings, colorings, and food flavours. Although better known as a cooking spice, saffron is also believed to have various health benefits, you know.
Saffron is a spice in the form of fine and thin red threads that comes from flowers Crocus sativus. It is one of the most expensive spices in the world due to its complicated cultivation and harvesting methods, and it requires special techniques. In addition, it takes 150 flowers to produce 1 gram of saffron yarn.
Benefit Saffron for Health
A number of studies show that saffron does have health benefits, including:
1. Ward offfree radicals
Saffron contains various antioxidant components, so it can protect the body's cells from damage caused by free radicals. As we all know, free radicals can cause various chronic diseases, including heart disease and cancer.
2. Reduce appetite and reduce weight
A study of a group of women showed that women who took saffron supplements for 8 weeks experienced more significant reductions in appetite and weight than women who did not take saffron supplements.
Besides being able to help with weight loss, saffron is also known to reduce abdominal circumference and total fat mass in patients with coronary heart disease.
3. Boost mood and helps treat depression
According to the results of several studies conducted on depressed patients, saffron supplements can be an adjunct in the treatment of mild to moderate depression, with side effects that tend to be minimal. Saffron also has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects.
4. Helping cancer treatment
A study in the laboratory states that saffron can suppress the growth rate of cancer cells in colon cancer. In addition, the antioxidant component in saffron named crocin can make cancer cells more sensitive to chemotherapy. Although the results of this study are promising, the anticancer effects of saffron still need to be further investigated and clinically proven in humans.
5. Relieve menstrual pain and PMS symptoms
In one study, a group of women who took capsules containing 15 mg of saffron twice daily experienced both physical and emotional symptoms premenstrual syndrome (PMS) which is lighter than the group of women who did not take the capsules containing the saffron.
6. Lowering blood fat levels
Although further studies are still needed with a longer duration, consumption of saffron seems to reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels, as well as increase the concentration of good or bad cholesterol. high-density lipoprotein (HDL).
7. Help relieve disease Alzheimer
In a study of people with Alzheimer's disease, consuming 15 mg of saffron twice a day could significantly improve cognitive function.
8. Help treat diabetes
In early studies involving samples of experimental mice, saffron can increase insulin sensitivity. However, of course this still needs further research to prove the benefits of saffron in helping the treatment of diabetes patients.
Based on various studies, consumption of saffron as much as 30 mg per day is enough to provide health benefits. Apart from being in capsule form, saffron can also be consumed by brewing. It is recommended to buy saffron from a manufacturer or seller with a good reputation so that its authenticity is guaranteed, and it is better to choose a product that has been approved by BPOM.
In general, saffron is safe to take as long as the dose is not excessive. Some of the side effects that can arise if this spice is consumed in excess are headache, stomach pain, nausea, changes in appetite, dry mouth, and drowsiness. In addition, consumption of saffron more than 5 grams per day is at risk of causing miscarriage in pregnant women.
Consult your doctor if you want to take saffron, especially if you will take it regularly or in combination with other drugs and supplements. You need to know, saffron can interact with hypertension drugs and blood thinning drugs.
Written by:
dr. Andi Marsa Nadhira