Saffron is a spice derived from the Crocus sativus flower. It originated in Greece, where it quickly became popular thanks to its many health benefits.
Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world. It costs somewhere between 500 to 5,000 U.S dollars per pound — which is why it is not a popular ingredient for supplement manufacturing.
Benefits
1. Improves Mood
People often refer to saffron as the “sunshine spice” not only because of its bright color, but also because it helps brighten up your mood.
According to this review of 5 studies, saffron was much more effective than placebos at easing symptoms of mild-to-moderate depression.
Furthermore, multiple studies suggest that taking 30 milligrams of saffron daily is just as effective as Citalopram, Fluoxetine, and Imipramine — conventional treatments for depression. (1, 2)
What’s even more impressive is that participants who took saffron supplements in these studies experienced fewer side effects than those who used the conventional treatments.
Based on current research, both the saffron petals and thread-like stigma seem to be equally effective at improving mood.
2. Packed With Antioxidants
Saffron is loaded with a wide variety of plant compounds that act as antioxidants — they reduce oxidative stress by protecting your body against free radicals.
Of these antioxidants, the most notable ones are crocin, crocetin, safranal, and kaempferol.
Crocin and crocetin have been linked with several health benefits, including:
- Protecting brain cells against progressive damage
- Reducing appetite to aid weight loss
- Easing inflammation
Safranal gives saffron its distinctive taste and aroma. But that’s not all safranal does, as it also:
- Boosts mood
- Increases memory
- Enhances learning ability
Lastly, kaempferol has the following health benefits:
- Brightens up mood
- Reduces inflammation
- Protects against cancer
3. May Have Anti-Cancer Properties
As we just mentioned, saffron is packed with antioxidants that reduce free radicals in your body. But what we didn’t mention was that free radicals have been directly linked to cancer. (3)
In several test-tube studies, saffron has been shown to directly kill colon cancer cells or suppress their growth. Furthermore, it does the same for many other types of cancer cells, including:
- Bone marrow cancer cells
- Prostate cancer cells
- Breast cancer cells
- Cervix cancer cells
- Lung cancer cells
- Skin cancer cells
What’s more is that this test-tube study states that crocin (one of the main antioxidants of saffron) makes cancer cells more sensitive to chemotherapy drugs.
Health Issues Associated With Saffron Deficiency
Saffron can reduce your risk of suffering from several health issues, including:
- Cancer
- Depression
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
If you want to stay clear from these health issues, then add a saffron supplement to your diet.
Daily Recommended Intake
The daily recommended intake for saffron depends almost completely on the condition the user is trying to treat. According to current research:
- For Alzheimer’s disease: 30 milligrams of saffron extract a day is recommended for 22 weeks.
- For depression: 30 milligrams of a saffron extract or 100 milligrams of saffron should be taken daily for up to 12 weeks.
- For menstrual discomfort: 500 milligrams of a specific combination product containing celery seed, anise extracts, and saffron should be consumed three times per day for the first three days of menstruation.
Are you looking for a reliable manufacturing partner to help you create a perfect saffron supplement tailored for your customers?
Superior can help with all types and forms of saffron manufacturing. Our goal is to give your business exactly what it needs to succeed: stellar supplements.
Give us a call today to get one step closer to turning your dream supplement into a reality.