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What Are The Health Benefits of Saffron?
Saffron has been reported to have many health benefits. Some of these benefits include:
- Blood Pressure: Saffron is known to contain an agent referred to as Crocetin which helps reduce blood pressure.
- Menstrual Relief: Saffron offers relief from menstrual related discomfort. Saffron can also help regulate one’s menstruation.
- Fights Cancer: The a-crocin, a carotenoid compound, which is responsible for saffron’s orange-yellow hue is known to have anti-cancer properties. The Safranal also, which gives the spice its fragrance is known to have antioxidants which fight cancer cells.
- Aids Vision: Safranal, one of the compounds in saffron spice is said to preserve photoreceptor morphology, capillary network, and visual response. Crocin contained in saffron also helps increase blood flow in the retina, thereby aiding retina function.
- Depression: Saffron is used to treating mild to moderate depression. Compounds such as safranal, crocin, and kaempferol, present in saffron give it antioxidant effects. Sufficient intake of saffron tea gives one a feeling of joy and happiness.
- Improves Memory: Regular consumption of saffron helps improve memory power. Saffron also lessens specific neurotoxic effects as a result of its antioxidant reinforcement.
- Cures Insomnia: Studies also show that saffron can cure insomnia. This is as a result of the fact that, saffron contains magnesium, which calms the nerve and enhances sleep. Saffron has sedative effects on the body.
- Prevents Diabetes: Saffron helps increase the level of insulin in the body; this, in turn, prevents diabetes.
- Prevents Alzheimer’s disease: Saffron keeps the brain from losing memory, thereby reducing the chances of old people developing Alzheimer’s disease.
- Treats Ulcer: Saffron preclude the production of gastric acid which damages the gastric lining wall. Saffron also protects the body against gastric mucosal damage; induced by necrotizing agents.
- Cures Asthma: Saffron contains crocin and kaempferol which reduce asthma attacks to a great extent. Saffron also helps relieve a cough.
- Acts as an Aphrodisiac: From ancient times, saffron has been speculated to act as an aphrodisiac. In several studies, crocin in saffron helped increase erection frequencies in male rats; it also had the same effect on humans. Saffron aids in the treatment of male fertility.
- Treats Inflammations: The antioxidants present in saffron help treat inflammations especially in patients with arthritis. Saffron is also believed to reduce skin tumors.
- Good for insect bites: Application of saffron extracts on insect bites and sores are considered to bring fast relief.