When taken in small doses, saffron is highly beneficial for your
health. But when taken in excess, it can lead to side effects like
vomiting, drowsiness, appetite reduction, nausea, and may worsen certain
heart conditions. Plus, this herb may not be suitable for pregnant
women and those suffering from bipolar disorder.
Here are the top 10 health benefits of saffron.
1. Helps Digestion
Saffron
is effective for relieving gas and acidity-related problems as it helps
digestion. Furthermore, it has carminative properties, which means it
helps reduce flatulence and suppress stomach cramps.
Have a cup of
saffron tea daily to improve digestion and reduce gas. To make the tea,
add a pinch of saffron to a cup of water and boil it. Add a little raw
honey as per your taste and then drink it.
2. Treats Insomnia
Before
going to bed, drink a glass of warm saffron milk. To make the milk,
steep 2 strands of saffron in a cup of warm milk for 5 minutes. Add some
raw honey and drink it daily at night before going to bed.
3. Supports Eyesight
According
to a 2009 study conducted at the University of Sydney by a visiting
scholar based at University of L’Aquila in Italy, saffron has remarkable
effects on the genes that regulate the performance of the eye’s key
vision cells.
Plus, saffron protects the vision cells
(photoreceptors) from damage, as well as helps slow and reverse the
course of blinding diseases like age-related macular degeneration and
retinitis pigmentosa.
To improve eyesight, you can take saffron extract as a dietary supplement. Consult a doctor for the correct dosage.
4. Improves Memory
Saffron
is believed to help inhibit the aggregation and deposition of amyloid β
in the brain, thus helping in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
A
2010 study published in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and
Therapeutics found that saffron improved cognitive function in study
participants with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. However, a more
controlled study is required.
Saffron also has a positive impact on learning behavior, concentration and memory.
To improve your memory, regularly drink saffron milk or saffron tea.
5. Improves Heart Health
Saffron
also helps improve cardiac health. Animal studies have found that it
may help lower cholesterol levels and reduce high blood pressure.
To
improve your heart health, take saffron in supplement or dietary form.
Before starting a supplement regimen, consult your doctor.
6. Treats Asthma
Saffron
may also help those with asthma in which airways become narrow and make
it difficult to breathe normally. It helps reduce inflammation in the
lungs, making it possible for more air to pass through the lungs. This
facilitates easy breathing that helps reduce the severity of asthma
attacks.
Along with asthma, saffron can help treat other respiratory-related illnesses.
Drink a few cups of saffron tea for a few days to reduce the severity of an asthma attack.
7. Relieves Menstrual Discomfort
According
to a 2008 study published in the journal BJOG: An International Journal
of Obstetrics & Gynecology, saffron can be used as an alternative
treatment for relieving symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
For PMS, take 15 mg of saffron extract twice daily, but only after consulting a doctor. This will help
reduce symptoms of PMS like bloating, cramps, mood swings, irritability, acne, breast tenderness and fatigue.
You can also drink saffron tea or saffron milk to get relief from
menstrual discomfort, such as abdominal pain and heavy bleeding.
8. Fights Depression
Saffron
is high in carotenoids and B vitamins that help increase the levels of
serotonin and other chemicals in the brain that are associated with
depression.
A 2005 study published in the Journal of
Ethnopharmacology found saffron to be as effective as fluoxetine
(Prozac) in reducing mild to moderate depression.
Saffron, when
taken correctly, is effective in reducing symptoms of depression. Take
15 mg of dried saffron extract twice daily. You can also use saffron in
cooking, milk shakes or smoothies.
9. Improves Skin Complexion
Saffron has natural skin-lightening properties that can help you get a radiant, smooth and fairer skin complexion.
- Soak
a couple of saffron strands in 2 teaspoons of milk for 15 to 20
minutes. You can also add a little honey. Apply the mixture on your skin
and leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes before washing it off. Follow this
remedy daily to get glowing and fairer skin.
- To prepare a face
mask for improving skin complexion, mix 1 teaspoon of sandalwood powder,
2 or 3 strands of saffron and a few teaspoons of milk, enough to make a
paste. Apply it on your face and neck, allow it to dry for 20 minutes
and rinse it off. Use this face mask once or twice a week.
10. Slows Aging
Saffron
contains antioxidants that protect the skin from free-radical damage
that can cause premature aging. In addition, it is effective for
treating acne, blemishes, age spots and blackheads that can damage your
skin and make you look older than your age.
- Mix a pinch of
saffron with raw papaya pulp. Apply it to your face and neck 15 minutes
before taking a shower. When used on regular basis, it can help prevent
wrinkles and blemishes.
- To get rid of acne, blemishes and pimples, massage the skin with saffron soaked in milk twice a day.
