Recipes likes bouillabaisse and paella are flavored deliciously with saffron. Risotto? Forget about it! But do you know how far back saffron goes? Some 2,500 years! Used in herbal medicine to help treat pain, infection, as well as respiratory and skin diseases, saffron is a powerful agent to include in supplements.
Today, it has been proven to aid in two specific areas:
1. Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
First, in a 2016 study, daily supplementation with 30 mg of saffron for six months was linked to statistically considerable changes in retinal function in subjects with both forms (wet and dry) of AMD. Then, in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial published in 2018, adults with mild-to-moderate AMD were given 20 mg of saffron or a placebo for three months. The conclusion: saffron improved visual function and due to the chronic nature of the subjects’ condition, longer-term supplementation could produce further benefits.
2. Fitness and Appetite
People claim that saffron works to curb appetite and reduce cravings. Those same people suggest that the supplement can increase brain levels of serotonin, thereby preventing compulsive overeating and unwanted weight gain. The proof lies in a Nutrition Research study which involved healthy women who were overweight at the time. They took either a placebo or saffron-containing supplement every day for eight weeks straight—caloric intake unlimited all the while. The results determined that subjects taking the saffron supplements underwent a substantially greater decrease in snacking and a noticeable reduction in body weight compared to placebo subjects. The author of the study interestingly suggested that saffron’s alleged mood-enhancing effects could contribute to the decline in urgency to snack.
What Else Can Saffron Do?
Saffron is a strong antioxidant, protecting cells against free radical damage and oxidative stress. Something interesting? Both eating and smelling saffron is evidently effective in treating PMS symptoms, bloating, pain, anxiety and headaches. Other benefits include the potential of reducing heart disease factors such as blood cholesterol and sugar.
Food for thought: Some products list “Indian saffron,” “Mexican saffron,” or “American saffron,” which are common ways of mislabeling the herb turmeric. Get ahead of your competition by showing your customers just how reputable your brand is. Demonstrate transparency through clear ingredients on your expertly designed labels.
Call the industry’s #1 all-in-one manufacturing service provider to begin production of your saffron supplements: 1-844-625-3771.
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