Saffron supplements are an excellent way to add extra nutrients to your diet. They also provide a natural source of antioxidants. Discover the best saffron supplements of 2024.
The health benefits of saffron have been known for centuries, and it is one of my favorite herbs. It has various applications in food and medicine in many cultures worldwide. Saffron contains several beneficial compounds that can help improve overall well-being. These include carotenoids, flavonoids, and crocetin, which helps boost metabolism. In addition, saffron may be helpful with certain conditions such as arthritis or depression. Here’s what you need to know about this amazing herb.
What Is Saffron?
Saffron comes from Crocus sativus L., commonly called “the spice saffron.” The plant grows wild throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa. Its flowers produce tiny yellow stigmas that contain high levels of antioxidant polyphenols, including safranal, picrocrocin, crocin, and other bioactive components.
How Does Saffron Work?
Crocins are powerful anti-inflammatory agents found naturally in saffron. Crocin works by inhibiting cyclooxygenase enzymes. COX enzymes play a role in inflammation and pain. Taking saffron could reduce joint swelling and stiffness associated with rheumatoid arthritis. However, more research must be done before we can conclude its effectiveness.
Best Saffron Supplements
1. Pure Saffron Extract for Healthy Weight Loss
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Our Pure Saffron Extract for Healthy Weight Loss is a quality weight loss product trusted by thousands of customers worldwide.
This saffron supplement contains high-quality saffron that can help you manage weight and other health issues like anxiety and depression.
The supplement contains all-natural ingredients to promote healthy weight loss.
2. Life Extension Optimized Saffron
Life Extension Optimized Saffron is the best pure saffron supplement out there thanks to its standardized dose, strong reputation, and purity of the saffron used in manufacturing.
It’s standardized to contain 0.3% safranal per vegetarian-friendly capsule, which contains 88.25 mg of saffron extract total.
3. Genius Diet Pills
While saffron’s benefits extend far beyond weight loss, Genius has harnessed the power of saffron and the neurotransmitter precursor 5-HTP to modulate your brain’s appetite sensations.
This combination is far more effective than saffron alone in battling hunger cravings during the day.
4. Bio Nutrition Saffron Extract
Bio Nutrition goes an extra step to ensure that their saffron extract (the usual 88.5 mg dose per capsule) is standardized to contain 0.3 mg of safranal, one of the ingredients considered important in the biological effects of saffron.
While this is good to see, don’t make the mistake of thinking that saffron is the only important compound. Like many other plant-derived supplements, Saffron likely relies on the interplay between several different molecules in the plant material.
5. Mother Nutrient Saffron Extract
Mother Nutrient Saffron Extract makes a simple saffron extract that’s got 88.5 mg of saffron extract in a vegan-friendly cellulose capsule. It has good manufacturing practice certification; the only downside is the inclusion of silica as an anti-caking agent.
6. iPro Organic Supplements Saffron Extract
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iPro Organic Supplements offers a saffron supplement that contains 88.5 mg of saffron per cellulose-based capsule.
It’s a solid choice, as it only uses rice flour as a binder and doesn’t have any other extraneous ingredients.
7. Re-Body Saffron Hunger Caps
Re-Body specifically markets this saffron supplement to treat hunger and reduce appetite. Still, there isn’t anything special about this preparation that would make it more effective than another saffron extract.
Hyping up the appetite-suppressing effects of saffron (which are not nearly as impressive as its other biological effects) likely explains the disappointment that results for many users when they find that it is not the appetite suppressant it’s cracked up to be.
8. 1 Body Saffron 8825
1 Body makes a saffron supplement that’s somewhat lower in the concentration of the active ingredients than its competitors.
Though it too contains 88.25 mg of saffron per capsule, it’s only standardized to a 0.1% saffron extract versus the 0.3% of many other saffron supplements.
9. Lean Nutraceuticals Saffron Extract
Lean Nutraceuticals has a standard saffron supplement with the usual 88.5 mg dosage per capsule. Still, it’s not as well-reviewed as other saffron supplements on the market.
It is hard to say whether this is because of the extra ingredients included as binders and stabilizers or a quality control problem. Still, users tend to have more success with other saffron supplements.
10. NutriNatures Pure Saffron Extract
NutriNatures makes a saffron extract with many supporters, but it lands low in the rankings because of a few key details.
First, the company is not explicit about how (or whether) their saffron extract is standardized. Second, they use a gelatin capsule instead of a cellulose capsule, which prevents this supplement from being an option for vegetarians and vegans.
Who should buy saffron?
Saffron is a spice made from the stigmas of crocus flowers. The best saffron comes from Iran, India, and Spain. Saffron has been used for centuries to flavor food and is also used in medicine. Research suggests that saffron may help fight cancer, diabetes, heart disease, depression, anxiety, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, high blood pressure, ulcers, and even acne.
How does saffron work?
The benefits of saffron come from two main compounds within the plant: Crocin and safranal. These chemicals act differently depending upon what part of the body you want them to target. For example, crocin helps boost your immune system, while safranal reduces inflammation. Both of these components have antioxidant properties, meaning they protect cells against damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals cause cell damage, leading to diseases like cancer.
What types of saffron products exist?
There are three different ways to get saffron into your diet. You can eat it raw; cook with it; or take a dietary supplement containing it. Raw saffron is available online through sites such as Amazon and eBay. However, if you purchase saffron directly from a store, look for brands that specify “100% pure” or “purest.” This means that the saffron was grown without pesticides or fertilizers. If possible, try buying saffron from a local farmer who grows his crops rather than purchasing it from large companies.
You can also add saffron to foods during cooking. A common way to do this is to steep dried saffron threads in hot water before adding them to dishes.
Benefits
Saffron has a wide range of health applications. It can:
Improve memory function
Saffron improves memory function by increasing the production of acetylcholine, which is responsible for learning, attention, and memory. Saffron also increases dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine levels, which are all involved in mood regulation.
One study showed that taking saffron daily reduced cortisol levels in people experiencing mild-to-moderate stress. Cortisol is one of the hormones released when we feel stressed out. When our bodies release too much cortisol, it causes us to experience symptoms associated with stress including fatigue, muscle tension, headaches, difficulty sleeping, and increased appetite. Reducing cortisol levels allows us to manage stress throughout the day better.
Boost immunity
A recent review published in the journal Nutrition Reviews concluded that saffron could be beneficial for boosting immunity. One reason might be its ability to increase the number of T helper lymphocytes, white blood cells that play a role in fighting infections. Another possibility is that saffron contains antioxidants called carotenoids, which reduce oxidative stress on the immune system. Oxidative stress occurs when there isn’t enough oxygen to metabolize harmful substances produced by living organisms properly. Antioxidants neutralize those toxins so that they don’t harm healthy tissue.
Lower cholesterol
In vitro studies show that saffron inhibits enzymes known as HMG CoA reductase, which break down cholesterol inside liver cells. As a result, less cholesterol gets converted to bile acids and excreted via urine. Less cholesterol circulating in the bloodstream lowers LDL cholesterol levels, increasing HDL cholesterol.
Prevent cancer
Several animal studies suggest that saffron may prevent cancer. For example, Iran’s Shahroud University researchers found that rats fed saffron extract had significantly lower colon tumor rates than control animals. The same team later reported similar results in mice. In addition, another group of Iranian scientists observed that rats given high doses of saffron were more resistant to skin tumor development than untreated controls.
They suggested that these effects occurred because saffron inhibited an enzyme called cyclooxygenase 2, which plays a key role in promoting inflammation. COX2 helps produce prostaglandins, chemicals that cause pain and swelling. Inflammation contributes to many types of cancers, particularly colorectal cancer.
Reduce heart disease risk
Several human trials have shown that eating saffron regularly reduces triglyceride levels in the blood. Triglycerides are fats stored in fat cells. High triglyceride levels put individuals at greater risk for cardiovascular diseases like coronary artery disease and stroke. Lowering triglycerides makes it easier for doctors to treat patients suffering from conditions related to elevated lipid profiles.
Treat depression
The antidepressant properties of saffron have been studied extensively over the past few decades. Researchers believe that saffron stimulates certain brain receptors that help regulate moods. Studies conducted in India indicate that consuming saffron and other herbs improved depressive symptoms among women diagnosed with premenstrual syndrome. PMS affects up to 70 percent of menstruating females worldwide. It causes physical and emotional changes, including irritability, fatigue, bloating, breast tenderness, headaches, cramps, and food cravings. Saffron has also proven effective against anxiety disorders such as panic attacks and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Boost memory
One study showed that people who ate saffron daily experienced significant improvements in their short-term memory after just one month. Other research suggests that saffron can temporarily boost working memory or mental capacity to hold information while performing complex tasks. This effect was seen only in older adults, however. A trial involving young men demonstrated no improvement in cognitive function after consuming saffron capsules. However, this study did not include any placebo groups, so we cannot rule out the possibility that participants simply got better without taking anything.
Improve sleep quality
Sleep problems affect about 30 million Americans each year. Some experts say poor sleep habits contribute to obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and Alzheimer’s. Several clinical trials have indicated that saffron improves sleep patterns. One small study involving 16 subjects found that ingesting two grams of powdered saffron thrice daily helped improve overall sleep quality. Participants slept longer during the night and woke to feel refreshed. Another double-blind randomized controlled trial involving 40 elderly volunteers revealed that saffron increased total sleep time by nearly 50 minutes.
Saffron Side Effects
The most common side effect associated with taking saffron is nausea. Some people experience headaches after eating foods containing saffron. If you’re pregnant, nursing, under 18 years old, or taking medications, talk to your doctor before using saffron products.
Recommended dose
The most effective clinical research studies on using saffron for medicinal purposes have employed doses ranging from 15 to 40 mg daily. The recommended dosage varies depending on which product you buy. For example, a capsule may contain 10 milligrams of active ingredients, whereas an extract might be made with 100 mg of dried stamens. You should start low and work your way up until you find what feels right.
How long does it last?
Most saffron supplements will stay potent for several months if taken properly. But some manufacturers recommend refrigeration because they want to ensure freshness. Store them away from sunlight and heat sources since these factors degrade the potency of herbal remedies.
Where do I get it?
You’ll probably see saffron sold online and in health stores. Look for brands that use high-quality extracts instead of synthetic chemicals. Also, look for organic varieties when possible. Organic produce tends to taste more natural than conventionally grown crops.
What else should I know?
If you decide to try saffron, make sure you follow directions carefully. Do not exceed the suggested serving size unless advised otherwise. In addition, avoid mixing different types of saffron. They could interact negatively. And don’t forget to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Water helps flush toxins from your body and keeps you hydrated.
Alex is a fitness aficionado, empowers others towards healthier, active lives through small, sustainable changes for lasting results. Visit Gearuptofit.com for insightful tips and resources to enrich a balanced lifestyle.