Saffron

Saffron is a spice with a powerful aroma and health benefits. It imparts a beautiful saffron orange color when steeped in liquids. It gives strong aroma to the dishes its added to. Saffron is of plant origin obtained from the flowers of crocus sativus flowers. Each flower consists of 3 crimson-coloured stigmas which are also known as the saffron spice. The color and taste of saffron is because of the phytochemicals picocrocin and safranal. The pigment crocin imparts d golden yellow color to the foods it's added.

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       Ruffin's saffron is the finest form of saffron from the fields in Kashmir's Pampore region(known for the best and finest quality of saffron in the world).saffron consists of stigmas plucked from the vegetative propagated and sterile Crocus sativus, known popularly as the saffron crocus. The resulting dried stigmas are distinguished by their bitter taste, hay-like fragrance, and slight metallic notes .Each saffron crocus grows to 20–30 cm (8–12 in) and bears up to four flowers, each with three vivid crimson stigmas. Because each flower's stigmas need to be collected by hand and there are only a few per flower, saffron is the most expensive spice in the world.

     Saffron is known for its medicinal properties,its strong aroma and the quality of taste it adds to the dishes it is used in.Saffron has a long medicinal history as part of traditional healing; several modern research studies have hinted that the spice has possible anticarcinogenic (cancer-suppressing), anti-mutagenic (mutation-preventing), immunomodulating, and antioxidant-like properties.  Saffron stigmas, and even petals, may be helpful for depression. Early studies show that saffron may protect the eyes from the direct effects of bright light and retinal stress apart from slowing down macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. Other controlled research studies have indicated that saffron may have many potential medicinal properties.

     It was used for its carminative (suppressing cramps and flatulence) and emmenagogic (enhancing pelvic blood flow) properties. Medieval Europeans used it to treat respiratory disorders—coughs and colds,scarlet fever, smallpox, cancer, hypoxia, and asthma. Other targets were: blood disorders, insomnia, paralysis, heart diseases, stomach upsets, gout, chronic uterine haemorrhage, dysmorrhea, amenorrhea, infant colic, and eye disorders. For the ancient Persians and Egyptians saffron was an aphrodisiac, a general-use antidote against poisoning, a digestive stimulant, and a tonic for dysentery and measles. European practitioners of the archaic and quixotic "Doctrine of Signatures" took its yellowish hue as a sign of its putative curative properties against jaundice.

       Research suggests that carotenoids present in saffron are anticarcinogenic (cancer-suppressing), anti-mutagenic (mutation-preventing), and immunomodulatory. Dimethylcrocetin, the compound thought responsible for these effects, counters a wide range of murine (rodent) tumours and human leukaemia cell lines. Saffron extract also delays ascites tumour growth, delays papilloma carcinogenesis, inhibits squamous cell carcinoma, and decreases soft tissue sarcoma incidence in treated mice. Researchers theorise that, based on the results of thymidine-uptake studies,the malignant cells are less successful in synthesizing or replicating their own DNA.

      Saffron's pharmacological effects on malignant tumours have been documented in several studies.Thus, saffron has shown promise as a new and alternative treatment for a variety of cancers.

       Besides wound-healing and anticancer properties, saffron is also an antioxidant. This means that, as an "anti-aging" agent, it neutralises free radicals. Several findings give saffron extracts promise as an ingredient for use as an antioxidant in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and as a food supplement.Antidepressant effects have also been demonstrated.

What is the history of saffron?
 

The crocus saffron grows to 20 to 30 centimeters (cm). It takes three years from the time they’re planted as seeds for the crocus to produce flowers. Each plant makes about three to four flowers, and each flower has about three stigmas.
 

Saffron is one of the most expensive spices in the world because it must be harvested by hand. It also takes a large quantity of blossoms and dried stigmas to make 1 kilogram (kg) of the spice.
The spice has a long history. It’s believed that humans used saffron as early as 3,500 years ago. Historically, people used it to treat a long list of health conditions, including:

• trouble urinating

• menstrual issues

• eye disorders

• ulcers

• stomach issues

• tumors

• mental disorders

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What Are the Health Benefits of Saffron Tea?

1. Antidepressant

 

   Saffron has been nicknamed the “sunshine spice.” And that’s not just because of its red and sometimes yellow coloring. The spice is believed to have mood-boosting properties. There may be some science behind these claims, too.

   One older study in the Journal of EthnopharmacologyTrusted Source found saffron to be as effective as the drug fluoxetine (Prozac) in treating mild to moderate depression.

   A review in the Journal of Integrative Medicine examined several studies involving the use of saffron for treatment of depression in adults over 18. Researchers found that saffron did improve symptoms for people with major depressive disorder. This may make the spice a good alternative for people who don’t tolerate antidepressant medications well.

 

2. Heart health

 

   Saffron has many different chemical components. Some of these may help to reduce blood pressure and provide protection against heart disease.A reviewTrusted Source of studies done on rats showed that saffron lowered blood pressure. Other research using rabbits found the spice to be effective in lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
One older human study in the Indian Journal of Medical SciencesTrusted Source found that saffron reduced the possibility that bad cholesterol would cause tissue damage. Researchers believe that the antioxidant properties of saffron might have a protective effect when it comes to heart disease.

 

3. PMS treatment

 

   Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) can cause a variety of uncomfortable symptoms, from mood swings to physical discomforts. Some women are affected more than others. For those who want relief but don’t want to rely on medications, saffron may be a good alternative.

 

   A review in the Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology looked at the use of herbal treatments for PMS and the more severe premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Both conditions cause discomfort to a woman in the one to two weeks before her period begins. Saffron is listed in the review as being an effective treatment for symptoms.

 

   Another study in the International Journal of Obstetrics & GynaecologyTrusted Source looked at saffron as a treatment for PMS symptoms in women ages 20 to 45. Researchers found that 15 mg of saffron twice daily is effective in relieving PMS symptoms.

 

4. Boosts memory

 

   Saffron contains two chemicals, crocin and crocetin, which researchers believe may help learning and memory function. One studyTrusted Source published in Phytotherapy Research using mice found that saffron was able to improve learning and memory problems. This promising research shows that saffron may have potential in treating diseases that affect the brain, like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

 

5. Cancer prevention

 

   Saffron is rich in both antioxidants and flavonoids. Antioxidants help protect the body from harmful substances. Flavonoids are chemicals found in plants that help the plant protect itself from fungus and disease.

A 2015 review in the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine found that the chemical makeup of saffron may be effective in preventing and treating several different cancers. But researchers point out that more studies involving humans are needed.

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Where to buy saffron ?

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When buying saffron, make sure you’re buying from a reputable source like Ruffins. Look for it in a grocery or health food store, or an online carrier like Ruffins with a good reputation. The spice is expensive, so it can often be the target of fraud. To cut costs, manufacturers may mix saffron with other ingredients. This not only dilutes the health benefits, but it can also be harmful.