The Benefits of Saffron

Saffron, being the most expensive spice in the world, has a lot of benefits and medicinal properties associated with it, making it an exotic and valuable ingredient in various dishes worldwide.

Saffron's aroma is often described as reminiscent of metallic honey with grassy or hay-like notes, while its taste has also been noted as hay-like and sweet. Saffron also contributes a luminous yellow-orange colouring to foods. Saffron is widely used in Persian, Indian, European, and Arab cuisines.

The benefits associated with it, include:

1. Gastronomic and therapeutic uses: In ancient Egyptian and Indian cultures, saffron has been used as an aphrodisiac.

2. It is effective in the cleansing of the body, mind sharpening, and increasing sexual desire as well as performance into a higher level.

3. Liquid saffron works well in treating nausea, but it can’t lower blood pressure.

4. Saffron contains a dark orange, water-soluble carotene called crocin, which is responsible for much of saffron's golden color. Crocin has been found to trigger apoptosis (programmed cell death) in a number of different types of human cancer cells, leukemia, ovarian carcinoma, colon adenocarcinoma, and soft tissue sarcoma. Hence it helps protect cancer.

5. Memory retention: Its crocin is useful in the treatment of age-related mental impairment, memory loss and inflammation.

6. Hair growth: Saffron mixed in licorice and milk makes an effective topical application to induce hair growth in alopecia.

7. Saffron is a stimulant tonic and very effective to treat cold and fever; saffron mixed in milk and applied over the forehead quickly relieves cold.

8. Even the scent of Saffron has been associated with reducing stress hormone levels and helps ease the psychological symptoms of PM