Benefits of saffron which is made into tea for health & bull; hello healthy

Ever heard of saffron tea? If not, it's time for you to get to know this one spice. Not without reason, the various health benefits of saffron have started to be recognized.

What is saffron?

Saffron is harvested from flowers crocus sativus better known as the "saffron crocus." The name saffron itself refers to the part of the flower crocus which is structured like a thread or stigma (head pistil).

The stigma is then dried. The result of this drying is what is called saffron spice and it takes as many as 75 thousand saffron flowers to produce about half a kilogram. So it's no wonder that saffron is the most expensive spice in the world. Each 450 grams of saffron costs between 500 and 5,000 US dollars, or about 7 to 70 million rupiah.

In addition, the flowers that are used to make saffron only grow for about three to four weeks in October and November.

What are the health benefits of saffron?

Here are some of the health benefits of saffron that you should know:

1. Antidepressants

Saffron was also called "sunshine spice"And this nickname is not only because of the red color and sometimes yellow only. This spice is believed to have mood-enhancing properties. This statement is also motivated by science.

A long enough research Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that saffron benefits were as effective as the drug fluoxetine in treating mild to moderate depression.

A study also shows, consuming saffron or its extract directly for 6-12 weeks can relieve symptoms of major depression.

However, it is said that further research is needed before the benefits of saffon can be recommended for treating depression.

2. Has properties against the growth of cancer cells

Saffron is high in antioxidants, which help neutralize harmful free radicals. Free radicals themselves are known to cause several chronic diseases and among them are cancer.

In research, the benefits of saffron and its compounds have been shown to selectively kill cancer cells in the colon or suppress their growth without affecting other normal cells.

This effect does not only apply to cancer cells in the colon, but also other cancer cells in the skin, bone marrow, prostate, lung, breast, cervix and several other body parts.

3. Overcoming PMS symptoms

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) can cause a variety of uncomfortable symptoms, ranging from mood-swing to physical discomfort as well. Some women experience more severe symptoms. For women who want to relieve PMS but do not want to rely on drugs, saffron can be an alternative.

Research has shown that saffron can help with PMS symptoms. One of them is research found in International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology trying saffron as a treatment for PMS symptoms in women aged 20 to 45 years. Researchers found that 15 mg of saffron twice daily was effective in relieving PMS symptoms.

4. Improve memory

Saffron contains two compounds, crocin and crocetin, which researchers believe can aid in learning and memory functions. A study published in Phytotherapy Research By using mice as research objects found, this benefit of saffron helps make learning and remembering easier.

This promising research shows that saffron's benefits have the potential to treat diseases that attack the brain, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Not only as discussed, the benefits of saffron have been found to help relieve a number of diseases or other health conditions. However, keep in mind that you still need to see a specialist or doctor when you have a disease and consult whether using saffron as an alternative medicine can help overcome the health condition you are experiencing.