Saffron Extract and Its Weight Loss and Health Benefits
Saffron extract has been used in cooking for a long time, now it also is said to have weight loss and other health benefits. It may not be as famous as Hoodia or Yacon Syrup, but it sure has a lot of potential. Let’s see what it is and what kind of health and weight loss benefits it has.
What Is Saffron Extract?
It is a spice that is extracted from Crocus Sativus, a flower that originates from Southwest Asia but now grows in many countries of the world.
Saffron is widely used in cooking, but unfortunately it is very expensive to extract, making it less common in home kitchens. However, it doesn’t take too much Saffron Extract to enjoy its health benefits, thus supplements that contain this ingredient are quite affordable.
Health Benefits
Saffron has been used for various conditions in the past. Some of these have found medical proof; some have not. The fact that saffron extract gives relief to people with depression symptoms has been discussed by medical professionals all over the world. There have been studies to prove this assumption and in one particular trial, saffron extract gave the same results in treating depression as imipramine.
Premenstrual Syndrome can also be relieved with saffron. A 2008 study in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology showed that when taken daily, saffron extract can significantly decrease PMS symptoms in women.
Other common conditions that saffron may be able to help with are asthma, cough, Alzheimer’s, heartburn, insomnia and mild pain. While there haven’t been any official trials on these effects, people have believed in the powers of saffron for generations so there must be some truth to it.
Weight Loss Benefits
When talking about weight loss, it is believed that saffron extract can successfully curb appetite and take away cravings. It is suggested that saffron increases serotonin levels in the brain, regulating our mood and taking away compulsive overeating which is what makes us gain weight in the first place.
There was a study published in 2010 in Nutrition Research where a group of women were given saffron extract while another group received a placebo. The results showed that the saffron group significantly decreased snacking and their cravings went down as well. Dr Oz, who also talked about saffron extract on his show, did a small test with 2 women. One of them lost 3 lbs. in just 3 days and the other woman managed to lose 5 lbs.
Basically, what Saffron Extract does is to reduce appetite, suppress hunger, and help you control your cravings. You can still get faster weight loss if you also change your lifestyle for the better – start working out and eating healthy.
My Conclusion
While saffron extract is not as well-known as many other appetite suppressants, it has several benefits that help you to lose weight and stay healthy overall. If you tend to eat too much because you feel depressed or are stressed out, then saffron could be exactly what you need to feel happier, eat less, and lose weight.
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Miranda Braxton G+ Profile: https://plus.google.com/110068355873338646784/about
