Saffron—”the king of spices”—is the world’s most costly spice, made from the flower Crocus sativus known as saffron flower. This ancient spice has been used for centuries as an herbal remedy for cancer prevention and digestive ailments.
If you want to add flavor to your food while also getting health benefits, saffron is an excellent choice!
Saffron is a powerful blood purifier. It prevents the arteries and blood vessels in the body from becoming clogged. By cleansing the circulatory system, saffron can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease. Saffron is effective in providing relief from gas and acidity-related problems.
Saffron has various health benefits. Safranal oil is anticonvulsant, antidepressant, and decreases cancer cell proliferation. It is rich in carotenoids such as alpha – carotene, alpha – crocin, beta – carotene, lycopene, and zeaxanthin. Alpha-crocin gives saffron its golden color. It iss rich in minerals like potassium, manganese, iron, calcium, selenium, copper, zinc, and magnesium. It also contains vitamins A and C, folic acid, niacin, and riboflavin.
Saffron is harvested from the flowers of Crocus sativus, and it takes a whopping 40 hours of labor to pick just 150,000 flowers. That’s a lot of effort! Each flower of the crocus sativus has only three pistils, and must be hand-picked. Believe it or not, it takes over 70,000 flowers to produce 1 pound of saffron!
Planting is done by hand or machine in July, August, and September, and harvesting happens eight weeks later in October to mid-November. Saffron crocuses should be planted in dry, open areas rather than in the shade since they require full sun.
What’s even more exciting is that saffron is water-soluble, so it will absorb into your body quickly, providing fast relief and health benefits.
One of the best ways to get the benefits of saffron is to drink hot saffron milk. All you need to do is steep a few strands of saffron in hot milk and enjoy!
When buying saffron, be sure you get the best quality. The finest saffron comes from Valencia, Spain.
Note: It’s always best to consult with a healthcare provider if you have a medical condition or take medication.
Very detailed article on saffron. I didn’t realize it was good for heart health.