![]() These supplements can be taken at any time of day, with or without food, but some people experience digestive upset when taking herbs on an empty stomach. Affron (the most widely studied extract) and Saffr’Activ are some examples. For mood boosting: Bitz recommends choosing a supplement that contains a concentrated saffron extract that’s been tested for purity and efficacy, such as a trademarked or patented saffron ingredient-check product Supplement Facts.How to Choose and Use Saffron Supplements A study of healthy but overweight women found that as well as lifting mood, a specific type of saffron extract known as Satiereal reduced the urge to snack and enhanced weight loss. In addition to its mood-boosting effects, saffron may also help you shed pounds. Although some may need to take it daily to maintain a cheerful mood, others may find that occasional use is all they need. Studies generally test saffron for 4–12 weeks, but Bitz has found that many people experience a mood lift with only one dose. Bitz calls these other benefits “secondary.” Because the chief effect of saffron is on the central nervous system, he explains, it can have a beneficial influence on many areas of the body. For people who are trying to get off antidepressants, saffron can be taken at the same time, and may help with the process of weaning off the drugs.Īlthough mood boosting is the main evidence-based use of saffron, it can also have beneficial effects on weight loss, PMS, vision, sleep, the heart, immunity, the respiratory system, digestion, and skin. Saffron has no known adverse effects or harmful interactions with any type of medication. With saffron, says Bitz, “You’re not going to push one pathway really strongly, which then, inadvertently, always creates a side effect.” Taking a typical 28–30 mg supplement dose is much like eating a serving of traditional Spanish paella, a dish flavored with saffron spice. Saffron exerts an influence on mood in many ways, including neurotransmitters, but it also affects about 20 different pathways, and various hormones and enzymes. How Saffron Works to Boost MoodĪntidepressant medications have a narrow target, such as a specific neurotransmitter. In a group of teens between the ages of 12 and 16, they found that 14 mg of a saffron extract (Affron), taken twice daily, safely improved both depression and anxiety. Mood-boosting herbs are not typically tested on teenagers, but Australian and Spanish researchers did just that. ![]() It also improved symptoms related to stress and anxiety. ![]() Saffron for Milder Mood IssuesĪ multinational team of scientists found that in adults, saffron supplements relieved low mood that was not severe enough to be diagnosed as depression. Antidepressant drugs can be dangerous for both mother and baby, but saffron proved to be a safe and effective alternative. Drugs used as comparisons included the Prozac variety and tricyclic antidepressants.Īnother study found that saffron is a safe remedy for postpartum depression, among new moms who are breast-feeding. When researchers at Jacksonville University in Florida analyzed the results, they found two things: Saffron was clearly more effective than a placebo, and it was just as effective as antidepressants-even for major depression-without adverse effects. Well-designed studies of depressed adults have compared saffron supplements with either a placebo or antidepressant drugs. And research backs up the claim, in people of all ages.ĭid You Know? Saffron was used to make red pigment in cave paintings that date back 50,000 years. “It’s known for its cheerfulness-promoting properties so it’s one of the happiest botanicals,” says Nick Bitz, ND, a naturopathic physician, and expert in botanical medicine and Ayurveda. But in supplements today, it’s become an evidence-based, natural mood booster that rivals pharmaceuticals without their side effects. Saffron has been used medicinally for 4,000 years, to treat at least 90 different illnesses. Get full access to Outside Learn, our online education hub featuring in-depth nutrition, fitness and adventure courses, and more than 2,000 instructional videos when you
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