Saffron

Health Benefit of Saffron as Healthy Food For Diabetic 

Saffron flower (Crocus Sativus) has long been cultivated and used for various purposes since medieval time. Its stigma is the most beneficial part which is used as spice in culinary and have various health benefit too. Saffron is cultivated in Spain, Middle East, Kashmir and Iran is the main producer with more than 80% of world’s production. Saffron in Arabic is known as Zafaran or Za'afaran. Termed as a golden spice, saffron is a very expensive spice that price could fetch up to thousand RM per kg. It needs more than 150,000 Saffron stigmas to weight a kilogram. 

Used in cooking saffron has the ingredient to give special flavor and turn dish into exotic once.  Saffron is essential spice in Middle Eastern food. One popular use of saffron is to be used in Nasi Beriani (Rice) recipe to give its yellow colouring and exotic taste. This invaluable spice and natural herb have numerous health benefits which are good for our well being that very few of us know. I bought one of this processed saffron in powder form in small bottle for RM70. The market price of this product is around RM100-150 per bottle. Based on pamphlet that comes with the packaging, health benefit of saffron could be used to treat disorder and treatment such as:

1.            Paralyse  

2.            Muscle fatigue

3.            Rejuvenate and refresh body

4.            Muscle Pain

5.            Bone and  joint health

6.            High Blood Pressure

7.            Diabetes – Control Blood Sugar Level

8.            Arthritis & ghout

The health benefit of saffron that I want to discuss is its ability to control blood sugar level for diabetes patient (I have write about other foods that share similar health benefits in one of my posts before). This also related to its ability to be as blood purifier and anti-inflammatory. Saffron as blood purifier also helps in increasing the oxygen content of the blood thereby aiding in the overall health.  This health benefit of saffron is very crucial to diabetes patients in which their sugar rich blood is bad for their blood vessel, nerve and kidney. In long term the high blood sugar level condition will damaging nerve in organs that will eventually lead to kidney failure, deteriorating vision, blood vessel and heart damage. Maintaining good blood ph is important for our health and well being which Saffron is beneficial in treating blood acidity, thus would help in relieving inflammation of arthritis along with providing relief from joint pains. Saffron  health benefit to diabetes patient not exhausted in controlling blood sugar level but also to ensure overall well being and important organ health which usually affected by diabetes.

My own experience of drinking saffron water I found out that it is very useful to reduce fatigue and muscle inflammation by helping the tissues to get rid of lactic acid which gets built up after strenuous physical exercise.

How to Use Saffron

For health use, mix and stir half teaspoon of saffron powder with a glass of boiling water just like brewing tea. Maximum water temperature would make better juice and give a more greener and bitter taste. Advisable not to consume the residue left and if you feel it is a waste then you can mix boil water twice but the second mix would produce a lesser pure concoction. Drink twice or once daily.

Other benefits of Saffron

Saffron also could be used to reduce fever and as a mild sedative which can be used to treat insomnia and even treat depression, and has long been used for the improvement of digestion and appetite (saffron coats the membranes of stomach and colon thereby helping in soothing gastrointestinal colic and this is beneficial for providing relief from gas and acidity related problems). Saffron is used for the treatment of kidney, bladder and liver disorders as it helps in improving circulation to the organs of digestion. Lastly, saffron also help in treating various disorders like asthma, atherosclerosis, and painful menstrual.


Related articles
Treatment of ulcer diabetic using honey and propolis
Rawatan ulat sebagai satu kaedah rawatan luka diabetes