Information about saffron

Ninety-five percent of the world's "red gold" saffron is produced and exported to Iran. Saffron, with its incredible properties, is traditionally grown in Khorasan province, a region in northeastern Iran with ideal subtropical climatic conditions with mild winters and hot, dry summers. Saffron is a valuable spice in the Zagros Mountains. Saffron with the scientific name of Crocus Sativus belongs to the Iridaceae family of irises.

The best time to plant saffron is in May and June, and as the weather gets warmer and the planting time is delayed, the saffron onion will be damaged. Irrigation is required for saffron at the beginning of cultivation, and after this, only during harvest and a few days before harvest, water is needed in saffron cultivation fields. Saffron needs less watering and care than other plants. Saffron bulbs do not need to be replanted until 7 years after planting.

Saffron harvest time is in October and mid-November. Of course, harvesting may continue until late November. Certainly, the time of planting and harvesting saffron and the method of cleaning saffron have a great impact on the price and quality of the product. Saffron that is dried and cleaned quickly after harvest is more suitable for export.

Saffron is one of the spices that has been known for its color, taste and medicinal properties since ancient times. This exotic local spice is also grown in southern Europe and is now grown in many countries around the world, especially in Spain, Italy, France, Greece, Turkey, Iran, and in India and Kashmir.

75,000 saffron blossoms are needed to produce one kilogram of saffron spice. Saffron is usually harvested by hand. Due to the difficulty of harvesting saffron, saffron is one of the most expensive plants in the world.

1. Saffron, a powerful antioxidant
Saffron contains a variety of plant compounds that act as antioxidants. Molecules that protect your cells against free radicals and oxidative stress. Notable antioxidants for saffron include crocin, crostin, saffron, and camperl.

Crocin and crostin are carotenoid pigments and cause yellowing of saffron. Both compounds have antidepressant properties, helping brain cells to cope with progressive damage, inflammation, loss of appetite and weight loss, such as green tea.

The saffron in saffron distinguishes the taste of saffron. Research shows that saffron in saffron helps improve your mood, memory and learning ability, and can also protect your brain cells from oxidative stress. Finally, camphor, found in saffron flower petals, has benefits such as reducing inflammation, anti-cancer properties and antidepressants.

2. Saffron and insomnia treatment
Saffron has natural sedative properties and it is said that consuming saffron syrup before going to bed helps to improve the quality of sleep and treats nighttime insomnia. Therefore, it is better to pour a little saffron into the water and drink it like syrup when you suffer from insomnia.
Saffron contains sedative properties that help treat insomnia, take 3 or 4 strands of saffron and put them in a cup of warm milk. Drink this hot drink every day before bed.

3. Saffron can improve mood and treat depressive symptoms.
Saffron is called "spice of the sun". This saffron lettering is not just because of its distinctive color, but also because it may help your mood. Other studies have shown that daily consumption of 30 mg of saffron, as well as fluoxetine, imipramine and citalopram, is effective for conventional treatments for depression. Many women who become depressed after giving birth will lose their depression by eating saffron for 6 weeks.

4. Saffron to fight and prevent cancer
Saffron has high antioxidants that help neutralize harmful free radicals. Free radical damage is linked to chronic diseases such as cancer. In laboratory studies, saffron and its compounds selectively kill intestinal cancer cells or stop them from growing, while not harming normal cells. It is also true for skin, bone marrow, prostate, lung, breast, cervix, and several other cancer cells.

gastric cancer
More than 20 percent of the world's population, especially in the United States, has gastrointestinal cancer. Saffron juice prevents the disease from progressing.

 Colon cancer
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States. Saffron significantly inhibits the growth of colorectal cancer cells. While it has no effect on normal cells.

 liver cancer
Carcinoma, or HCC, is one of the most common early forms of liver cancer, and blood cell carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer and the third leading cause of death.
Saffron has an important chemotherapeutic effect against the disease due to inhibition of cell proliferation and protects the liver by suppressing the inflammatory response. It can reduce the incidence of side effects of treatment and mortality. Saffron has anticoagulant activity in malignant cells and reduces cell proliferation.

 Skin Cancer
The incidence of skin cancer has increased worldwide. Water injection of saffron prevents the progression of this type of disease. Since the skin is one of the beauty factors in the face and body, so another use of saffron is to use saffron masks in different ways.