How Should Saffron Supplements Be Used For Weight Loss?

By Wade Cione


Saffron to most people is a culinary ingredient used as a spice and coloring agent, but in the field of medicine, this product from the plant Crocus sativus can deliver a wide range of health benefits. Despite this, it's most popular application today is in helping people lose weight. After the famed Dr. Oz mentioned it in his show, saffron for weight loss has been gathering a lot of buzz. So what is it all about?





According to Dr. Oz, using saffron for weight loss has its merits mainly because of its ability to tone down a person's appetite and cravings. If you are among those people who go on an eating spree when you're bored, upset, or angry, you might not be aware that it is contributing to your weight gain. Come to think of it, you don't really care what and how much you eat when you're in bad mood right?

In a clinical study, experts reveal that the reason why saffron effectively minimizes appetite and cravings is because of its positive effect on the serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is said to have an influence on a person's psychological and physiological functions that include mood and behavior. Having more of this hormone gives you better control of your cravings and appetite.

In order to test the efficacy of saffron for weight loss, Dr. Oz came up with his own experiment. He asked two women volunteers to take saffron supplements over the course of one weekend and they claimed to have decreased their snacking even when under emotional stress. In effect, one of the women lost 5 pounds while the other lost 3 pounds.

In another study that was published last 2010 in Nutrition Research, 60 mildly overweight women were divided into two groups, with the first group being given a saffron supplement while the other group was given a placebo. The group that took saffron for weight loss was able to reduce their snacking by a significant percentage while the other group had minimal results.

Majority of the clinical studies conducted on saffron for weight loss made use of a proprietary blend referred to as Satiereal. Dr. Oz mentioned Satiereal as a key ingredient in saffron supplements, as it is the one you will see in many well-known brands. Supplements containing this proprietary blend are also known to help minimize a person's craving for weight-increasing sugary foods.

In addition to having applications as a weight-loss supplement, saffron extracts may also help provide relief for other health problems such as asthma, coughing, heartburn, insomnia, intestinal gas, and dry skin. Women who have problems with menstrual cramps and premenstrual syndrome may also benefit from this supplement. Experts also believe that it can act as an aphrodisiac as well.

Even with all the weight loss benefits you can get using saffron for weight loss, you must still keep in mind that it is not meant to be an instant solution for your weight issues. Even Dr. Oz says that supplements are only there to enhance your weight-loss program and they must not replace a healthy diet and regular exercise. Patience and hard work are your allies in helping your achieve your goals.




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