Table of Contents
- The Mood Rollercoaster: Anxiety, Depression, and Why Everything Feels Upside Down
- Saffron: More Than Just a Fancy Spice
- A Quick History Lesson (Cause Why Not?)
- The Good Stuff: Saffron’s Key Compounds
- Saffron vs. the Blues: Can This Spice Actually Help My Anxiety and Depressing Feelings?
- The Scientific Evidence: What the Studies Says
- Personal Thoughts on the Effects on My Mood and Mind.
- Doses, Types and How To Incorporate It in your daily routine
- Risks, Side Effects, and Maybe Don’t Overdo It?
- A Chat With A Professional Opinion About Saffron use for mood boost and general help with Anxiety & Depression.
- Real Talk and Conclusion
1. The Mood Rollercoaster: Anxiety, Depression, and Why Everything Feels Upside Down
Lets keep this one, very light ok, we arent therapist over here ( yet! just joking )… But seriously. Have you ever felt like you’re on a really dodgy, rickety roller coaster, and like… the park’s manager has suddenly gone out for tacos, no-one is control here. It started very chill, ok even funny, than the drop starts….and then another one…than some more….thats anxiety (and a really lame park manger). It can feels like your heart doing the jitterbug way to loud in your ribcage. Than the other thingy…Depression. Well, its just… grey, and very heavy, with zero sparkle. Like my grandpa socks. Youre stuck there feeling heavy… not the sexy way… just…. dull. It all feels off, no energy to do nothing. Its more than just feeling down for the day. I have some of my best pals dealing with this stuff all the time. We had to put in a whole squad chat group just so everyone feel good in the morning.
Both those moods, they sneak up like little monsters, like in that Netflix shows. And once they take over everything is wrong and your internal dialog goes from reasonable, to, I kid you not… absolutely nonsense. They’ll even start yelling ( in my head ) at things i cant even control and im totally tired. So how can we even begin to be better ? Where we need to start searching to feel… lighter.. to fell better… like a butterfly?
2. Saffron: More Than Just a Fancy Spice
Ok, quick show of hands… who here think of a golden, amazing , super costly spice for our tasty Paella or other awesome saffron recipies and also, a super weird natural help for our heavy hearts and scrambled brains?? ( ok just put down the hand, there, it’s just rhetorical). Most likely everyone just sees saffron in like a super boujee dinner table or high end spice shops, you see that saffron and your like ( 💰🤑💰) . Saffron ( Crocus sativus) ain’t no mere sprinkle. It’s like, the cool rockstar of spices and maybe, possibly, my emotional wellness team manager?
** * A Quick History Lesson (Cause Why Not?)**
Did you guys even know that Saffron have been a big time celebrity since a crazy amount of time. Ok no kidding they had to spend 10 min reading in Wikipedia for it. Ancient Romans ( the ones with the white clothes and swords ) and even like Ancient Greek use it for dyes, medicines, like a ton of other stuff… Apparently, that thing that’s grown in places with hot and cold at the same time its been having some secret magic for quite a time and NOONE tells us that?. Now we just toss it in our dish, not much love I would say, I will try to apreciate better. Its cool, knowing something ancient have been doing something like that and people today, that also has an important positive impact in many folks lives.
The thing i love the most its they need hand to pick it out! one little flower at the time, very little little bit… which kind makes it more fancy. You will see, everything here is an amazing experience with every gram you have, so take care and buy well.
** The Good Stuff: Saffron’s Key Compounds*
OK so what gives this crazy threads its, you know, special effects?. Saffron isn’t just a pretty color. I bet youre also going to fall in love with all its names, so cool!! It’s got these bio-active compounds – the MVPs:
- Crocin: Makes your dish bright and makes you smile and thats kinda scientifically provened so who said its not super super magical?! Crocin’s a strong anti-oxsidant with cool protective power! I feel like its wearing some superhero suite for us when eating.
- Picrocrocin: the real big reason for saffron its flavour, also that gives your dishes that beautiful natural bitter twist ( i swear, good bitter) and we should all thank this guy, not kidding at all
- Safranal: its the very very aroma for our love saffron!. and dont forget the reason why our brain get in love with saffron.
They act like, well… good team mates in the body ( so cute!). Think of Crocin like your friend, keeping the stress off your body. Safranal goes to give you mood up, so we can focus and relax in peace, like meditating but while your are actually still doing your everyday life, pretty awesome, ha?!, and then Picrocrocin joins for our delicious meal together. Its the triple threat for good feelz.
3. Saffron vs. the Blues: Can This Spice Actually Help My Anxiety and Depressing Feelings?
Right. The million-dollar (or maybe saffron-thread-worth?) question. Can this actually help and isnt like just a new health scam?. So that super spicy friend could really like… get our heads back to be… better. You see that your family members all so like… happy?! Can we also?
- The Scientific Evidence: What the Studies Says
So I have spent more than a decent amount of time hitting google, reading studies… lots of reading for the cool results.. so much work guys. And it’s legit surprising to see. Studies have shown, in lots of controlled scientific trials that our spice, it’s shown it have significant positive influence.
Apparently, when scientists throw the saffron components on a mix with depression, it acts like antidepressant. One study showed ( that I spend more than enough time to really understeand ), people who had mild or moderate depression who ate saffron everyday for a short amount of time improved a lot compare with that sugar pilss.. they where having those feel goods. and way less feeling down or the anxiety kicking and making problems.
And what’s cooler, lots of other scientific studies and meta-analysis support those same claims. This aint just the “saffron, be great please!” but like lots and lots and lots of people trying that thing over and over and seeing, real effects. Also, seems that the big S have some really nice powers for improving brain activity. and also make your neurons happier than never. I swear it feels good to hear, it feels like good hopes to my future self!. Its kinda of insane!. Like saffron helps brain cells actually talking to each other in an easier way, or making more communication and connections that they normally wouldn’t be, thats what all that crazy wordy scientist folks claim!.
There is more but maybe i can save that to later because, its also like to good for your brains well being and all, I dont even really know what exactly are all those thingy names.. it needs to be translated from science to something normal. Im gonna find some easier science words for us next time for that other stuff… lets stick with these claims for now. And really go more personally.. shall we?.
- Personal Thoughts on the Effects on My Mood and Mind.
Ok, full disclaimer here: I ain’t no doctor ( clearly ), but I am 100% that person who actually needed this and I, my self tried this, and this stuff might be a bit different for each person ( like they say in every shampoo ad you see!). So… yeah, I have felt this first hand! You will also get amazed if you try it, for sure. I tried saffron pills for the first month and wowzers, just a really huge, awesome relief for me!
My normal racing heart started going back to its regular jogging pace and I feel less on that mood coaster we just talk about. It just helped like.. tone the static in my brain to just like the easy listening music type of situation! Not only i am smiling so much but the little dark rain clouds seems to be slowly getting smaller, less heavy, with more blue shining around. I dont feel any fog anymore.. I can go and be the person i like to be without so many feelings all at once making it everything harder than it has to be..
My own personal test was something really out there. I mean for like one day and i know you can’t base everything of that.. but the difference I had it wasn’t in placebo kind.. so please dont throw me off my words here!, and yeah this can get totally tricky! it has been like a totally difference and i am not stopping using, because all things point on the correct and best directions.. i see all good, and that is enough reason for my brain to feel way better. It might seems super anecdotal, but yeah I needed to said it out load so i am not alone anymore on this cool secret.. this saffron seems for me at least a total magic spell!. ( if u also believe in that.. or whatever ). I mean, I don’t know.. its seems amazing and I am so happy I tried. It kinda also shows me how powerful stuff our own mother nature and earth actually gives to us… you know. That’s kinda beautiful… kinda mind blown really. I’m, personally very much into Saffron!
- Doses, Types and How To Incorporate It in your daily routine
So first things, very fast! Talk to your doc. like for real talk, OK?. He needs to know. And you don’t want anything funky interactions if your having other kinds of medicatins ok, do talk to him! And this part its going to sound a bit boring and way to mature so… sorry.
You need to check how much safron should take and be sure, its legit the actual pure one… and well dont go to cheap if you can.. remember we are talking magic here.. if you are trying those 2 dollar ones… its all fakers for sure, maybe even some colored wood… ok? ok! you might find a pill with a certain quantity. And usually the ones used in studies used like doses going from 30 mg all way up to like 100 mg per day for, as most results, showed effects starting on about 4 to 8 weeks of continuous usage, for sure there will be some changes sooner that that depending of all persons.
The tricky and more fun one…how to include in my day. Here’s a very fast list:
- You have those Saffron supplement pils – go easy, very easy on these, because some times there is some funny interactions of stuff or like fillers, try only with trusted brands and check those comments ok! also remember our previous doses so it doesn’t make a lot.
- you can put a super small little thing of Saffron (the real red treads, not the fake powder version!) into your meals or salads, that one does wonders
- Tea time! You will be in LOVE in no time when having a great evening tea infusion ( with all the best soothing effects ever! ).
Personally I always do those little threads of the real stuff ( i usually bought in organic market to check for its legit) to my salads every day, a very small pinch but always there with me. I like my body full of real actual things and its easy way to feel it every time, instead the pilss I had on the beggining.. I sometimes do tea in the afternoon so I will calm down for the end of my workday. Also is amazing. ( my house start smelling so freaking good… its insane! like high-end fragrance and aromatherapy at same time… all with nature!)
4. Risks, Side Effects, and Maybe Don’t Overdo It?
Like with any cool new kid in town that becomes our BFF, even with that amazing spicy friend that became a bit of a superstar.. it does has a few rules.. nothing super bad I swear, lets take a look ok!. Saffron generally looks pretty darn safe when taken with those recommendations ( always start slow) (remember 30/100 mg), there some folks that says it could get them upset tummys, also i did read people who could fell a bit funny on the first few day or so. so just relax and see how the body takes ok? We don’t really see the heavy, real, super dangerous problems, which is good!.
But, and always theres a but ok… you really should be checking your doctor for real here because they really need to understand that! for any specific case because this can really interact with a variety of other stuff like for instance.. anti depresants medications!, which are some other kinds of medicines that already have some weird and difficult side effects by them self and combining could lead into heavy problems so always consult. The other real key take away thing from our little friend.. you shouldn’t take the same dose at super very higher levels than the recommmendations on the studys ok?! it needs to be super controled cause also you really do get the negative impacts when using a big amount that your body wont be ok to take.. also do think about all this stuff as it can do weird things with your bodies hormonal or mental stuff ok! not even mentioning if you are pregnant or breast feeding that changes a whole lot more too. Just being sure here it’s better.. ok? OK.
5. A Chat With A Professional Opinion About Saffron use for mood boost and general help with Anxiety & Depression.
Since i started researching, for myself of course but then sharing with the crew I made, I really had an inner voice shouting that maybe we needed to add more science behind all this. Even I, on all this fun with feelings, I still think that sometimes, professional are the right persons, that give us way more safety for what we want in our lives and future ok! So I call one and had the most fun chat of all time about all this Saffron Stuff!. My old childhood friend, Dr. Amanda Stone ( she always seemed smarter than us ) that now works at one awesome psychology center, is a super awesome smart lady to give us the best opinions of all!. I decided, maybe to not quote her and add words she didn’t actually tell me to give that feel in human way you guys all are accustomed but still the same essence ok?. Lets try:
“ It’s amazing and awesome to see nature always provide help and cures for us human beings but like everything and also with Saffron, more research are needed.. It’s very fascinating how a simple ingredient has such an impact in all kind of folks and very diverse needs…But lets start clear that we really need more clinical studys and also research before making final claims about saffron as the ‘cure-all’ for depression and all mental disorders because, for all what is see its something to ‘support’ treatments and give our patients even a better overall health picture but, I still think its fantastic to support current therapies. From what I have seen, the mood-lifting that come out of the scientific material, have huge potential in a natural way, also if there’s positive signs, but never should be on place for regular prescriptions”.
Also “ Saffron has potential, definitely! The real stuff on those trials studies, those seem more likely with benefits in some scenarios of anxiety or light to mid depression (or when we start noticing symptoms) than a totally lost severe patient who already takes medications on regular bases or needs immediate results.. I’d love to recommend that any person who might benefit should discuss in a totally responsible way this natural option with all their health teams so that the right support it´s given.” She really believes also that most of those cases have huge potential because also gives people options, when regular therapies start to loose steam or in between stuff that also is a great window and alternative when some other regular approaches aren’t working.
“So for you and everyone, If we make a more deep talk on self care, I will always put those little moments, rituals and natural good moments, along side other therapies, because they work together as complementary in so many cool ways, that they really provide all that ‘feeling better’ situation all of us wants in our lifes, saffron might do those good, beautiful help.”
Also when asked how important is the actual sourcing she went into more specific explanations.
“Remember always to select really trustworthy brands, when getting real Saffron! The actual threads! that we see is something completely different than getting powders or cheap fillers and other types that sometimes might even lead to dangers. So do look carefully for reputable brands because their price and time to take them to market show also, lots of cares in how the extraction processes are done, and are also more likely to do the scientific tests we need so badly.” I loved her final notes when saying “ Nature is amazing and we have to explore with care and good vibes always!” – ( that one I actually write as a verbatim ha!). That kinda closes this chapter really cool huh?
6. Real Talk and Conclusion
Okay, folks ( yeah, now were buddies for sure )…Saffron’s definitely given me pause for some legit, soul-searching ponder time ( in a good way). I’ve seen that nature does have some seriously trippy good solutions with this magical tiny treads.. It is NOT like some miracle cure-all ( like none really are anyways ), and the studies seem solid, showing this spice got more to it than that tasty and beautiful Paella vibes that it makes our dishes. I know you see Saffron in like super fancy plates all over the place, but there are like lots of real folks out there actually, you know.. healing from the inside thanks to its help.
If you’re caught in the heavy wave pool that’s also sometimes a life with your mental and anxiety moments..then doing all the research is what needs to be the next move in all scenarios, maybe with other approaches but if we try, something can and hopefully will start getting brighter.
For me.. you guys, is definitely a “will keep using”. ( and keep posting about my own results)
Have you ever try saffron? Whats your thought? let all share some really nice comments down there !
and i will be sure to anser everyone
Bye for now.. and remember… its always good to breath !. 🙂