A Brighter Winter: How Saffron Can Uplift Your Mood

One of the most precious spices in the world, saffron has been prized for its health-giving properties, as well as its warm, sweet perfume and bright yellow color. 

Saffron is often referred to as the ‘sunshine spice,’ not just for its bright yellow hue but also for the mood-boosting benefits it can offer, especially during darker days when the weather is closing in. 

Saffron has been shown to have a range of positive effects on the body, including working as an: 

• Anti-inflammatory1 

• Antidepressant1  

• Anti-cancer1 

• Antioxidant1 

In recent years, saffron has been closely studied for its positive effect on mood. Here are 6 ways saffron can boost your mood during the fall and winter, according to scientific research. 

6 ways saffron can boost mood 

1. Improve low mood 

While low mood can affect everyone differently, it often includes sadness, fatigue, pessimism, and changes in sleep patterns. This can be especially bad during the fall and winter months.2 

Research shows saffron extract can significantly improve mood. In a study involving 128 participants, those who took 28mg/day of saffron extract for 4 weeks reported enhanced mood, reduced anxiety, and better stress management.3 

2. Reduce depression 

Saffron also has an antidepressant effect on the body. In fact, saffron stigma extract was found to be equivalent to two major antidepressant medications - fluoxetine and imipramine - in its effectiveness for treating depression.4 

Several studies have shown that saffron supplementation can improve depression scores in adults, helping to reduce feelings of hopelessness, low energy, trouble concentrating, and more.5 

3. Combat anxiety 

If you’re struggling with anxiety, saffron can help to ease your symptoms. Research shows saffron can be effective against anxiety and depression-anxiety, as well as improving sleep disorders commonly associated with anxiety.6 

In a study of young people (aged 12-16), saffron was found to improve anxiety in a number of ways, including: 

• Improving internalizing symptoms e.g. sadness, loneliness, guilt, anxiety7 

• Improving separation anxiety7 

• Reducing social phobia7 

Saffron can help to improve symptoms of anxiety, working to boost your mood and help you feel calmer, more positive, and perhaps even more sociable.  

4.Control stress 

Saffron may also be helpful in reducing stress, helping to regulate the body’s stress response and improve your mood. 

Crocin, one of the main medicinal components of saffron, was found to improve anxiety and depression induced by stress in animal studies, helping to decrease inflammation and oxidative stress in the brain.8  

One study found that women who were exposed to the smell of saffron had decreased cortisol levels - a primary stress hormone - after just 20 minutes. The study suggested that saffron may be helpful in treating PMS, period pain, and irregular menstruation too.9 

5. Increase dopamine 

Saffron extract has been shown to increase brain dopamine levels, a key neurotransmitter that promotes feelings of satisfaction, motivation, and pleasure—critical factors in maintaining a positive mood.10 

6. Improve sexual health 

Sexual health and satisfaction can have a significant impact on mood, influencing self-esteem, quality of life, and relationships, as well as being a factor in anxiety and depression.11 

Research shows saffron can have a positive effect on sexual function for men and women, including women both at reproductive age and women going through menopause. A combination of saffron and vitamin E was also found to be effective in improving sexual function in women.11 

Can saffron really make you happier? 

Saffron has been shown to have antidepressant effects on the body. While it’s not guaranteed that saffron will make you happy, it may help to increase your mood, improve symptoms of depression, reduce anxiety, and manage stress.3,5,7,9  

How to stay positive during darker days: 

Whether you’re struggling with darker days due to the changing seasons or low mood, saffron can help to uplift your mind and body, helping you feel sunnier inside and out.  

Our specially formulated mood supplement offers an effective and natural way to support your mood with research-proven ingredients including the sunshine spice saffron (Affron®), and the powerful antioxidant turmeric. 

Reference List 

1. Ranjbar H, Ashrafizaveh A. Effects of saffron (Crocus sativus) on sexual dysfunction among men and women: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Avicenna J Phytomedicine. 2019;9(5):419-427.
2. Fonte A, Coutinho B. Seasonal sensitivity and psychiatric morbidity: study about seasonal affective disorder. BMC Psychiatry. 2021;21(1):317. doi:10.1186/s12888-021-03313-z
3. Kell G, Rao A, Beccaria G, Clayton P, Inarejos-García AM, Prodanov M. affron® a novel saffron extract (Crocus sativus L.) improves mood in healthy adults over 4 weeks in a double-blind, parallel, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Complement Ther Med. 2017;33:58-64. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2017.06.001
4. Qureshi NA, Al-Bedah AM. Mood disorders and complementary and alternative medicine: a literature review. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2013;9:639-658. doi:10.2147/NDT.S43419
5. Jackson PA, Forster J, Khan J, et al. Effects of Saffron Extract Supplementation on Mood, Well-Being, and Response to a Psychosocial Stressor in Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel Group, Clinical Trial. Front Nutr. 2021;7. doi:10.3389/fnut.2020.606124
6. Omidkhoda SF, Hosseinzadeh H. Saffron and its active ingredients against human disorders: A literature review on existing clinical evidence. Iran J Basic Med Sci. 2022;25(8):913-933. doi:10.22038/IJBMS.2022.63378.13985
7. Lopresti AL, Drummond PD, Inarejos-García AM, Prodanov M. affron®, a standardised extract from saffron (Crocus sativus L.) for the treatment of youth anxiety and depressive symptoms: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Affect Disord. 2018;232:349-357. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2018.02.070
8. Abbaszade-Cheragheali A, Beheshti F, Kakhki S, et al. Crocin, the main active saffron (Crocus sativus L.) constituent, as a potential candidate to prevent anxiety and depressive-like behaviors induced by unpredictable chronic mild stress. Neurosci Lett. 2022;791:136912. doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2022.136912
9. Fukui H, Toyoshima K, Komaki R. Psychological and neuroendocrinological effects of odor of saffron (Crocus sativus). Phytomedicine. 2011;18(8):726-730. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2010.11.013
10. Khazdair MR, Boskabady MH, Hosseini M, Rezaee R, M. Tsatsakis A. The effects of Crocus sativus (saffron) and its constituents on nervous system: A review. Avicenna J Phytomedicine. 2015;5(5):376-391.
11. Izadi S, Mohammad-Alizadeh-Charandabi S, Yadollahi P, Mirghafourvand M. Effect of vitamin E with and without saffron on the sexual function in women of reproductive age with sexual dysfunction: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Womens Health. 2024;24(1):143. doi:10.1186/s12905-024-02980-w

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