What is saffron extract and what is it used for?

Saffron This powerful and readily available spice in our pantries hides numerous benefits that go far beyond the kitchen.

This spice, also known as "red gold," is the most expensive in the world, as it must be harvested by hand and its yield per hectare is very low. It is obtained from the flower of Crocus sativus L. , a small, fleshy, perennial plant.

It is composed of the following micronutrients:

• Carotenoids (crocins, crocetins and glycoside, responsible for giving it color)

• Monoterpene aldehydes : picrocrocin (the one that gives it that bitter taste) and safranal (responsible for the aroma)

• Platelet aggregation activator/inhibitor proteins .

• Vitamins such as B1 and B2.

• Other carotenoids such as alpha and beta-carotene, lycopene and zeaxanthin.

What are the benefits of saffron extract?

The most recent studies place it as a very beneficial option for the brain and the gut , as it is able to modulate neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin , both involved in mood, appetite regulation and satiety.

In fact, the decreased availability of serotonin in the brain prevents the centers responsible for sensing satiety from registering that we are eating. What does this mean? It means that the signals to our body to stop eating are not being sent.

This feeling is very common during the perimenopause stage, and it is accompanied by some symptoms such as mood swings, tiredness, sadness, irritability, nervousness, sleep disturbances, and emotional hunger.

Although not all women at this stage experience the same symptoms, or at least not with the same intensity, trying to put words to what we feel or suffer can bring some relief.

Therefore, one of the key ingredients that can shed light during this time is precisely the saffron extract standardized by its most important active ingredient: crocins.

Satissens and MenoMaster , two supplements with the highest percentage on the market

Two of our products with the highest percentages on the market are SatiSens and MenoMaster : the former to control appetite and cravings, and the latter to support emotional balance and relaxation. These two cutting-edge formulas, combined with a good exercise routine and a healthy diet, can help improve these issues.

MenoMaster It is specifically formulated to address the most common symptoms and signs of menopause: irritability, mood swings, insomnia, hot flashes, anxiety, and dry skin and mucous membranes. It contains 30 mg of saffron extract standardized with the highest concentration of crocins available on the market (10%) under the Safrasol patent.

How can saffron extract help improve these mood swings?

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) and especially some of its components such as crocin, crocetin and safranal, appear to contribute to improving mood through various complementary mechanisms, among which the following stand out:

• Increased brain concentrations of dopamine

• Modulation of the HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) axis by reducing plasma cortisol concentrations.

• Neuroprotective effects, thanks mainly to crocin, which has been shown to increase levels of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), involved in the formation of new neurons as well as in improving the connections between them.

And for mood and appetite modulation, it is also found in the same dose in our SatiSens, designed to help control appetite, especially emotional hunger or the hunger that can appear when quitting harmful habits such as smoking or alcohol.

In this way, saffron extract, and especially the crocins it contains, appear to promote serotonin production in various brain areas involved in appetite regulation. This makes our hypothalamus more receptive to these signals, reducing the amount of food consumed.

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