Saffron Nutritional Facts

The health benefits of saffron we have mentioned above and all the other health benefits linked to this amazing spice would not be possible without the specific nutritional profile of saffron.

According to the research, saffron contains over 150 volatile compounds. This is a long list of compounds and that’s why we will highlight a few of them that are providing most of the health benefits related to saffron.

The health benefits of saffron we have mentioned above and all the other health benefits linked to this amazing spice would not be possible without the specific nutritional profile of saffron.

First and foremost, it is good to know that saffron includes a few essential oils, but safranal is by far the most interesting one. This is the oil that has a direct impact on the specific flavor of this spice. Some other oils found in saffron are geraniol, limonene, and linalool.

Another compound found in saffron that is worth mentioning is alpha-crocin. This is actually an active carotenoid compound which is responsible for the specific yellow-golden color of the pistils. Beta-carotenes, lycopene, and zeaxanthin are some other carotenoids found in saffron.

The taste of saffron, on the other hand, comes from picrocrocin, a precursor of safranal. One ounce of saffron comes with more than 4 times of the daily recommended value of manganese. It is also a good source of iron and magnesium as well as selenium and zinc. But, saffron is not rich only in minerals, it also contains vitamins. Some of the vitamins that saffron contains are vitamin C, folic acid, vitamin A, niacin, and riboflavin.

Daily doses of saffron

Despite the fact that saffron is great for our health and an excellent spice too, it is highly recommended to take it responsibly. Taking too much saffron on a daily basis can lead to side effects, something that you can expect from any other spice if you take it in high amounts. According to experts, taking 30 mg a day is the maximum amount of saffron adults should take.