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Home > Nutrition > 5 Health Benefits of Saffron for Men

5 Health Benefits of Saffron for Men

March 22, 2022
5 min read
By Robert Floyd, MD, IFMCP | Family Physician

In this article:

  • Benefits of Saffron for Men
  • Best Ways to Take Saffron
  • Precautions When Using Saffron
  • Side Effects of Saffron Usage
  • Most Asked Questions
  • Final Word

Saffron strands are a highly coveted ingredient, and they are beneficial in a myriad of ways. Apart from its distinct fragrance and color, saffron is also widely known for its medicinal properties.

saffron benefits for men

Saffron is filled with volatile compounds such as crocin, picrocrocin, safranal, and kaempferol, the antioxidant found in the flower petals, and it can be useful in fighting a number of diseases including cardiovascular problems, mood disturbances, and even diabetes. (1)(2)

Saffron is obtained from the flowers of the Crocus sativus L. These flowers bloom only once a year and are carefully hand-picked to avoid damaging them.

The stigmas (the pollen-receptive projections) of these flowers are then collected and dried to make saffron strands. This tedious process makes saffron one of the most expensive spices in the world.

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Today, most of the world’s saffron is grown in Iran, India, and Greece. (3)

Benefits of Saffron for Men

Saffron can be particularly beneficial for men in many ways.

1. Improves anxiety and depression

saffron can help relieve anxiety and depressive symptoms in men

More than 5 million men in the United States are diagnosed with depression every year. Yet, social norms consider depression to be a “women’s problem” and discourage many men from seeking treatment.

Saffron contains volatile compounds that can have a positive effect on the nervous system. Several studies have demonstrated the benefits of saffron as a natural mood enhancer and antidepressant. (2) A 2020 research study linked saffron use with improved cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. (4)

Saffron can be consumed in the form of a stigma extract or a petal extract to treat depression and other nervous disorders. (5)

2. Treats infertility

Saffron has traditionally been used as a natural treatment for male infertility.

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Recent studies conducted on the effects of saffron consumption on men suffering from infertility have shown varying results. Saffron helps increase sperm motility and size; however, it does not help increase sperm count. (6)

3. Helps in erectile dysfunction and increases libido

While saffron may not help increase sperm count, it may help increase the chances of conception in couples experiencing difficulty conceiving.  

Several research studies have demonstrated the positive effects of saffron consumption in treating erectile dysfunction and increasing male libido.

In one recent study, 20 men suffering from erectile dysfunction were treated with 200 mg saffron daily. (7) Significant improvement was noticed in their sexual prowess over a period of 10 days. (7)(8)

4. Improves exercise performance and relieves muscle aches

saffron usage can improve exercise performance and relieve aches

Saffron extracts and supplements help increase blood flow and oxygen to the muscles. Hence, they can be particularly useful for men undergoing intense training and endurance athletes.

A 2015 study demonstrated that consumption of 300 mg of saffron every day helped reduce pain levels during intense exercise. (9)

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5. Prevents heart disease

Due to various physiological differences, men are twice as likely as premenopausal women to develop heart disease.

Saffron is loaded with beneficial minerals such as thiamin and riboflavin that promote cardiovascular function and help prevent heart attacks in both men and women. (10)

ALSO READ: Health Benefits of Saffron and Its Side Effects

Best Ways to Take Saffron

best ways to consume saffron for their benefits

You can add a couple of strands of saffron to your protein shakes or other favorite beverage. You can also buy saffron supplements or extracts at your favorite health food store or online from reputable sources.

Precautions When Using Saffron

It is not recommended to consume large doses of saffron. Overconsumption of saffron may lead to yellowing of the skin or eyes. Never consume doses higher than 12 g a day as it can be possibly fatal.

Side Effects of Saffron Usage

Saffron is an all-natural product and rarely causes side effects. However, some people may experience the following symptoms when they consume saffron: (11)

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  • Nausea or diarrhea
  • Drowsiness
  • Headache
  • Anxiety

Most Asked Questions

Is saffron good for males?

Yes. As mentioned above, saffron is beneficial for men in several ways. It helps improve heart function, libido, and mood.

Is saffron useful in increasing sperm count?

can saffron help increase sperm count in men?

Saffron contains several antioxidants and helps increase sperm size and motility. However, it has not been shown to increase sperm count.

Final Word

Saffron is a delicious medicinal herb that can have several benefits for your health when consumed moderately.

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Loaded with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, saffron helps improve depression, lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels, improve heart health, and treat erectile dysfunction in men.

References
  1. 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 journal of phytomedicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4599112/. Published 2015.
  2. (PDF) saffron: Potential health benefits – researchgate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347768899/.
  3. Nemati Z, Harpke D, Gemicioglu A, Kerndorff H, Blattner FR. Saffron (crocus sativus) is an autotriploid that evolved in Attica (Greece) from wild crocus cartwrightianus. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1055790319300879/. Published April 1, 2019.
  4. Request PDF – researchgate.net. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338808025/.
  5. 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. Complementary therapies in medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28735826/.
  6. Heidary M; Vahhabi S; Reza Nejadi J; Delfan B; Birjandi M; Kaviani H; Givrad S; Effect of saffron on semen parameters of infertile men. Urology journal. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19101900/.
  7. S; SMRSNS. An open label, randomized, fixed-dose, crossover study comparing efficacy and safety of sildenafil citrate and saffron (Crocus sativus Linn.) for treating erectile dysfunction in men naïve to treatment. International journal of impotence research. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20520621/.
  8. Maleki-Saghooni N; Mirzaeii K; Hosseinzadeh H; Sadeghi R; Irani M; A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials on saffron ( crocus sativus) effectiveness and safety on erectile dysfunction and semen parameters. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29881706/.
  9. Akbari-Fakhrabadi M; Najafi M; Mortazavian S; Rasouli M; Memari AH; Shidfar F; Effect of saffron (crocus sativus L.) and endurance training on mitochondrial biogenesis, endurance capacity, inflammation, antioxidant, and metabolic biomarkers in wistar rats. Journal of food biochemistry. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31368566/.
  10. Kamalipour M, Akhondzadeh S. Cardiovascular effects of saffron: An evidence-based review. The journal of Tehran Heart Center. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3466873/. Published 2011.
  11. Bostan HB, Mehri S, Hosseinzadeh H. Toxicology effects of saffron and its constituents: A Review. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5339650/. Published February 2017.
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