Saffron as an Antidepressant (2018)
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Saffron as an Antidepressant (2018)
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Re: Saffron as an Antidepressant (2018)
#2If you can't afford this antioxidant, try the slightly cheaper alternative: gold.
Re: Saffron as an Antidepressant (2018)
#3Reads like an undergrad class project and not a real study
Re: Saffron as an Antidepressant (2018)
#4This seems to be combining a couple of studies; the primary one seems to be 40 people over 6 weeks using the petals of saffron (but in another place said "leaves", so I'm not sure which is correct), but it's interesting that the petals have the effect and not just the stigma which is what is called "saffron" for cooking
They also mentioned that it _might_ work by affecting serotonin in the brain, but no one actually knows yet; and in the conclusion they mention how this is only a first step at understanding the effects.
So: looks kind of promising, but by no means a finished study yet. (also there were warnings about taking too much as it can be toxic and damaging for pregnancy so... read that carefully before buying some I suppose :) )
Re: Saffron as an Antidepressant (2018)
#5If you can't afford this antioxidant, try the slightly cheaper alternative: gold.
Effective dose of saffron is much smaller than that of gold :)
Re: Saffron as an Antidepressant (2018)
#6I think the psychoactive effects of dietary ingredients are really interesting, and an area of research that deserves more attention.
"Even in their usual intake range, a variety of spices including vanilla, black pepper, cacao, chili peppers, cloves, saffron, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and turmeric have been described as having mild effects on mood"
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.0059...
I think we have relatively little understanding of how these psychoactive effects interact with co-ingestion of other ingredients. Certain ingredients can alter the metabolism of other ingredients (ex. black pepper and tumeric both inhibit MAO, potentiate each other and potentiate other ingredients). I find it plausible that some sort of 'spiced stew' consumed at a particular frequency could have clinically significant levels of therapeutic effect.
Re: Saffron as an Antidepressant (2018)
#7This seems to be combining a couple of studies; the primary one seems to be 40 people over 6 weeks using the petals of saffron (but in another place said "leaves", so I'm not sure which is correct), but it's interesting that the petals have the effect and not just the stigma which is what is called "saffron" for cooking They also mentioned that it _might_ work by affecting serotonin in the brain, but no one actually…
>> They also mentioned that it _might_ work by affecting serotonin in the brain, but no one actually knows yet;
I don't even think we know with regards to any substance, i.e even why SSRI work - I think we have some good hypothesis, but nothing conclusive. I've even seen an ad on CNN for tardive dyskinesia that says 'the is thought to do something to dopamine' - Doesn't exactly inspire confidence but having suffered from mental conditions, I'd still be willing to try it.
Re: Saffron as an Antidepressant (2018)
#8This seems to be combining a couple of studies; the primary one seems to be 40 people over 6 weeks using the petals of saffron (but in another place said "leaves", so I'm not sure which is correct), but it's interesting that the petals have the effect and not just the stigma which is what is called "saffron" for cooking They also mentioned that it _might_ work by affecting serotonin in the brain, but no one actually…
>> They also mentioned that it _might_ work by affecting serotonin in the brain, but no one actually knows yet; I don't even think we know with regards to any substance, i.e even why SSRI work - I think we have some good hypothesis, but nothing conclusive. I've even seen an ad on CNN for tardive dyskinesia that says 'the is thought to do something to dopamine' - Doesn't exactly inspire confidence but having suffered…
Yes, that's true; like you say, no one even quite knows how SSRIs work, so this looks promising! Hopefully future studies show similar effects without some of the SSRI side effects
Re: Saffron as an Antidepressant (2018)
#9This seems to be combining a couple of studies; the primary one seems to be 40 people over 6 weeks using the petals of saffron (but in another place said "leaves", so I'm not sure which is correct), but it's interesting that the petals have the effect and not just the stigma which is what is called "saffron" for cooking They also mentioned that it _might_ work by affecting serotonin in the brain, but no one actually…
>> They also mentioned that it _might_ work by affecting serotonin in the brain, but no one actually knows yet; I don't even think we know with regards to any substance, i.e even why SSRI work - I think we have some good hypothesis, but nothing conclusive. I've even seen an ad on CNN for tardive dyskinesia that says 'the is thought to do something to dopamine' - Doesn't exactly inspire confidence but having suffered…
As you mention, most SSRI ads specifically note that it is thought to work by inhibiting serotonin reuptake...maybe. There isn't even strong proof that serotonin plays the part popularly believed.
But SSRIs work for many people, and do seem to have an effect, so the theoretical is good enough for now.
Re: Saffron as an Antidepressant (2018)
#10I feel like people in the west need to become more familiar with Persian cooking. Every year I learn that one more ingredient that we commonly use in Persian cooking is good for your health. So based on this definitive evidence I'm gonna conclude everything we eat is good for you. To get you ahead here are some other things to try:
1. Sabzi Khordan: Elevate your breakfast with Sabzi Khordan, a mixed of herbs that are commonly eaten as breakfast with cheese and walnuts.
2. Drink properly brewed tea: If your idea of tea is what you get from Starbucks, you don't know what tea is. Try Persian brewed black tea.
3. Persian barberry rice: Try Persian style rice cooked with rice, salt, butter, barberries, and saffron.
4. Add turmeric to pretty much every stew.
5. Try Fesenjan, Ghormeh Sabzi, and Khoresh Gheymeh.