If you’ve tried Spanish paella with saffron, then you know how aromatic this yellow spice can be. But being a luxurious food additive isn’t the only thing that saffron is famous for. Since ancient times, saffron has been used as an aphrodisiac.

          In truth, saffron, the world’s most expensive spice, has many health benefits to offer. Since the time of Hippocrates, saffron has been recognized as an excellent treatment for stomach problems, coughs, colds, and even heart problems.

          Here you’ll find out why saffron is great for your sex life and reproductive health.

1. Saffron and Erectile Dysfunction

          Saffron contains crocetin, a phytonutrient that is believed to be responsible for many of saffrons beneficial effects. For one, crocetin promotes nitric oxide production in your endothelial cells. Nitric oxide enables your blood vessels to dilate, thereby allowing blood to flow freely into your penis.

          In many men with erectile dysfunction, the problem is often caused by unhealthy blood vessels. Arteriogenic erectile dysfunction or impotence caused by poorly functioning arteries is one of the most common types of erectile dysfunction affecting men of all ages.

          Men with arteriogenic erectile dysfunction have blood vessels that are no longer able to dilate or constrict properly. Their arteries are already hardened due to the accumulation of plaque, a condition called atherosclerosis. For these men, they can’t get a strong erection simply because there’s insufficient blood flowing to their sex organ.

          Saffron helps treat erectile dysfunction by facilitating the dilation of your penile arteries so that more blood can flow into your corpus cavernosa, the spongy part of your penis which traps the blood to make your penis erect.

          Saffron has also been tested on men with erectile dysfunction caused by fluoxetine, an anti-depressant drug that is known to cause sexual dysfunction as an adverse effect. Researchers have also tried formulating a saffron-containing gel that’s topically applied on the penis for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, with promising results.

2. Saffron and Sperm Quality

          Several studies on the effects of saffron on male infertility have been conducted. Research shows that saffron can help improve sperm motility and sperm morphology in infertile men.

          The beneficial effects of saffron on male fertility are attributed to the spice’s antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help prevent oxidative stress from causing damage to your sperm cells.

          In the event that oxidative stress overwhelms your antioxidant defenses, your sperm may incur DNA damage and cell membrane damage. Your sperm cells may also develop double tails or crooked tails, or your sperm cells may grow abnormally with misshapen heads. These result in poor sperm motility and morphology, as well as poor sperm viability.

          Antioxidants in your testicles and semen prevent these kinds of sperm damage from happening. Because saffron contains various antioxidants, it can help strengthen your antioxidant defense system so that your sperm can stay healthy.

          Saffron contains various phenol and flavonoid antioxidants such as safranal, crocetin, crocin, and picocrocin. These antioxidants have varying positive effects on your health, aside from protecting your sperm.

          For instance, safranal is one of the reasons why saffron is good for respiratory tract diseases. Safranal has been found to prevent oxidative stress in your lungs. On the one hand, crocin and crocetin can protect your brain cells from oxidative stress and prevent neurodegenerative disorders.

3. Saffron and Prostate Cancer

          The number one type of cancer among American men, prostate cancer has many adverse effects on your sexual health. All available treatments for prostate cancer can potentially cause sexual dysfunction such as erectile problems, orgasmic problems, and even infertility.

          Radical prostatectomy, a surgical procedure that’s performed to remove a prostate gland that has been ridden with cancerous growth, can rob you of your ability to father children through sex.

          That’s because when your prostate gland is removed, you’ll no longer be able to produce seminal fluids since that’s part of the functions of your prostate gland. This means that when you orgasm, semen won’t be coming out of your penis anymore. That is if you can actually still engage in sex after your radical prostatectomy.

          One side effect of the procedure is that it causes erectile dysfunction. In fact, there’s a wealth of scientific literature discussing how radical prostatectomy causes erectile dysfunction, the prevalence of erectile dysfunction in men who had their prostate gland removed, and so on.

          The good news is that saffron may be able to help you avoid having to undergo a radical prostatectomy. Research indicates that the crocin content of saffron may actually have an inhibitory effect on the growth of prostate cancer cells.

          One study found that crocin and crocetin can prevent prostate cancer cells from growing and spreading. The researchers tested saffron and its bioactive antioxidant compounds against cancer cells in live mice. The results indicate that saffron can be quite effective in treating prostate cancer.

4. Saffron and Cardiovascular Health

          When your heart is weak and your blood vessels are hard and unhealthy, you will most likely develop erectile dysfunction. That’s because your erection is heavily dependent on how much blood flows into and gets trapped inside your penis.

          Saffron can help you maintain healthy cholesterol levels. And because of its antioxidant properties, saffron can also help keep your blood vessels healthy. In addition, saffron has anti-inflammatory properties that are also beneficial for your cardiovascular health.

          All the cardiovascular benefits you get from saffron will also have positive effects on your erectile function. Aside from increasing your endothelial nitric oxide levels, enhancing your cardiovascular health is another reason why saffron is good for your sexual health.

Supplements For Better Sexual Health

          Saffron supplements are widely available online and in retail stores. But if your purpose is to take a saffron supplement for improving your sexual health, you may also want to consider taking a polyherbal formulation.

          All-natural male enhancement supplement contains several herbal ingredients that are also scientifically proven to help enhance male reproductive potential and sexual health.

          It contains Butea superba, maca, damiana, Tribulus terrestris, muira puama, Tongkat Ali, and horny goat weed. The benefits of these herbs on male sexual performance are legendary and scientifically backed, too.