Tuesday, April 8, 2014

How To Rise Above Your Food Cravings

By Forrest Aton


Saffron is a product of the plant known as Crocus sativus. It's most popular application is in the kitchen, both as a spice and a coloring agent, but it may also be used to alleviate a wide range of health problems. But of all the benefits that it can offer, people are most interested about saffron for weight loss. Ever since being recommended by the great Dr. Oz, it has indeed gained worldwide fame.

Saffron for weight loss is said to be very effective primarily because it is able to curb one's appetite and tone down cravings. One of the causes of weight gain is compulsive eating, usually as a reaction to emotional factors such as boredom, anxiety, and anger. People don't really think about the quantity and quality of what they eat when under emotional stress and this ultimately leads to weight gain.

In a clinical study, it was revealed that saffron could promote weight loss because of how it alters the brain's production of serotonin to aid in the suppression of appetite and cravings. It is said that serotonin can significantly affect a person's psychological and physiological functions such as behavior and mood. Experts believe that increased serotonin helps influence the weight loss process.

Dr. Oz himself took initiative in confirming the efficacy of saffron for weight loss and thus he conducted an experiment involving two women with emotional eating habits. Over the weekend, they were given saffron supplements without restricting their calorie intake. As a result, both women experienced less desire to snack even under emotional stress. Both also lost weight of a total of 8 pounds.

In another study that was published last 2010 in Nutrition Research, 60 mildly overweight women were divided into two groups, with the first group being given a saffron supplement while the other group was given a placebo. The group that took saffron for weight loss was able to reduce their snacking by a significant percentage while the other group had minimal results.

Majority of the clinical studies conducted on saffron for weight loss made use of a proprietary blend referred to as Satiereal. Dr. Oz mentioned Satiereal as a key ingredient in saffron supplements, as it is the one you will see in many well-known brands. Supplements containing this proprietary blend are also known to help minimize a person's craving for weight-increasing sugary foods.

In addition to having applications as a weight-loss supplement, saffron extracts may also help provide relief for other health problems such as asthma, coughing, heartburn, insomnia, intestinal gas, and dry skin. Women who have problems with menstrual cramps and premenstrual syndrome may also benefit from this supplement. Experts also believe that it can act as an aphrodisiac as well.

Even with all the weight loss benefits you can get using saffron for weight loss, you must still keep in mind that it is not meant to be an instant solution for your weight issues. Even Dr. Oz says that supplements are only there to enhance your weight-loss program and they must not replace a healthy diet and regular exercise. Patience and hard work are your allies in helping your achieve your goals.




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