Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world, and for good reason - it is both incredibly labor intensive to extract from the stigmas of the crocus sativus plant and the benefits of saffron extract for health are prolific. A powerful antioxidant and adaptogen, saffron benefits multiple dimensions of our mental and physical wellbeing including mood, sleep, inflammation, hormones and libido.

Only now, cutting edge chemistry has transformed the ancient health benefits of saffron into the latest nutraceutical technology with a 21st century delivery system. It’s time we all knew about affron®.

affron® is a proven form of saffron extract and the first bio-engineered saffron supplement on the market to be backed by clinical evidence. Peer-reviewed studies have demonstrated that affron® has an effect on both mood and sleep quality in healthy adults.

affron® 28mg possesses an impressively rapid absorption rate that shows effects after just one hour and prolonged improvement when taken at the clinical daily dose, the exact dose included in the LYMA Supplement.

affron® is a wholly unique, standardized saffron extract, robustly supported with peer-reviewed, clinical evidence. So in real-life terms, what could the daily dose of affron® saffron extract in LYMA do for you?

Medical papers show that saffron can be effective in reducing depression in adults with persistent depressive symptoms and some studies suggest it can be just as effective as pharmaceuticals for treating mood disorders.

Peer-reviewed evidence has demonstrated its effectiveness at a daily dose of 28mg, as in LYMA, in alleviating low mood states and anxiety by enhancing our ability to deal with adversity. Regular supplementation with affron® has not only been shown to increase the benefits associated with antidepressant medication, but saffron has also been implicated in mitigating side effects often associated with prescription drugs usage.

Human emotional resilience is dependent on specific genes and ion channels in the ventral tegmental area of the brain. affron® works directly to alter these genes, ion channels and neurons, increasing emotional resilience and improving mood.

New research also highlights how crucial affron® is reducing the amount of the stress hormone cortisol circulating in the bloodstream. affron® is also widely proven to help maintain a positive mood through managing anxiety and promoting restorative sleep.

affron® saffron extract contains powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant plant compounds including crocin and crocetin, that protect the body against free radical damage and oxidative stress. Another antioxidant compound present is safranal, integral in the neuroprotection of major brain pathologies and the reason that saffron is often associated with improved brain health and cognitive function.

Kaempferol is a further powerful antioxidant also present in affron® linked with the prevention of certain types of cancer. Test-tube studies have shown saffron to suppress colon cancer cells and there is mounting evidence that the effect could be replicated in humans, potentially having a similar impact on other types of cancer too.

A study that looked into the epidemiology of premenstrual syndrome in women aged 20 to 45 found that supplementing with 30mg of saffron daily reduced the frequency and severity of PMS symptoms including irritability, headaches, cravings, and abdominal pain. Even the smell of saffron has been shown to have a significant impact on hormone levels.

In one study, the result of just twenty minutes of smelling indiscernible quantities of saffron was shown to decrease the women’s cortisol levels and increase their estrogen levels. affron® can also be a useful addition to your hormone-balancing regime during perimenopause and menopause when hormones calibrate and can become unbalanced.

An analysis of six independent studies suggests that supplementing with 30mg of saffron each day over a period of four weeks can improve erectile dysfunction, enhance libido and increase sexual satisfaction. While the manifestation of course differed, the aphrodisiac and libido-enhancing benefits of saffron extract for women and men were definitive.

The results were particularly prominent when men or women were taking antidepressant medications (a common side effect of such drugs being diminished sex drive), and in men with mood-related erectile dysfunction.

Weight loss is often included among saffron supplement benefits, most likely down to a combination of its ability to increase the feeling of satiety, boosting mood and fuelling the hormones that signal that you’ve had enough and it’s time to stop eating. Another possible explanation for saffron’s role in promoting weight loss is that it contains compounds that ensure blood sugar remains balanced.

When blood sugar is balanced, we are less inclined to snack between meals, turn to carbohydrate-rich foods or to overeat. Furthermore, test-tube studies have shown that saffron can help to increase insulin sensitivity, thereby reducing the likelihood of developing type two diabetes.

Saffron’s antioxidant properties may help to protect the brain from inflammaging and can reduce the likelihood of developing memory problems and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s in later life. In LYMA, affron® is combined with Cognizin® - a potent brain-health nutrient and the world’s leading nootropic, clinically proven to enhance mental performance, concentration and memory.

Saffron’s antioxidant properties have been implicated in a reduction in cholesterol levels, as well as in the prevention of blockages and plaque development in blood vessels and arteries.

In addition to affron®, the LYMA Supplement formula also contains cholesterol-busting beta glucan Wellmune® Blend as well as a clinically-proven ratio of Vitamins D3 and K2, the combination of which can maintain a healthy calcification and subsequent blockage of vessels and tissues in the body.