Protect your vision with this ancient healing spice

For more than 2,000 years, healers have used the spice saffron to relieve depression, aid weight loss, and treat a variety of other health issues. In fact, Alexander the Great is said to have bathed in saffron after battle to heal his wounds.

And now research shows that saffron is turning out to be an essential tool for saving your eyesight from the devastating effects of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)—the leading cause of vision loss in America.

In order to understand what makes saffron so effective, it helps to have a basic understanding of how AMD steals your vision.

In his Ageless Vision Protocol, Dr. Fred Pescatore explains: “As the name suggests, macular degeneration destroys your macula. This is the most sensitive part of your retina, located in the back part of your eye. It’s filled with the light-sensing cells responsible for sharp, central vision.”

There are two main types of macular degeneration—dry AMD and wet AMD. The former is by far the most common, accounting for roughly 90 percent of all cases. It’s a slow-moving disease that causes the critical sensory cells in your macula to break down and die.

Research shows that saffron benefits patients in the early stages of both types of AMD—due at least partly to abundant amounts of antioxidant carotenoids crocin and crocetin. And saffron appears to work its magic by protecting macular cells against blindness by boosting their sensitivity to light.

For instance, in a small study, 25 patients with early, dry AMD received either a 20 mg saffron supplement or a placebo every day for two consecutive three-month periods.

Results from a focal electroretinogram (fERG)—a test that measures the activity of retinal cells in response to light—revealed much higher sensitivity in the macula after saffron supplementation. Saffron also delivered significantly sharper vision at a distance among early AMD sufferers.

Eager to see what saffron could do over a longer treatment period, these researchers completed a follow-up study. And the outcome was every bit as promising, with results showing even greater improvements in visual acuity (the sharpness of your vision) and retinal sensitivity—improvements that persisted for the full 14 months of the study.

Also noteworthy? Another trial from the same research team showed that these benefits are consistent among all AMD patients, regardless of any genetic risk factors influencing the disease.

A six-month trial from a different group of scientists shows that the benefits of saffron are no fluke. This time, 60 patients with either wet or dry AMD were given 30 mg of saffron or a placebo daily.

Comprehensive testing after three and six months showed significant increases in retinal sensitivity to light. And among patients with wet AMD, significant decreases in apparent blood vessel abnormalities.

The one thing you may have noticed from all this research is that the studies relied on saffron in supplement, not spice form. And there’s a good reason for that.

Dr. Pescatore explains, “If you’ve ever cooked with saffron, you know it’s not cheap. Its main purpose is to add subtle flavor to a dish—not to overwhelm the plate. So you’re never going to be able to get the full benefit of saffron from cooking with it.”

Fortunately, he says, high-quality saffron extracts are available in supplement form. Dr. Pescatore recommends taking 30 mg of a standardized saffron extract every day to protect your invaluable eyesight.

Refer to Dr. Pescatore’s Ageless Vision Protocol to learn about other ways to protect yourself from the ravages of AMD and other vision-robbing conditions. Click here to enroll right now or to find out more about the many ways to defend your aging eyes.

SOURCES

“A Longitudinal Follow-Up Study of Saffron Supplementation in Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Sustained Benefits to Central Retinal Function” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2012; Vol. 2012: Article ID 429124. doi.org/10.1155/2012/429124