Nutrition and health

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Nutrition and Health

SAFFRON 

Saffron is a product that is highly appreciated for its taste and aroma, but also for the benefits it may contribute to health. We must emphasise its properties as a natural colouring in the diet, compared with synthetic colourings for food use such as, for example, tartrazine (E-102) which is extremely widespread in catering.

In material treatment, saffron has fundamentally been used as an appetite stimulant or to regulate menstruation. Its use as an analgesic for digestive pain, headache or infant teething is very common. There are references to its use to palliate ailments of the respiratory apparatus, such as coughs and bronchitis.

In recent years, numerous studies have been conducted that prove the anti-tumour capacity of saffron. The researcher Allan Conney discovered in 1994 that saffron protects the digestive system against cancer (Le Figaro Magazine 23/12/1994). Moreover, its anticarcinogenic effects on skin have been studied.

Ayurvedic medicine is a type of natural medicine that originated in India more than 2000 years ago. It uses saffron in different curative preparations. One of the products it uses is saffron based and used to combat hair loss.

The components of saffron are beneficial for health, although the quantities used in cooking recipes are so small their contribution is limited. Among others, it contains: Riboflavin Vitamin A), Vitamin C, Potassium, Magnesium and Calcium; moreover, it does not contain cholesterol.

The table shows the nutritional values of saffron:

Nutrients Units Value per 100 g. 0.70 g.
Water g 11.90 0.083
Energy kcal 310.00 2,170
Energy KJ 1,298.00 9,000
Proteins g 11.43 0.080
Lipids (fats) g 5.85 0.041
Carbohydrates g 65.37 0.458
Fibre g 3.90 0.027
Ash g 5.45 0.038
Minerals
Calcium, Ca mg 111.00 0.777
Iron, Fe mg 11.10 0.078
Magnesium, Mg mg 264.00 1.848
Phosphorus, P mg 252.00 1.764
Potassium, K mg 1,724.00 12.068
Manganese, Mn mg 28,408.00 0.199
Vitamins
Vitamin C mg 80.80 0.566
Riboflavina mg 0.27 0.002
Niacin mg 1,460.00 0,010
Vitamin mg 1,300.00 0.009
Vitamin A IU 530.00 3.710
Vitamin E mg_ATE 1,690.00 0.012

SAFFRON SYRUP

Sheer  saffron syrup, a product based on the ancient Indian recipe of saffron syrup, is highly energetic and revitalising, due to the amount of sugar it bears. It is an alcohol free product with no artificial colourings and aromas.
It is recommendable as an energy drink for children and youths, mixed with milk, water or tea.

Saffron syrup conserves all the beneficial characteristics of saffron and provides the energy that makes it an energy substitute of chocolate or powdered cocoa for people who are not able to drink it, or who do not like it.

Nutritional values of saffron syrup:

Nutrients Units Value per 100 g.
Energy kcal 390.3
Energy KJ 1631,45
Proteins g 0
Lipids (fats) g 0
Carbohydrates g 100