Keshara

Saffron has always held a very special place in our Indian rituals,ceremonies and food. It is applied as tilak on the forehead. It has also been documented to have been used as a versatile medicine since ancient times. In 2004 researchers studying 3,500 year old frescoes at Thera, a Greek island in the Aegean, found depictions of a goddess presiding over the collection of saffron. Perhaps even more amazing is the fact that 50,000 year-old depictions of prehistoric places in northwest Iran contained saffron-based pigments, indicating the human relationship with saffron is as old as time itself. It is called Keshara in Sanskrit. 

Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world. One gram of pure saffron can cost between Rs 350 to Rs 550 ! So what makes it so expensive ?

Well, saffron is derived from a flower called Crocus Sativas. It has been estimated that when approximately one acek of purple crocuse are harvested, it will yield approximately one kilogram of saffron. This is because each crocus flower only produces 3 threads of saffron. About 14,000 threads (actually the dried stigmas of the crocus flower) equals to about 28 grams of saffron.So you can imagine the labor intensive process that goes into harvesting saffron threads. In India,saffron is mainly grown in Kashmir. Though saffron is produced in many countries of the world like Iran,Greece,Spain etc but the saffron grown in Kashmir, India is the most superior and expensive.

The skin benefits of saffron are well known for ages. But it has several other health benefits as well :

Improves Memory: Crocin and crocetin are powerful antioxidants found in saffron which help in improving memory of a person. Diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s can be kept away by its intake. 

Saffron acts as an Antidepressant: Saffron contains 5-hydroxytryptophan which helps in the production of serotonin which helps in elevating the mood. It helps in receiving blood into the brain and helps in reducing depression and apprehension.

Saffron Prevents Cancer: Crocin and Safranal in saffron inhibit the growth of tumor in the body. The Carotenoids in saffron possess chemo preventive properties. It has been found to help protect against colon, liver and ovarian cancer. 

Skin Benefits: Saffron has anti-bacterial properties and can is very beneficial in reducing acne. it can be directly applied on the affected area. It acts as a natural scrub and aids in removing dead cells. Saffron can also be applied along with milk to lighten the skin and remove pigments.

Optimum health: The overall mineral content including calcium, vitamins, folic acid, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin-C, proteins etc present in Saffron ensure the maintenance of optimum health.

Cold remedy: Saffron has been found to be beneficial against flu and cold. Glass of warm milk along with saffron is recommended

while sick.

Healthy Kidneys: It helps in protecting kidney related diseases and reduces kidney stress. 

New studies are being conducted worldwide to understand the true potencial of saffron in medicine.It is found to be helpful in preventing and fighting cancer.

So lets add a little bit of saffron spice to our life !

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110822091617.htm
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/saffron-takes-cancer

Poonam Patil Kalra

Copper on my mind !

In school, all of us learned that 70% of our bodies are made of water. Water is one, amongst the 5 elements of nature. Water is the building block of life and every living being needs water to survive. In India, water is an object of worship since time immemorial. Most of our holy places are on the banks of river, coasts and seashores. It is an important part of our rituals. It is stored in a kalash during pujas, given as Theertha and sprinkled on devotees in temples. It is considered a as purifier, life giver and destroyer of evil. In short, water is life. And yet,we don't stop for a moment to think about the it.

The ancient Indians had guidelines, for something, that we think has no method - drinking water. They also knew something that modern science is still discovering. The importance of storing water in the right container.

My grandparents and even my parents, would drink water out of copper vessels and they insisted that it is beneficial for health. It is only now, that I am beginning to understand the science behind it !

Copper is anti bacterial : Copper is known to be oligodynamic in nature (the sterilizing effect of metals on bacteria), and can destroy bacteria very effectively. It is especially effective against E.coli and S.aureus – two bacteria that are commonly found in our environment and are known to cause severe illnesses in the human body.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3312355/

Copper is good for our brain : It stimulates our brain. Our brain works by transmitting impulses (or orders) from one neuron to another through an area known as the synapses. These neurons are covered by a sheath called the myelin sheath that acts like a sort of conductive agent – helping the flow of impulses. How does copper figure here you ask? Well, copper actually helps in the synthesis of phospholipids that are essential for the formation of these myelin sheaths.Thereby, making your brain work much faster and more efficiently. Apart from that, copper is known to have brain stimulant and anti convulsive properties (prevents seizures), that do a world of good for our brain.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24440710

Copper regulates the working of the thyroid gland: Experts say that one commonality amongst people with thyroid diseases that they usually have low levels of copper in their body. While this is most commonly seen in people with hyperthyroidism(excessive thyroid hormone), those with hypothyroidism (low levels of thyroid hormone) may also suffer from this deficiency. Copper is one of the most important trace minerals the thyroid gland needs to function optimally. A lack in copper can send the functioning of the gland out of sync. So when you drink water from a copper vessel it makes up for this possible deficiency and regulates the functioning of the thyroid gland.

http://drlwilson.com/Articles/thyroid.htm

Copper helps in arthritis and inflamed joints: Copper has very potent anti-inflammatory properties. This asset is especially great to relieve aches and pains caused due to inflamed joints – like in the case of arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Apart from that, copper also has bone and immune system strengthening properties, making it the perfect remedy for arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. This is where drinking water infused with copper is a great way to find relief from the aches and pains of these diseases.

http://www.copperalliance.org.uk/copper-and-society/health

There are way too many benefits of drinking water from a copper vessel to write in this post .However, its important to understand that copper can be absorbed by the body only in its natural form ie via food and water. The copper that is added in health supplements cannot be absorbed by the body properly and causes copper toxicity. Which in turn, can lead to many life threatening conditions and diseases. Also, its important to remember that water needs to be stored for at least 8 hours (preferably overnight) in a copper vessel for it to be really beneficial.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_in_health

~ Poonam Patil Kalra