Saffron

Saffron is a well-known spice that is commonly utilised for its fragrance and richness in colour. It is the dried stigma of the flower that grows from the Crocus sativus plant and has been widely used in traditional medicine for its therapeutic properties and health benefits. It contains active compounds, such as safranal, which can have mood and sleep-promoting, as well as stress-relieving properties.

Safranal has been found to reduce levels of cortisol by up to 44%, which can assist in reducing feelings of stress, which otherwise impacts our mood levels and sleep quality. Studies found that the consumption of saffron reduced undesirable changes in heart rate which are usually caused by stress.

Saffron extract and its active compounds can also modulate the effects of serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, glutamate and GABA-A neurotransmitter which can have an impact on mood, stress, and calmness. Specifically, saffron has been found to contribute to improved concentration levels of serotonin, dopamine and other mood-related biomarkers in certain population groups. When used in conjunction with anxiety medication, saffron helps to enhance the anti-anxiety effects compared to placebo, therefore achieving results of reduced anxiety levels. Consuming saffron has also been found to reduce feelings of depression as well as improve happiness ratings.

This stress-relieving ingredient, therefore, has therapeutic benefits that can help those struggling with sleep and improve sleeping ability. It has shown to be helpful in improving insomnia severity, as well as improving the duration of non-restorative sleep (sleep which is usually characterised as not sufficiently refreshing or restorative). It is also effective in improving the ease of getting to sleep, sleep duration and overall sleep quality.

Two Islands Nightcap contains a specific saffron extract, Safr'Inside™️, in a researched dose, which has been shown to cause a 60% decrease in overall stress levels, with effects being noticed in as little as 5 days. Due to its extraction process Safr'Inside™️ in particular is the only encapsulated saffron extract on the market. This makes it 8 to 10 times richer in safranal, saffron’s main active compound, than other extracts, guaranteeing the effectiveness of the ingredient.

Safr'Inside™️ Saffron has been the subject of several proprietary studies including a clinical study assessing both chronic and acute efficacy (after only 30min), an in-vivo study showing the direct action of safranal on serotonin, and an open trial under medical supervision that demonstrated that 8 out of 10 consumers are satisfied by Safr’Inside™️ supplementation (and so much more).