Safflower Health Impacts

SAFFLOWER HEALTH IMPACTS

Safflower. The plant known as safflower is found all across the world. The important fatty acid linoleic acid is abundant in its seed oil. Many supermarkets sell safflower oil, which is produced from the plant’s seeds and is a good source of unsaturated fatty acids and vitamins. But for generations, traditional Chinese and Iranian medicine has also made use of the plant’s seeds and blooms.

SAFFLOWER HEALTH IMPACTS

Safflower oil contains linoleic acid, which may prevent heart disease. Chemicals found in safflower also help dilate blood arteries, decrease blood pressure, stimulate the heart, and avoid blood clots. There are several elements of the safflower plant that are said to have health benefits, ranging from better blood flow to heart health.

1. enhance heart health

Safflower may support several heart health factors in addition to lowering cholesterol. One of the flavonoids in safflower, safflower yellow, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities. According to one study, safflower yellow A may help avoid more health issues following a heart attack brought on by an increase in the hormone angiotensin II, which narrows blood vessels.
Before safflower may be regarded as a practical, standard medication for enhancing cardiovascular health, more research is required.

2. Boost the flow of blood

Research suggests that safflower may help increase blood circulation, which is one of its primary use in traditional Chinese medicine.6 According to certain research, safflower improves blood flow, dilates arteries, and lowers hypertension. Safflower may therefore be a promising stroke therapy. In contrast to ginkgo leaf or dipyridamole, some research has shown that hydroxysafflor yellow A, an active ingredient in safflower, improves neurological performance following acute ischemic stroke by reducing blood flow to the brain that damages brain cells. Larger and more recent randomized-control trials on humans are required to validate these advantages and ascertain whether safflower is a promising treatment for acute ischemic stroke.

3. Reduced Cholesterol

Monounsaturated fatty acids, which are abundant in high-oleic safflower oil, can help decrease LDL cholesterol, especially when used in place of saturated fat.2 Atherosclerosis, or the accumulation of plaque inside the arteries, can be brought on by high cholesterol. Your risk of heart disease and stroke may rise as a result. High cholesterol can be avoided by altering one’s diet to include foods high in monounsaturated fat, such high oleic safflower oil, and foods high in saturated fat, like palm oil. Here, the term “high oleic” is crucial since this type of safflower oil has more oleic acid, a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid.

4. Boost Your Blood Sugar Levels

According to certain research, safflower might support blood sugar regulation. According to a scientific evaluation, safflower’s effect on blood vessels may make safflower injections useful in the treatment of diabetes. Carthamin, carbohydrate and hydroxysafflor yellow A, the active ingredients, may aid in lowering inflammation and oxidative stress.

Summary

Since ancient times, safflower has been utilized, and studies have shown that safflower oil lowers cholesterol. Safflower oil contains monounsaturated fat, which is good for the heart. It may also reduce blood sugar and improve circulation. However, more excellent human studies are needed to validate these possible advantages.