Continued, and persistent use of high quality organic Maca root powder promotes improvement in the physical, hormonal, and emotional states of regular people. Simply put, maca is a root that grows in the Andes Mountains of Peru. This root has been utilized as a food source for hundreds of years, and a vast amount of people still use it today for its medicinal purposes. Maca root is packed with nutritionally rich substances, which makes it an incredible option for contributing healthy balance to your daily diet.
On the topic of nutrition, maca root is full of vitamins and minerals that are needed to maintain the healthiness of the body. Minerals like calcium, magnesium, and iron are all found in maca root, as well as vitamin B1, B2, B6, B12, C, and E. Every one of these nutritional values are very important aspects of our body’s functionality.
The Many Benefits of Maca Root Powder
Increased Energy – Early Spanish explorers in South America noted that Maca worked both to increase energy levels and enhance fertility. Maca has maintained this reputation for boosting energy ever since. An interesting quality to note, as compared with tea and coffee, Maca does not stress the adrenals. The energy boost felt from Maca is both sustained and even.
Increased Stamina and Athletic Endurance – Incan warriors are said to have consumed Maca prior to battle to increase their endurance. Studies show that Maca improves stamina in distance racing, increases sexual desire, and helps to build muscle. (1) It is utilized by professional and high level amateur athletes for these qualities. They rave about how Maca supports their optimal performance.
Reduces Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – In a variety of individual tests, Maca has shown positive results at reducing the effects of chronic fatigue syndrome.
Increased Libido and Improved Sexual Function – Traditionally among the native Peruvian population, Maca has been regarded as a potent aphrodesiac. More recently, Maca has been very effective at increasing the libido of both men and women. There have also been studies showing that Maca can help men overcome erectile dysfunction. (2)
Increased Fertility – The most well documented traditional use for Maca root is for increasing fertility both in humans and animals. Thousands of years ago, Incan farmers utilized it to boost the populations of their livestock. Black Maca, in particular, has shown to increase sperm count and volume. Red Maca has been shown to balance female hormones and ovulation cycles. (3)
Regulates Hormone Balance – Maca contains a variety of amino acids, which are the building blocks of our hormones. Modern research has shown that consuming Maca regularly can balance hormones within both men and women. Maca doesn’t contain hormones, but the building blocks from which the body can create them. As hormones affect various aspects of our overall health, having a healthy and balanced endocrine system can lead to numerous health benefits.
Reduces Depression – When taken regularly, Maca works to increase emotional mood. This is likely as a result of the dense nutrition within the root, combined with it’s hormone balancing properties and unique nutrients called “macamides.” In two recent studies, Maca was shown to reduce the scores in self assessment depression and anxiety tests. (4)
Reduces Anxiety and Stress – One of the most interesting traditional uses for Maca root is that it was mixed in teas during dance ceremonies to help both energize and relax participants. Studies have shown that Maca’s positive effects on mood lead to a reduction in self perceived stress and anxiety. This makes Maca root very unique, in that it boosts energy without causing any sort of stress. (5)
Relieves Symptoms of Menopause – One of the most common uses for Maca today is to relieve the symptoms of menopause. Many consumers report significant reduction in both night sweats and hot flashes after consuming Maca powder regularly. This is contributed to Maca’s phenomenal hormone balancing properties. (6)
Increased Mental Clarity and Focus – Due to Maca’s uplifting and energizing effects, it also supports the ability to focus, and increases mental clarity. When you have extra work to do around the office or at home, take extra Maca to help keep you on task and thinking straight. Red Maca or Black Maca are preferred for this purpose. (7)
Enhanced Memory and Learning – Studies have shown that the Black variety of Maca has beneficial effects on memory and learning. Black Maca improved memory and learning more than the other colors of Maca. Maca is safe for both adults and children and is a great addition to the diet of any student. (8)
Improved Circulation – One of the most interesting properties of Maca is that it has been seen to improve circulation throughout the body, thereby reducing anemia and improving wound healing time. People on blood pressure meds should monitor themselves carefully when beginning to take Maca, as their blood pressure may be reduced from taking it.
Increased Hair Growth – Though not much research has been conducted, traditionally Maca has been used to prevent hair loss as well as stimulate the growth of hair.
Decreased Acne and Improved Skin Tone – In situations where acne is related to hormone imbalance, taking Maca can be a productive and natural treatment. Since Maca is a food with no known side effects, it’s much easier for the body to process than chemically based acne drugs. One common report received from consumers is that their skin tone improves when consuming Maca regularly. This is most likely due to the hormone balance effects and strong nutrient content of Maca.
Strengthens Teeth and Bones – Each of the Maca colors have been linked to improving bone density. This is contributed to relatively high levels of bio-available calcium. (9)
Increases Muscle Gain – More bodybuilders and athletes are choosing maca root powder as a means of protein and muscle development. Black Maca is recommended for this purpose.
Improves Osteoperosis – A recent study done on ovarecemized mice found that Maca improved both osteoperosis and osteoarthritis conditions. (10)
Stimulates Thyroid Function – Maca has been shown to stimulate thyroid function, most likely due to its hormone balancing properties. Maca also contains iodine, which can positively affect thyroid function.
Benefits for Women
The major reasons women take Maca are:
- Reducing depression
- Supporting Thyroid health
- Improving skin tone
- Enhancing curves
- Balancing hormones during menopause (Red Maca)
- Muscle building (Black Maca)
- Increasing energy
- Increasing stamina
- Boosting libido (Red Maca)energy.jpg
- Enhancing fertility (Red Maca)
- Hair growth
- Preventing Osteoperosis
- Enhancing mental focus and clarity
Benefits for Men
The major reasons that men take Maca are:
- Reducing depression
- Boosting libido and overcoming erectile dysfunction
- Enhancing fertility (Black Maca)
- Prostate health (Red Maca)
- Muscle building (Black Maca)
- Hair growth
- Increasing energy
- Increasing stamina
- Strong teeth and bones
- Enhancing mental focus and clarity
Conclusion
Organic Maca root powder has a nutty and light flavor, that some compare to toasted oats. Some delicious and easy ways to consume maca powder are: stir a teaspoon of maca root powder in a bowl of vegetable and lentil soup before serving; maca root and himalayan salt are a great soup flavoring. Add a teaspoon to any herbal tea. Pour maca powder over organic, non-microwaved popcorn and flavor with coconut oil and himalayan salt.
If you’re keeping your sugar intake low, you can mix a bit of maca powder with enough organic grade B maple syrup or raw honey to produce a paste, and eat with a spoon. It’s a delicious dessert-like treat, and it’s great on bananas too. If you’re someone that “needs” a sweet fix, this is delicious and healthy way to do it.
It’s recommended to start with about 1/2 teaspoon a day, and work your way up to a teaspoon or two a day over the course of a few weeks. If you’re taking it daily, it’s best to take a day off each week.
Maca root is a food staple in Peru, and there are no known effects of toxicity. Occasionally, some people experience adverse effects when beginning to take maca. These symptoms may actually be symptoms of detoxification. When a body becomes more accustomed to consuming cooked and processed foods, then starts taking in such a nutritionally dense supplement, the body will absorb the superior nutrients it needs and “throw off” the old junk it doesn’t need for elimination. If this happens, you might feel like crap for a few days. This is a natural occurrence, and is a sign that your body is detoxifying. You may want to consider doing a colon cleanse and/or liver cleanse before or while taking maca to quickly remove some of the waste your body is trying to eliminate. Doing so will help with many adverse symptoms.
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Sources:
1.) Study of Maca on Athetlic Endurance
2.) Study of Maca on Sexual Function
3.) Study of Maca on Fertility
4.) Study of Maca on Depression
5.) Study of Maca on Anxiety and Stress
6.) Study of Maca on Menopause
7.) Study of Maca on Brain Health
8.) Study of Maca on Memory and Learning Abilities
9.) Study of Maca on Bone Health
10.) Study of Maca on Osteoperosis
11.) VegKitchen – Top Benefits of Maca
12.) Themacateam.com – Maca Studies and Research
