Amazing Super Food-Maca
Maca is a hardy perennial plant cultivated high in the Andean Mountain at altitudes from 11,000-14,500 feet. Maca was domesticated about 2000 years ago by the Inca Indians. To the Andean Indians, Maca is a valuable commodity. Because so little else grows in the region, Maca is often traded with communities at lower elevations for other staples like rice, corn, and beans. The dried roots can be stored for up to seven years. Native Peruvians have traditionally utilized Maca since before the time of the Incas for both nutritional and medicinal purposes.
Maca is a member of the Brassica family of plants (cabbage, cauliflower, turnip, watercress) and consists of an above ground leafy component and a below ground root component. It is the root component that is primarily used and studied.
An adaptogen is a substance which helps the body adapt to a variety of situations. Some
adaptogens, like Ginseng, have an ability to promote energy. Maca is such an adaptogen. It’s truly a buried treasure, though. The edible root, which looks like a turnip or radish, comes in a range of colors, including cream, gray, yellow, purple, yellow-and-purple, red, and black. It smells faintly of butterscotch, and can have a sharp taste that packs a zing like mustard or wasabi-which is why locals prefer to boil, roast, or dry and/or grind it into flour before including it in their daily dishes.
Many factors can affect libido, including hormone levels, stress, and mood. Well-designed research has shown, however, that within 8 weeks of taking 1,500 mg of maca daily, men have an average 180 percent increase in their libido. Furthermore, the effect is independent of whether they have depression or anxiety, and it doesn’t cause changes in their levels of testosterone or estrogen.
Many holistic practitioners recommend Maca to help relieve unpleasant symptoms of
menopause.
Maca has a balancing effect on the hypothalamus, the master switch of the body,which regulates the endocrine glands, including the pituitary, the adrenals, the ovaries, the testes, the thyroid and the pancreas.
Maca nourishes your body and the natural production of hormones by encouraging the optimal functioning of the endocrine system.
Maca improves physical and emotional well-being and lowers stress, improves athletic
performance without harmful side effects, increases energy and promotes mental clarity and concentration.
Benefits of Maca in Women
Nourishes the endocrine system, stimulating the natural production of estrogen and n progesterone.
Increases energy, improves physical and emotional well-being, and lowers stress.
Promotes mental clarity and concentration.
Maca increases stamina and athletic performance without harmful side effects.
Alleviates the symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, insomnia, vaginal dryness, night sweats, chills, irritability, incontinence, sore muscles and joints.
Benefits of Maca in Men
Nourishes the endocrine system, encouraging it naturally to produce higher testosterone levels which in turn boosts sexual energy.
Improves physical and emotional well-being and lowers stress.
Maca increases stamina and athletic performance without harmful side effects.
Promotes mental clarity and concentration.
