The Scoop on Maca Root: 6 Health Benefits
October 03, 2017Nutrient-dense and full of all things awesome, maca root has many health benefits to make it an essential part of your daily superfood diet. These 6 benefits are just the start.
Maca is a biennial plant (a flowering plant that takes approximately two years to grow fully) and comes from South America. Similar to a turnip, this nutrient-dense, superfood has vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and over 20 amino acids, including eight essential ones. It has different colors (primarily black, red, and tan), available in powder, liquid, and capsule form. What does all this mean? Simply put, maca does some pretty amazing things for your body! Here are my top 6 reasons to add maca to your daily diet now.
Energy
One greatest benefit that can come within a few days of starting to take maca is an energy boost. Many people say it is like having your morning coffee without the caffeine, jitters, or crash some feel after the caffeine wears off. This increase in energy is more of a sustainable energy boost. How? Maca can help control your adrenal glands and stabilize sugar spikes. Therefore, you may sustain longer athletic ability with the use of maca also.
The History and Common Uses of Maca
Learn more about the history, uses, and nutritional benefits of maca. Add this ancient root into your life today for massive benefits.
Hormonal Balance
Amino acids are building blocks to the foundation of our body. Maca contains a vast amount of amino acids that can help regulate hormones within our body by supporting the endocrine system and balancing the adrenal and thyroid glands. With regular use, you can find yourself with a little more balance in your daily life. ZEN!!
Muscle Gains
Both men and women have the ability to achieve more muscle gains with the use of black maca. Black maca is anabolic, which helps to build muscle. Maca also contains protein, amino acids, and is loaded with vitamins and minerals. You may not turn into the Hulk, but you may achieve some natural results.
You have vitamin B1, B2, C, and E. You are further fueling your body with calcium, potassium, copper, iron, selenium, and zinc to name just a few. You have the fatty acids lauric, palmitic, oleic, steric, and linolenic. Plus all those essential amino acids, and more! Phytonutrients? Maca has those too! Along with a nutrient-dense diet, you are adding some extra health protection to yourself.
Increased Libido
Red Maca (women) and Black Maca (men) have been linked to increased sexuality and stamina in both men and women. With all the natural balancing that takes place within the body when taking maca daily, why wouldn’t it help your libido, right? The native Peruvians thousands of years ago found this root to have a high fertility outcome with their cattle, so be aware, increased productivity may come hand and hand with increased libido with correct dosages of maca!
Antioxidant Properties
Two major disease-fighters are increased when consuming maca root: Glutathione and superoxide dismutase (SOD) are peptides and enzymes that come from the amino acids in maca. SOD and Glutathione have the ability to help increase immunity, balance cholesterol, lower blood sugars and metabolic syndrome. By ingesting maca root, you can boost these disease-fighting properties and aid in improved health.
Maca powder also helps regarding anemia, chronic fatigue syndrome, osteoporosis, increased immunity, menstrual pain, and menopause symptoms.
Found at your local health food store or vitamin shop, 100% maca root powder can be readily added to your daily diet. Maca should be ingested at smaller doses (1 tablespoon) first and built up to a higher daily dose (2–3 tablespoons) that you can spread throughout your day. Use maca root powder at room temperature. Heating this powder up can reduce its powerful health benefits, so it is best to add maca to smoothies, protein shakes, cereals, on top of oatmeal, puddings, and juices as the easiest addition to your diet. If you ever can come across maca in root form, grate it up, and toss it in a salad.