Maca Powder - What is the scoop?

What is Maca powder? What are the benefits of Maca powder? Is Maca powder only good for sexual health? What is the difference between red, yellow and black Maca? What is Maca powder good for?

So many questions arise in our mind when we hear the buzz around a superfood. In this blog I will try to answer some of these questions in plain and simple terms. Hope you find it informative as well as interesting to read!

So, what is Maca?

Background

Maca is a Peruvian plant native to the Central Andes mountains for more than 2000 years. In the central region of Andes, it has been used since the pre-Incan age where it is considered a gift from the gods and is offered in many of their traditional ceremonies. It is believed that people indigenous to the area began using Maca themselves after they saw the positive effect it had on their livestock especially for energy and fertility.

Gerhard Walpers , a German botanist, names the species Lepidium meyenii in 1843 which was later also recognized by USDA.

Growth conditions

Maca is a very tolerant plant and grows in intense cold, extremely intense sunlight and strong winds. The natural habitat of Maca is 12,500-14,400 ft above sea level. It is the world’s highest growing vegetable that responds well to temperature extremities, subpar soil conditions, strong winds and intense sunlight. It is a cruciferous vegetable, making it a close relative of cabbage, turnip, mustard etc.

The powerpacked Maca!!

Maca is one of only a few foods to be considered an adaptogen.

What is an adaptogen? You ask!

According to the Merriam-webster dictionary, adaptogen is a plant extract that is held to increase the body’s ability to resist the damaging effects of stress and promote or restore normal physiological functioning.

In today’s day and age, that effect alone justifies the inclusion of Maca in our health routine! In addition to the above , dried maca powder consists of 13-16% protein, 8.5% fibre, 19 essential amino acids, vitamins, iron and calcium along with free fatty acids and unique compounds called macaenes and macamides.

Difference between Red, Yellow or Black Maca

Inspite of coming from the same seed, growing in the same soil and belonging to the same species, maca roots grow in a variety of colors.

The color of Maca root is limited to the skin only. They are all off-white from inside, similar to a radish or turnip. When Maca roots are harvested, farmers dig them out and place them in burlap bags for transport. At a central location, all roots are then sorted , immediately separated by color and then dried.

Until late 1990s the color of the maca root was not an issue, they were all combined together at harvest and then consumed as a mixture for their various health benefits. It is only when researchers began to discover that different colors of the root presented slightly different nutritional profiles, they were separated into red, yellow and black maca. Many studies and analysis have confirmed that there is a little-to-no difference between the nutritional profile of each color.

Red Maca, however, has gained slightly more popularity based on 2 reasons:

1. It has shown to be higher in certain compounds that support the body in antioxidant and antitumoral activity. It also contains slightly higher level of phytonutrients.
2. Maca’s flavour in general is similar to a malty caramel flavour. Red Maca is milder and the sweetest of all colours making it most palatable. You can sprinkle this Maca over oatmeal or smoothie bowl to add a bit of sweetness.

All of the above is great but bottom line is “How does Maca benefit you?” So let’s dive right into it with a list of benefits this superfood offers

• Boosts Libido in both Men and Women

Reduced sexual desire can be attributed to so many factors in our life including stress, foods we eat, life conditions etc., making it a very common problem in adults.

The most well-known benefit of maca root is its potential to boost libido. In 2002, a group of researchers in Peru studied the effects of maca on sexual desire in adult healthy men. Men aged 21–56 years received Maca in one of two doses: 1500 mg or 3000 mg . An improvement in sexual desire was observed with Maca since 8 weeks of treatment. This was supported by further studies in 2010 and 2015.

• Improves Fertility

Due to its adaptogenic properties, Maca works on the endocrine system to balance and regulate hormone levels in both men and women. Scientific studies have found that maca boosts sperm production and increases sperm activity in men . In women, it increases regularity in their cycles with easier ovulation.

• May help relieve the symptoms of Menopause

During menopause, female hormonal system undergoes a great deal of change which can lead to a variety of symptoms including stress, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, vaginal dryness, anxiety, mood swings, weight gain… seems like a never ending list. doesn’t it?

Maca contains nutrients to stimulate the body to produce balanced levels of hormones particularly estrogen. Maca helps alleviate menopausal symptoms if used consistently and regulary.

• Boosts energy and endurance

It is a very popular supplement among body builders and athletes. It is believed to help you gain muscle mass, increase strength, boost energy and improve performance. There has not been many studies around this yet so more scientific evidence is needed to confirm this benefit.

• Mood improvement

As of 2017, 300 million people around the world have depression, according to the World Health Organization. It affects people from all walks of life irrespective of their background or age.

Several studies have been conducted so far to confirm that maca can enhance your mood, reduce anxiety and symptoms of depression. Maca contains flavonoids which are believed to improve mood and reduce anxiety.

• May Enhance Memory and Learning

Maca has been traditionally used by natives in Peru to improve children’s performance in school. It is believed to improve brain function in children as well as adults.

Apart from the above benefits, Maca is also recognized for improving acne, maintaining strong teeth and bones, enhancing hair growth, stimulate thyroid function , sun protection when applied to the skin and fighting free radicals in our body. All of these benefits are due to the fact that Maca helps in hormonal balancing of our bodies.

Difference between Raw and Gelatinized Maca

Raw Maca powder is made from roots that have never been heated above 100F , preserving their enzymes and nutrients at peak levels .

Gelatinized Maca powder is made from roots that are heated to remove starch content. The heat removes enzymes and vitamin C but preserves other major nutrients. They are great for anyone with a sensitive digestive system.

Best ways to incorporate Maca in your diet

Maca is easy to incorporate into your diet. It can be taken as a supplement or added to your smoothies, smoothie bowls, oatmeal or baked goods. Remember to speak to an expert about dosage before incorporating it in your diet. You can find Rootalive Organic Maca here!

Check out these 3 simple recipes by “Simply Quinoa” to use Maca Powder in your daily health routine

I also found some very interesting recipes on this site! Check’em out!

Have a recipe of your own? Do share in comments below…

To summarize…..

Although there are few health risks associated with taking maca, most people can try maca without experiencing any adverse side effects.

Maca shows a lot of promise but still needs to be studied more extensively.