Maca root is a powerful adaptogen from Peru
What is maca?
Maca is a root vegetable from Peru that grows only at high altitudes. The root of the maca plant has been consumed by the natives of the Peruvian highlands for thousands of years; they believe it can help with such conditions as: anaemia, chronic fatigue, depression, infertility, lack of libido, malnutrition, menopausal symptoms, menstrual discomfort and disorders, poor memory, stress, and tension*.
What’s in maca root?
- Maca root contains 20 amino acids and 7 essential amino acids.
- It contains loads of minerals including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, sodium, iron.
- Maca also contains less common trace minerals including zinc, iodine, copper, selenium, bismuth, manganese, tin and silicon.
- It is a good source of vitamins, including: B1, B2, B12, C and E
* Disclaimer: Your experiences from taking superfoods may vary depending on your individual nutrition and health circumstances. We cannot guarantee any specific results.
Maca in the news
Maca root has been the subject of too many articles to quote in recent times. To look at just one recent article in a well-respected publication:
“A 2009 study, co-authored by scientists at Britain’s Northumbria University and France’s Naturex SA, a supplier of maca extract to dietary-supplement companies world-wide, found sexual desire—as reported on a questionnaire—increased after two weeks of 2,000 milligrams a day of maca. Sports performance, as measured on a 40-kilometer, bicycle speed trial, also improved.
Among natural therapies, “maca is the only thing I know that works reliably on libido,” says Richard Brown, associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University in New York. Dr. Brown, who specializes in complementary and alternative medicine, says it’s particularly helpful in patients who have sexual dysfunction caused by anti-depressant medications.”
There is also an explosion of articles about maca powder benefits on nutrition and health blogs.
Black Maca
Black maca is a lesser-known variety of maca. However, it is the most powerful in many ways. Black maca is especially suited for men. Studies have shown that black maca has the ability to increase sperm counts in men, as well as sperm mobility.
Black maca powder is considered the strongest energy and stamina-promoting superfood.
- Helps protect against stress, depression and anxiety better than other varieties
- Best of all maca types against fatigue and adrenal stress in studies on mice
- Increases memory in mice
- Is also a natural anti-depressant
OMNI Superfood Male Blend is made with black maca.
Red Maca
Red maca powder is a great alternative form of this culinary treasure because it has a milder taste then regular maca. This whole raw organic red maca powder contains all of the plant’s extraordinary strength.
Red maca is considered especially suitable for women.
OMNI Superfood Female Blend is made with red maca.
Scientific studies on maca
As always, we do not make any claims for specific medical benefits of maca, but encourage you to do your own research. Here are just some examples of the interesting ways in which maca is being studied.
“Consumption of maca was associated with low serum IL-6 levels and in turn with better health status scores.”
– Role of maca (Lepidium meyenii) consumption on serum interleukin-6 levels and health status in populations living in the Peruvian central Andes over 4000 m of altitude by Gustavo F. Gonzales, Manuel Gasco, and Ivan Lozada, Plant Foods for Human Nutrition December 2013, Volume 68, Issue 4, pp 347-351
“Randomized clinical trials have shown that maca has favorable effects on energy and mood, may decrease anxiety and improve sexual desire.”
– Lepidium meyenii (Maca): a plant from the highlands of Peru–from tradition to science. by Gonzales, Gonzales C, Gonzales-Castañeda C.
