Can Maca Help You Lose Weight?

These days, it seems like there’s no end to the endless stream of fad diets promising to get you to that ideal figure you’ve always dreamed of. Celebrities are turning to extreme methods to burn fat, and the pressure is on more than ever to be thin, thin, thin. But “skinny” isn’t always “healthy,” and maca root isn’t some magical fat-burning supplement - it’s a food, and as such should be part of a healthy diet and exercise routine. And if you can stick with it, maca root can help you see some real results on your road to fitness!

What is Maca Root?

As we stated above, maca root is a food - a superfood, to be specific, much like kale or blueberries. Maca root, or Lepidium meyenii walpers, is a cruciferous vegetable belonging to the family Brassicaceae alongside cauliflower and broccoli. But maca is no simple green food. Maca root grows in some of the most inhospitable climates in the world, originating in the Peruvian Andes. It’s been harvested there for over 2000 years, prized for its fertility-enhancing qualities and consumed by locals of all ages for its many reported benefits. It’s even historically been fed to livestock.

But what does that have to do with your weight loss goals?

Maca for Weight Loss

What does it take to keep an Inca warrior going? According to the indigenous people of the Andes, plenty of maca root will do the trick. Don’t believe us? Ask our sponsored athletes, who credit our maca products with giving them the performative edge to keep them at the top of their game. Whether they’re sparring in the ring or climbing mountains, maca gives them the energy they need to power through their workouts. And it can do the same for you!

One of maca’s many celebrated benefits is its ability to boost energy. Modern research has verified many of maca root’s purported “medicinal effects,” which include its tendency to mitigate fatigue and help the body bounce back from strenuous exercise. Studies have found that maca can increase endurance capacity and act as a sort of natural stimulant.Maca is an adaptogen, which means that it helps your body react and recover more quickly from sources of physiological and mental or emotional stress. In addition to alleviating physical fatigue, maca has been found to help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. In short, taken consistently, maca helps you work out longer and harder. It can increase your energy and improve your overall mood, making it easier for you to keep up with your health regimen. It also contains glucosinolates, anti-inflammatory phytochemicals that can help your body fight cancer cells. So why wouldn’t you want to add maca to your diet?

Maca as a Health Food

As Harvard University’s Director of the Department of Nutrition writes, “no single food - not even a superfood - can offer all the nutrition, health benefits, and energy we need to nourish ourselves.” This means that while maca can certainly help you work towards your wellness goals, it won’t do all the heavy lifting for you. As with any food product, it’s important to know that you’re sourcing your maca from safe, reliable sellers…like The Maca Team, of course. Our organic maca is certified Fair Trade and non-GMO, and we want you to know exactly where it’s been grown and harvested. There are no fillers or additives in our maca. Your serving size will depend on your size and goals - check out our FAQs for some pointers, as well as our Maca Finder tool, which can help you figure out which maca product to try out first.

Questions?

Can you tell that we love talking about our maca? If you have any questions about our organic maca products, don’t hesitate to Contact Us using our web form, or call us toll-free at 888-919-8616!

Enjoy the day!