Does Maca Make You Gain Weight?

Every body responds differently to different foods and supplements, and it’s hard to predict exactly what the results of adding maca to your diet might be. In the end, it comes down to a number of factors including body chemistry and maca serving size. But what we can tell you is that maca root consumption won’t directly result in weight gain - it might even be able to help you shed a few pounds.

Maca for Weight Gain

Gaining weight isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, we’ve built relationships with numerous athletes who have added maca to their diets in order to put on some pounds. This applies to pros like natural bodybuilder Ed Urbano, in addition to martial artists like Anton Gotsmanov who are looking to bulk up for a competitive edge. Maca is anabolic, which means it can help your body build muscle more easily. Maca root consumption has been linked to muscular hypertrophy, or muscle growth, in addition to increasing stamina and endurance. Animal subjects regularly dosed with maca root demonstrated an ability to recover from strenuous exercise more easily, indicating that maca can help you work out harder, longer, and faster.

That said, maca itself is low in calories. Though it’s proportionally high in carbs, its nutrient-dense composition makes it ideal for those seeking supplements to boost overall well-being. Maca root is rich in vitamins, minerals, and free fatty acids. Though its anabolic properties may stimulate your appetite, as part of a healthy diet and exercise regimen maca alone won’t cause your body to pack on the pounds. That’s up to you!

Maca for Weight Loss

So maca won’t necessarily make you gain weight - but can it help you lose weight? The answer is yes, though it isn’t a straightforward one. Maca isn’t fat-burning, and it won’t boost your metabolism in the way that some appetite suppressants might. That said, a number of the benefits we highlighted in the section on maca for weight gain apply to maca for weight loss as well.

What are some ways you can use maca to help you lose weight? Maca root can help you level up your workouts, giving you the energy to exercise for longer. It can also cut back on recovery time between workouts, helping prepare you for stepping it up day after day.

As we mentioned previously, maca root should be part of a balanced diet and exercise routine, and there are numerous ways you can make the most of your daily dose of maca. Mix maca powder into your morning beverage of choice, or check out our maca coffee substitute. We’ve also collected a number of maca recipes that can inspire you to make maca root a part of your daily life, whether that means a maca smoothie before or after a workout, or trying a traditional Peruvian dish like Mazamorra de Maca for breakfast. 

The Maca Team Promise

Our family-owned company sources our organic maca exclusively from the Peruvian Andes, where it’s sustainably grown and harvested by a local co-op of farmers. We’ve gone to great lengths to ensure that our customers are getting the highest-quality maca products out there. If you have any questions for us, please don’t hesitate to Contact Us using our web form, or call us toll-free at 888-919-8616.

Enjoy the Day!