Maca Benefits: What to Expect
Posted by The Maca Team on 9th Sep 2024
We can’t say enough about the many ways you can reap the rewards of adding maca root to your diet. But what are some of the key benefits of maca that you can expect to see as payoff from your maca habit? Let’s take a look at some of maca’s best health benefits today.
Maca for Sexual Health
Maca for sexual health is perhaps one of its best-known uses. In the Peruvian Andes where our maca is grown, it’s been regarded as a natural aphrodisiac for nearly 2000 years. Research links regular consumption of maca with improvement in sexual desire in otherwise healthy men and women. Hand-in-hand with that is maca’s impact on reproductive health. The locals of the Junin Plateau region in Peru consumed maca root for help conceiving, and even fed it to their livestock to ensure the health and virility of their animals.
This might have something to do with maca’s impact on hormone health. Though maca root doesn’t contain testosterone, it is an adaptogen, meaning that it exerts a balancing effect on bodily functions - including the production of sex hormones. Clinical trials suggest that maca root can improve sperm count and motility. Maca root doesn’t contain estrogen either, but it has been associated with evening out estrogen and progesterone levels, which not only aids in promoting fertility but also provides relief from symptoms of menopause.
Maca for Energy and Stamina
Maca for energy is another common association, attracting interest from consumers looking for a solution to conditions like chronic fatigue as well as overall exhaustion. Studies have found that maca can increase endurance capacity and act as a sort of natural stimulant. Scientists believe that maca’s antioxidative qualities might cut down on the oxidative stress and lactic acid buildup that takes place during strenuous exercise. While maca root won’t turn you into Michael Phelps, there’s a reason it was so celebrated by Inca warriors. It’s this energy-enhancing effect that has led to a rise in maca’s popularity among athletes ranging from martial artists to mountain bikers, enabling them to work out harder for longer.
Maca for Mental Focus
While historically maca root has been most commonly associated with benefits like improved energy and sexual performance, it’s been reported to help with cognitive functions as well. A research study performed in 2016 found that subjects consistently served this Peruvian superfood showed signs of improved mental acuity in addition to motor coordination and endurance capacity. Its findings suggest that regular consumption of maca can effectively slow down age-related cognitive decline.
A 2023 report identified maca as a “nootropic” or cognitive-enhancing substance that can improve the brain’s oxygen supply. Before that, a 2010 study suggested maca as a potential “neuroprotectant.” The NIH defines neuroprotection as mechanisms and strategies used by the brain to defend the central nervous system from injury resulting from trauma as well as chronic neurodegenerative disorders, and has determined that herbal medicines and “nutraceuticals” (food sources with health benefits) like maca can play a role in supporting these processes.
Buying the Best Maca
If you’re buying maca for its health benefits, you probably want to be sure you’re buying the best maca available. That means organic, non-GMO, Fair Trade Peruvian-grown maca root. 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. There are no fillers or additives in our maca. Our standard raw maca powders have undergone minimal processing, sorted and sundried at the peak of the harvesting season before being shipped to us in small batches to ensure maximum freshness.
If you’re not sure which maca product would be best for you, check out our Maca Finder product selection tool - it’ll let you enter some information about yourself and your goals before making a recommendation. And don’t hesitate to Contact Us directly using our web form, or call us toll-free at 888-919-8616.
Enjoy the day!