Maca Root and Menopause Symptoms

If you’re struggling with the effects of menopause, you might be ready to try anything to alleviate the worst of the symptoms. Ranging from painful hot flashes to drastic mood swings, menopause can impact every aspect of a woman’s life. It can negatively affect how she interacts with her family, and the relationship with the body she’s known all her life. But while menopause is impossible to avoid, there are numerous treatments aimed at mitigating the worst of its effects. While pharmaceuticals dominate the industry, most doctors will acknowledge that changes to your diet can address some menopause troubles - and adding maca root to your diet is a step in the right direction.

Your Diet and Menopause

The Cleveland Clinic writes that “a balanced diet of veggies, calcium, and soy may help” reduce the pain and discomfort of menopause as your body produces less and less estrogen. Calcium-rich foods such as soy and dairy products are strongly encouraged, as bone loss becomes more prevalent after your thirties, and neglecting to eat more consciously might result in osteoporosis.

One way to do this is to focus on healthy whole foods, particularly superfoods and adaptogens. UCLA identifies adaptogens as foods “that help our bodies manage stress and restore balance after a stressful situation.” Some popular adaptogens include Ginseng and reishi mushrooms. Of course, maca root (or Lepidium meyenii walpers by its scientific name) is another.

There’s also the option of adopting a regimen that includes supplements to counteract the effects of menopause. Some physician-recommended supplements include calcium, Vitamin D, and homeopathic remedies like (in short doses) black cohosh. But unlike black cohosh, the Peruvian superfood maca can be consumed regularly for an extended period of time without negative impact - a requirement of adaptogens, and part of the reason maca root has long been a valued part of diets in its indigenous Peruvian Andes. 

Maca Root and Estrogen

Maca can help address low libido in women, particularly when the issue arises from prescribed antidepressants like SSRIs and SNRIs. Participants of a 2015 study experiencing sexual dysfunction regularly consumed maca for a period of twelve weeks, with the study concluding that maca root may noticeably improve sex drive in both postmenopausal and premenopausal women.

Given that maca root is popularly associated with increasing fertility and the libido, it should come as no surprise that one of its many associated benefits is its positive impact on hormone health. But it’s important to note that maca contains no hormones, neither estrogen nor testosterone. Despite this, research has found that a regular maca regimen CAN help keep women’s estrogen levels healthy. How does it do this? Well, we’re not entirely sure, though one study suggests that maca’s plant sterols stimulate the endocrine system. The research is ongoing. What we can say confidently is that maca root can positively impact your hormone health, and as such presents a valuable addition to your diet whether you’re experiencing menopause or not. 

Which Maca for Menopause?

If you’re a woman looking to balance her estrogen levels, which one of our organic maca root products should you consider trying out? Red maca is the maca root color that’s generally associated with women’s health benefits, namely with regard to fertility, enhancing curves, and reducing anxiety. But as we’ve said many times in the past, there’s no “right” or “wrong” maca. Whether you’re enjoying one of our raw or premium maca powders or packing some vegan maca capsules along on your vacation, adding maca to your diet can open a doorway to numerous health benefits regardless of your age, size, or gender.

The Maca Team's Maca 

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!