Maca Root Side Effects and Precautions: Is Maca Safe?

Contrary to popular belief, sometimes you truly can have too much of a good thing. “All things in moderation” is a good rule to abide by, even with regard to ideas that may seem like good ones. Exercising and dieting, for example, can be taken to extremes with long-term negative impacts on your health. And while many “health” blogs are constantly pushing heavy regimens of particular foods and supplements, those things have the potential to do more harm than good. So what are some of the possible risks with maca?

Is Maca Safe?

In the US, where The Maca Team operates, the Food and Drug Administration regulates products meant to be imbibed by humans and animals alike. It’s good to know where the FDA stands on something you’re considering adding to your diet. The FDA does, in fact, evaluate nutritional supplements for their content as foods. You can learn more about what they regulate and why on their website, which details the extent of their responsibilities. But the FDA’s purview is limited, and there are some things - including maca - that don’t fall beneath that umbrella. So maca isn’t FDA-approved. Then again, neither is ginseng.

Maca root has been grown and consumed for centuries in the Andes. As such, it’s developed a reputation over the years for its many purported benefits, which are a lot like those you’d find for some nutritional supplements. The key difference? Even if maca isn’t FDA-evaluated, it isn’t a supplement; it’s actually a food.

And there’s even better news: namely, that while the FDA has refrained from assessing maca root’s nutritional value, there’s still plenty of research into its positive effects made available by the US Department of Health and Human Services’ National Institutes of Health. 

Does Maca Root Have Side Effects?

The short answer is “no.” While maca consumption has no known side effects, that doesn’t guarantee you won’t experience some adverse reaction. You should always consider meeting with your licensed medical professional before making any significant changes to your diet. This brings us back to the idea of having “too much of a good thing.”

One of maca’s primary reported benefits is an increase in energy levels, which is what’s made it popular with everyone from athletes to people hoping to step up their love lives. One of the first questions we hear from customers looking to add maca to their diet is “how much maca should I take?” We generally recommend limiting yourself to 1-3 teaspoons daily, at least when first getting started with maca. Customers who have jumped right in with larger serving sizes have reported some minor jitters and difficulty sleeping, especially if they’re consuming their maca later in the day. It’s best to start your maca habit with a small serving size and build up over time.

Another complaint that’s come up, albeit rarely, is digestive trouble. Maca is sometimes referred to as an acquired taste, and not everyone likes its flavor. Between this factor and raw maca’s starch content, about 5% of our customers have reported some stomach upset and mild cramping. For those with sensitive digestions, we suggest trying out our gelatinized maca products, which have been pre-cooked to reduce the starch and make for easier consumption. 

Why Buy From The Maca Team?

Since its rise in popularity in the US in the early 2000s, there’s been an increase in so-called “all natural” maca products marketed with spurious claims that are, in fact, tainted with harmful additives - enough that the FDA has put out warnings about particular products from unsavory vendors.

But when you’re purchasing The Maca Team’s maca, that’s all you’re getting: pure organic maca, certified Fair Trade and non-GMO. Whether you choose to order one of our premium raw maca powders or our maca coffee substitute, you’ll always know exactly what’s in the packaging. Our maca root is harvested in the Junin Plateau region of the Peruvian Andes before being processed and sent to us in small batches, so you can be sure that it’s fresh and you’ll get the most out of its shelf life.

We’ve put a lot of work into bringing quality maca to our customers, and we’re proud of our products.

Don’t hesitate to Contact Us using our web form, or call us toll-free at 888-919-8616.

Enjoy the day!