Maca Root's Top Benefits

It’s not uncommon for vendors of supplements and nutritional products to make every promise under the sun in order to sell you something. This is no less true of maca, a superfood which has experienced a fairly recent rise in popularity. While the hype never reached kale levels (remember when kale was in everything?), sellers have made all kinds of promises about maca’s purported benefits. But how many of those promises are rooted (pun intended) in scientifically-backed research?

Let’s take a look at some of maca’s top reported benefits, and the science supporting them.

Libido and Fertility

By far maca root’s most lauded associated benefits are increased libido and a boost in fertility. If you’ve done much research, you’ve probably learned that the natives of the Peruvian Andes (where maca originates) have been consuming maca root in order to stimulate the libido and aid in conception for centuries.

It’s important to note that historically, the same results have been attributed to numerous strange “aphrodisiacs” across the world that later turned out to be harmful. What makes maca any different?

The key difference is that recent studies have managed to lend evidence to some of these claims. A 2002 clinical trial found that “maca improved sexual desire” without affecting serum testosterone levels. Maca has also been found to increase sperm count in laboratory rats. The same study also references findings suggesting that maca improves fertility, as well.

Maca isn’t a “gendered” product, but we’ve found that two particular colors of maca root correspond to the most beneficial results for men and women: black maca root best aids with stimulating the male libido and sperm count, while red maca root improves sex drive in women (most notably with regard to antidepressant-related sexual dysfunction) and fertility.

Energy

How does maca root give you more energy? The answer to that question isn’t as simple as you might expect. Maca doesn’t contain caffeine, and it won’t give you the jitters unless you consume too much of it at once. Maca is an adaptogenic substance, which means that it helps the body manage stress - both psychological and physical. There’s a reason our sponsored athletes have turned to maca in their fitness journeys.

One way maca improves your energy levels is by reducing the anxiety that might result from a high-stakes environment, like a busy workplace. Less burnout, more productivity.

The same applies to your muscles. Adding maca to a balanced diet and workout routine contributes toward muscular hypertrophy, or the development of muscle. Maca also helps you bounce back from strenuous workouts. A 2021 study found that maca root improved “exercise performance and alleviated physical fatigue.”

If you’re looking to get your morning to a more active start, we recommend trying something like our maca coffee substitute. It contains only a few organic ingredients, primarily our Peruvian maca, and will give you a little pep in your step without the crash that follows a coffee fixation.

Mental Focus

While maca is typically associated with physical changes, it can help mentally as well. In addition to improving anxiety and depression, maca can have a neurological impact. For example, in 2011 it was found that mice dosed with maca extract demonstrated improvements in learning and memory formation. And in 2016 researchers determined that subjects served maca over time showed signs of improved motor coordination and endurance capacity.

In short, studies carried out by scientific professionals have suggested that maca can improve your mood, help your brain hold on to information, and prevent mental decline related to age or illness. And “prevention” is a key word - it’s never too early to work maca powder capsules into your morning routine, or to start packing a bottle of our liquid maca extract on the go.

Any Questions?

 If you have any further questions about our maca root products, please don’t hesitate to Contact Us using our web form, or call us toll-free at 888-919-8616.

Enjoy the Day!