Top Uses for Red Maca Root
Posted by The Maca Team on 15th Oct 2024
In our last post we discussed some reasons why you might want to consider adding red maca root to your diet. But there are three colors of maca root, each with its own associated unique perks. So this time we’re going to take a look at red maca root and learn some of the ways it can help you attain your goals, whether you’re looking to achieve hormone balance or boost your fertlity.
What is Red Maca Root?
Maca root, also known as Lepidium meyenii and Peruvian ginseng, is a root from the Brassicaceae family related to cruciferous vegetables like cabbage and cauliflower. Though it’s been grown with limited success in other parts of the world and even imitated in labs, these products will always be inferior because maca only truly thrives in extreme elevations like the Andes mountains.
The people of the Junin plateau region of Peru, where our organic maca root is grown and harvested, historically consumed their maca as a tricolor mix. They valued it for its many purported benefits, ranging from its effects on the libido to its impact on the mind’s ability to focus. Maca was enjoyed by people of all ages, from children to the elderly. They even fed it to their livestock!
Maca root can be found in three colors: black, red, and yellow. Red maca root occurs for about 25% of the annual maca harvest, and it’s one of our best sellers – for a good reason.
What is Red Maca Good For?
There are a few reported positive effects of consuming red maca root that set it apart from the other colors. First and foremost is fertility: while maca is often associated with the libido, it’s usually the male libido people are referring to. However, red maca root in particular is said to stimulate women’s sex drives in addition to boosting fertility, and these reports have been backed by some promising research in the past couple decades.
How does red maca work to improve your hormone health? Maca doesn’t contain any hormones, but it’s unique in other ways – namely, it’s considered an adaptogen. An adaptogen is defined as a natural substance that can help the body adapt to stress in addition to exerting a regulating effect on a variety of bodily functions. That includes your hormones.
A good example of this in the case of maca root is menopause. The symptoms of menopause can be brutal. They include mood swings, hot flashes, slowed metabolism, and sexual dysfunction. That’s where red maca root comes in. While it can’t “cure” you from the impact of menopause on the body and is no true substitute for HRT, preliminary research has suggested that maca root might be able to alleviate suffering from the worst of the effects.
Can Men Have Red Maca Root?
Because of the aforementioned benefits of red maca, it’s generally recommended first and foremost for women. But that doesn’t mean that it can’t help men, too. Red maca root is also associated with prostate health. Research performed in the early 2000s suggests that the presence of glucosinolates in red maca root can help moderate prostate size. Glucosinolates are secondary metabolites associated with anti-inflammatory and cancer-fighting properties, and our premium red maca root powder particularly is a good source of them.
Why Choose The Maca Team?
Whatever maca product you choose, whether it’s our yellow maca root liquid extract or our gelatinized black whole maca root chips, you can be confident that you’re getting all the benefits that come with organic Peruvian-grown maca root. Our maca is certified Fair Trade, non-GMO, and vegan, grown sustainably by a co-op of farmers who show the land the respect it deserves.
If you have any more questions about our maca root products, we’d love to hear them!Don’t hesitate to Contact Us using our web form, or call us toll-free at (888) 919-8616.
Enjoy the day!