During the height of the Incan empire, warriors would consume maca to increase stamina and endurance before riding into war. The maca root, similar in appearance to a radish, was forbidden to be consumed when the warriors returned from their conquests in an effort to protect women of the village from excessive sexual desires of men.
Maca (Lepedium meyenii, Lepedium peruvianum) In the Brassicaceae family of plants and is sometimes referred to as Peruvian Ginseng. It is a member of the cruciferous family of plants including cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, radishes and kale.
The full-grown root is about 2-3″ in diameter and can be off-white, purple, yellow or have purple bands through the root. Above ground, it grows close to the ground, similar to its cruciferous cousins, producing small, four-petal off-white flowers. Typical harvesting time is around 9 months after planting.
Maca grows in extreme conditions tolerating temperatures as low as 10 degrees below freezing. You’ll find it being grown high in the Andean mountains of Peru where it is treeless and barren with high winds and intense sunlight.
This hearty plant is a true warrior in its own right and it stands to reason that because of its ability to thrive in such extreme growing conditions, it is an excellent superfood choice for those who live in higher altitudes where it is cold. This also makes it good for those with adventurous spirits who enjoy extreme sports activities.
The first known accounting of maca was published in 1553 by Cieza de Leon, who was a chronicler of the Spaniard conquest of Peru. He noted, in the Peruvian highlands, particularly in the province of Bombón (Chinchaycocha; present day: Junin) certain roots were used by natives for maintenance, later these roots were realized as maca. (1)
Maca Quote by Andean Shamans
During pre and post-Spanish conquest times maca was used as currency. It was sent as a tribute to Incan rulers upon conquering maca-growing regions. Even today, among some indigenous peoples of the Andes, maca is still a valuable commodity.
Today descendants of the Incans, called Quecha, people grow maca at its natural altitude of around 13,000 feet above sea level.
Maca is a true superfood and is quickly becoming widely available in today’s marketplace. With its compelling ability to increase strength & stamina as well as enhancing libido & sexual performance, maca has certainly earned its reputation as a superfood. And while these benefits are incredible they only scratch the surface of the myriad of other conditions maca is good for.
Maca is a good quality source of protein containing 4 grams of protein per tablespoon. It is a favorite of bodybuilders who want to build muscle while using only natural pure substances. Maca is “anabolic” meaning “building up of muscle”. Couple this with its ability to increase stamina you can see why maca is a favorite for endurance workouts and bodybuilding.
Maca contains fertility enhancing properties in men. (4) And yes, they did this study on real men, aged 20-40 over a 12 week period. One group got a placebo and the other got maca, 1.75 grams per day. At the conclusion of the study sperm concentration and motility showed rising trends in the maca group. There is also suggestive evidence for the effectiveness of maca in improving semen quality. (5) This is really good news. Maca can be of benefit for strengthening and increasing robust sperm in men.
Stress is the enemy of your adrenal glands. And when your adrenals become exhausted it can bring you to fatigue and burnout. Constant stress increases cortisol output from your adrenals. When this happens it puts your body in jeopardy of chronic disease and puts undue stress on your adrenal glands.
Increased cortisol comes in handy when you need more energy, such as during a workout or when doing strenuous activities but is not necessary when your body isn’t in a state of physical stress. Maca helps your body to mitigate and lower cortisol naturally, returning your adrenal glands to optimal functioning.
Here’s where the adaptogenic qualities of maca come in handy. While it boosts your energy during the day, supporting your active lifestyle, it also promotes restful sleep. It doesn’t necessarily make you sleepy, just lowers physical and mental stress in your mind and body making it easier to get into a restful state.
In the same vein as increasing fertility in men, maca helps your body to regulate hormones in both men and women. It helps your body to naturally produce human growth hormone which helps to explain its ability to preserve muscle mass. A little extra human growth hormone is good for reducing the effects of aging and helping you to maintain muscle mass. For women, it reduces excess estrogen that can lead to moodiness, fatigue and irritability. Excess estrogen in your body could be one of the reasons that those stubborn pounds are hanging on and could make it harder for you to recover from that last workout.
While maca can reduce estrogen levels when they are high it also has the amazing ability to increase estrogen in women when levels are low. It actually has the ability to balance estrogen taking care of what your body needs. During peri-menopause and menopause estrogen levels drop which can lead to hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, depression and anxiety. Supplementing with maca is linked to an increase in progesterone and luteinizing hormone helping to lessen symptoms of menopause.
During childbearing years your hormone levels go high and low depending on where you are in your cycle. At the beginning of your cycle, estrogen is low and swings way high mid-cycle before plummeting again. Due to adaptogenic properties, maca evens out hormonal rises and falls. This can offer relief from mood swings, fluid retention and breast tenderness.
Maca – The Andean Aphrodisiac
Maca is highly nutritious and a favorite of those on a vegan diet. It’s a rich source of amino acids containing 20 amino acids and 7 essential amino acids and is high in Vitamin C. It’s a good addition to your diet to prevent malnutrition and is a rich source of immune-enhancing sterols including campesterol, ergosterol, sitosterol, brassicasterol and ergostadienol.
In 100 grams of maca, you will get: (6)
You can find Maca in health food stores and online. The Maca Team offers a good quality product with good customer service. Want to get your mojo on and balance those hormones? Try this smoothie recipe!
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The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to bolstering and strengthening the body and as a natural, chemical-free way to treat disease. Always keep in mind, herbs can trigger side effects and interact with supplements, medications or other herbs. Herbs should be taken with care, under the supervision of a qualified herbalist or doctor well versed in the field of botanical medicine.
I am not a doctor and do not claim to be. I am a seeker of pure, healthful living. Always talk with your doctor or qualified health care professional before taking any herbal remedies to ensure safety, especially if you are already on medications. The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. None of these statements are intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Always consult with your medical practitioner or other qualified healthcare provider.
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