This ancient superfood derived from the roots of a plant from the mustard family has a long, storied history of providing strength and stamina in battle and in bed.
If you're looking for an all-natural way to boost your energy and libido, look no further than maca root. This superfood from the Andes has a long tradition of being used for strength and stamina dating back to 1400 BC. This resilient root is about 10 percent protein and 59 percent carbohydrates. It also contains more fatty acids than any other root crop.
This Peruvian plant has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for a variety of ailments. It is loaded with essential vitamins and minerals, and modern studies confirm it is useful for improving energy levels, stamina, and sexual function. Maca is also known to reduce stress and anxiety, and it can even help improve memory and cognitive function.
So how does maca work? The active components in maca, including macamides and macaenes, are thought to be responsible for its many health benefits--especially sexual function. These compounds interact with the body's endocrine system to regulate hormone production and balance hormone levels. This helps to improve energy levels, mood, fertility, and sexual function. Maca is also a rich source of essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, B vitamins, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium. These nutrients are important for maintaining overall health and vitality.
Maca is heralded as a caffeine-free energy booster. It provides energy without taxing the adrenals and providing sustained energy without a crash when it wears off. This tuberous root vegetable is packed with phytosterols, saponins and tannins, essential amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins that all work together to improve energy levels. When you combine all of these nutrients with their adaptogenic properties, Maca is the perfect energy delivery supplement. It's a superfood, and though it may not deliver the immediate hit that Ginseng might provide, it greatly improves endurance, blood oxygenation, and muscle-building.
Its energy-boosting properties aside, Maca is more well-known for its libido-enhancing qualities in both men and women. Maca contains macamides and macaenes, which scientists believe are its most active components driving improved sexual function. However, it also contains arginine and other sterols. Arginine is useful for improving semen quality and production. While the sterols collectively raise sex hormone levels, improve sexual stamina, reduce sexual dysfunction, and may improve the health of sexual organs.
As for Maca’s stress and hormone-balancing effects, we once again have the phytonutrients macamides and macaenes to thank. They stimulate all glands in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, increasing your body’s ability to tolerate stressors and maintain equilibrium. Although Maca has more immediate effects such as boosting energy and libido, the long-term use of Maca will eventually have a stabilizing and calming effect—true to its adaptogenic nature.
Furthermore, the stress-response benefits of Maca may also be due to its ability to help the body manage cortisol levels. Cortisol is known as the "stress hormone" because it is secreted in higher amounts when we're feeling stressed. It can interfere with sleep, weight management, memory formation, and more. Maca has been shown to help regulate cortisol production and keep it at healthy levels. During times of high stress, this can help us feel more balanced emotionally and physically. Additionally, as an adaptogen herbaceous perennial plant, it exerts a general regulatory effect upon the body regardless of the type of stressor involved.
Maca is a great complement to other superfoods such as cacao, goji berries, and hemp seeds. Coconut oil can be used as a carrier oil for Maca because it is high in saturated fats, which helps to absorb the abundantly available nutrients from the root vegetable.
You can purchase Maca root as a powder or in capsule form. It exists in three colors: red, yellow, and black. If it smells strong and pungent with a slightly bitter flavor, then you have good quality Maca. The yellow strain is reported to taste sweeter than the others with some people claiming it has more of a nutty or butterscotch-like flavor profile.
Start with a recommended dose of 1 gram per day. Once your body has adjusted well to that amount, you can gradually work up to 3 grams daily. Some people may experience gas after taking this supplement; if so, take it alongside probiotics or digestive-supporting herbs such as Goji.
If you're looking for an energy boost, add a scoop of Maca to your morning smoothie or tea. For sexual health benefits, skip the Viagra and try one scoop of Maca instead. And if you need help de-stressing, mix Maca into some homemade raw chocolate and nibble as needed.
