Maca: The Other Ancient Peruvian Mystery
This ancient Peruvian root is hitting its stride among healthy jet-setters.
Maca root’s history harks back to the ancient Inca cities of Peru and was traded as valuable currency and ingested for its known health effects.
Over the past 10 years, many are discovering what Peruvians have long known: that Maca root is one the planet’s most powerful superfoods.
Maca root harks back thousands of years to Peru’s ancient Inca civilization, where the Maca root was traded as currency and used for its medicinal properties.
Despite its long history, Maca root is gaining popularity among health conscious consumers as the new “it” superfood.
Maca is in the same family of vegetables as cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower, all of which are cruciferous vegetables. Maca root is considered an “adaptogen”, which is any natural food substance that helps the body cope with stress and demanding life schedules — as one might experience with travel.
The benefits of Maca are numerous.
Superfood
Maca root comes jam packed with superfood nutrition. It is high in phytonutrients, fatty acids, minerals, calcium, vitamins, and contains almost every amino acid. In addition, its powerful antioxidant qualities may be helpful in mitigating the effects of free radicals. There is a host of new research on frequent air travel, including circadian rhythm changes, hormonal dysregulation, fatigue, and high altitude effects, can increase free radicals, so Maca root may be particularly beneficial for frequent flyers.
Adaptogen
Maca root is purported to possess powerful adaptogenic qualities. As well as being a superfood and an antioxidant, Maca root is particularly beneficial for travellers. While the antioxidant helps combat free radicals, the adaptogen properties help battle stress, fatigue, and burnout.
Energy and Mood Booster
Maca root is reported to boost energy levels, mood, memory, and focus among users. In well-trained male athletes, Maca root supplementation has also been shown to improve performance and sexual desire. Maca root has also shown promise as a mood elevator for those experiencing depression.
Sexual Health
Maca root is purported to benefit the sexual health of both men and women. This is welcome news, as global research suggests that as many as 30% of men and 45% of women experience some form of sexual dysfunction (worldwide). Much research has focused on Maca root’s role in reducing unwelcome symptoms of perimenopausaul and post-menopausal women, while boosting female libido. For men, Maca root has been shown to increase fertility, boost sperm mobility, and improve sexual desire and erectile function. Studies have also indicated that Maca root may help alleviate some side effects pertaining to reduced libido with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications.
Memory
Some studies indicate that Maca root may have a positive effect on age-related cognitive decline, learning, and memory.
There is some evidence that Maca Root can help manage “antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction” (AISD) in women.
Risks
Thus far, Maca root has shown little or no adverse side effect. Although Maca root is purported to regulate hormonal levels, this is an area of debate as some studies show little real affect on hormones despite the experienced benefits. While human-subject research is ongoing, there has been no evidence that Maca is toxic or possesses mutagenic properties.
How Much to Take?
Maca Root is not a pharmaceutical; it’s a food, which, for most of us, usually comes in supplement form. The first rule is to remember that there may be varying qualities and purities within the supplement marketplace. That said, Peruvian use of Maca Root is typically in the 3 to 5 grams per day range. Travellers may find that Maca Root capsules are easier to pack and transport than Maca Root powder. However, with capsules typically being in the 500mg size, taking 6 to 10 a day may be okay during travel but not as easy as one teaspoon of powder in cold water when at home. Another reason to choose one modality over the other is taste. Maca has a strong earthy taste that some people do not mind and others find a bit too wild for their liking. Capsules have little or no aftertaste.
This article does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the opinion of a medical professional before starting a nutrition or fitness program.