Maca has grown in popularity around the world in the last few decades. It is a plant that can be used as medicine and food. It is a natural medication for certain health issues.
Because of its rise in popularity, people started to produce maca massively. The part of this plant that is used is its root. Maca root is full of fiber, amino acids, minerals, and vitamins. It also contains macamides, alkaloids, and glucosinolates, which are mainly responsible for their medical benefits.
- Maca as the body’s helper to manage stress
Maca belongs to a group of adaptogenic herbs and something all of those herbs have in common is their help with environmental stress management. Maca stimulates the stress protection system by balancing the body’s hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis. This axis is responsible for the central nervous system’s and the hormone system’s response to stress. When we’re under stress our cortisol levels go up and maca helps keep cortisol levels from rising.
- Maca for dealing with depression
Because maca is claimed to be an adaptogenic plant, it gives the body the ability to manage what’s going around it and in it, like anxiety, stress, and depression. Consuming maca is found to increase dopamine levels. It is also known to improve mood, reduce anxiety, and bump up energy levels as it is a caffeine-free energy booster. All of this helps decrease depression.
- Maca for bones
Adding maca into your meals on a daily basis can increase bone density. That makes your bones harder. It can’t replace calcium or vitamin D, but it can only aid their effect on bones.
- Maca as a libido booster
It is found that maca has a positive effect on someone’s sexual desire. It was traditionally taken as an aphrodisiac and it is still used to raise the sexual appetite of both men and women.
- Maca as a fertility helper
Maca has a reputation as an aid for reproductive issues. It is believed that it boosts sperm count and sperm motility. Taking maca for a while can significantly improve semen concentration and the ability of sperm to swim properly.
- Maca with menopause symptoms
During menopause, a decline in estrogen causes a range of symptoms. These symptoms many people find unpleasant, such as hot flashes, mood swings, vaginal dryness, and sleep problems. Daily usage of maca can alleviate these symptoms.
How do you take maca root?
Maca can be found in powder, a capsule, or made into a tincture. If you get maca in a powder you can add it to food or drinks. In terms of dosage, up to 3 grams per day is considered safe.
If you feel tired, stressed, and have low energy, try engaging all the benefits maca has by adding it into your daily routine. At our weight loss clinic in Chicago, we advise our clients to combine maca intake with diet and lifestyle changes to get more benefits. But firstly we determine if our client is eligible for taking maca.
