Maca powder: the superfood that you shouldn't be missing out on
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Maca powder isn’t anywhere as well known as the other superfoods such as blueberries, acai berries, and salmon - but it has some pretty amazing benefits that makes it rank highly in our books. In this article, you’ll learn exactly what maca powder is, as well as how it can help energize you and increase your overall wellness and spirits!
What is maca powder?
Maca powder is derived from maca root, which is grown in the mountains of Peru, and known to the indigenous tribes of Andes as “Peruvian Ginseng”. This amazing root vegetable has been a food staple of the Andeans over the last few centuries - but has remained relatively undiscovered by the rest of the world until now.
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What does maca powder do?
Consuming maca powder has a whole host of benefits, including the following:
#1: Increasing libido
For those who don’t want to rely on pills, maca powder can help to increase libido and sexual arousal in an all-natural way, as revealed by a study published in the journal of CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics. Results showed that maca powder increases endurance in men; it also regulates hormones, increases pleasure during sexual activity, and increases fertility for both genders.
#2: Increasing energy
Other than helping with libido, Maca is also known for increasing stamina and endurance outside of the bedroom, with many athletes using it to reduce fatigue, lessen muscle recovery time, and enhance performance. What’s the rationale behind this? A study from the Journal of Ethnopharmacology stated that maca’s efficacy in this context is due to the fact that it is rich in essential fatty acids, proteins, and various vitamins and minerals, which support energy levels and also aid in injury recovery.
#3: General health
Because maca is an adaptogen (a natural substance that reacts to the specific condition your body is in and helps your body react to stress), it’s great for boosting general health. For those who are low in iron, for example, maca will supply iron and restore red blood cells, reducing the chance of anemia and other cardiovascular diseases.
#4: Reduce menopause symptoms
Because maca is highly dense in nutrients, and contain phytochemicals (which have antioxidant properties), it can be used as a hormone balancer, especially for women who are undergoing menopause. According to studies from the International Journal of Biomedical Science, maca supplements are able to reduce many menopause symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disruptions, and even depression.
#5: Maintain bone density
This is a biggie - plenty of women are faced with osteoporosis and other bone-related problems as they age, and as it turns out, maca might be the solution to their problems. In particular, studies from the International Journal of Biomedical Science showed that maca helps maintain bone density, and recommended maca for women who have a family history of osteoporosis, as well as those who have signs of early bone loss (receding gums, brittle fingernails, cramps and muscle aches, etc).
How do you consume maca powder?
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For maca powder, simply add the powder into your smoothie, juice or coffee. Dosage-wise, people generally take a tablespoon of maca powder a few times a week; however, if you’re trying maca powder for the first time, you might want to start off with a smaller amount. As for maca capsules, just follow the directions on the bottle, and take these as you would any other supplement.
(Credits)
What does maca powder do?
Consuming maca powder has a whole host of benefits, including the following:
#1: Increasing libido
For those who don’t want to rely on pills, maca powder can help to increase libido and sexual arousal in an all-natural way, as revealed by a study published in the journal of CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics. Results showed that maca powder increases endurance in men; it also regulates hormones, increases pleasure during sexual activity, and increases fertility for both genders.
#2: Increasing energy
Other than helping with libido, Maca is also known for increasing stamina and endurance outside of the bedroom, with many athletes using it to reduce fatigue, lessen muscle recovery time, and enhance performance. What’s the rationale behind this? A study from the Journal of Ethnopharmacology stated that maca’s efficacy in this context is due to the fact that it is rich in essential fatty acids, proteins, and various vitamins and minerals, which support energy levels and also aid in injury recovery.
#3: General health
Because maca is an adaptogen (a natural substance that reacts to the specific condition your body is in and helps your body react to stress), it’s great for boosting general health. For those who are low in iron, for example, maca will supply iron and restore red blood cells, reducing the chance of anemia and other cardiovascular diseases.
#4: Reduce menopause symptoms
Because maca is highly dense in nutrients, and contain phytochemicals (which have antioxidant properties), it can be used as a hormone balancer, especially for women who are undergoing menopause. According to studies from the International Journal of Biomedical Science, maca supplements are able to reduce many menopause symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disruptions, and even depression.
#5: Maintain bone density
This is a biggie - plenty of women are faced with osteoporosis and other bone-related problems as they age, and as it turns out, maca might be the solution to their problems. In particular, studies from the International Journal of Biomedical Science showed that maca helps maintain bone density, and recommended maca for women who have a family history of osteoporosis, as well as those who have signs of early bone loss (receding gums, brittle fingernails, cramps and muscle aches, etc).
How do you consume maca powder?
(Credits)
For maca powder, simply add the powder into your smoothie, juice or coffee. Dosage-wise, people generally take a tablespoon of maca powder a few times a week; however, if you’re trying maca powder for the first time, you might want to start off with a smaller amount. As for maca capsules, just follow the directions on the bottle, and take these as you would any other supplement.
