Maca powder is a delicious supplement to your diet that has a bunch of health benefits. It’s full of vitamins and antioxidants that boost your energy and balance hormones. It has also become popular in recent years because it is linked to increased fertility. Below are what I think are the top 5 health benefits. If you’re interested in trying maca powder, you might want to try out my favorite brand or check out our 5 favorites from around the world.
Maca Nutrition Facts
Maca root powder is comprised on average of 60-75% carbohydrates, 10-14% protein, 8.5% dietary fiber, and 2.2% fats and the following vitamins and minerals:
- Over 20 amino acids, including 8 essential amino acids
- 20 free-form fatty acids (such as lauric, linolenic, palmitic acid, oleic , and steric acid)
- Vitamins B-1, B-2, C and E
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Potassium
- Copper
- Zinc
- Manganese
- Phosphorus
- Selenium
- Sulphur
- Sodium
- Iron
Maca is also a rich source of phytonutrients.
#1 Increased Energy
Taking maca in the morning will give you a sustained energy boost. Unlike caffeine, maca does not cause jitters or anxiety, but provides a similar energy boost. Maca is often consumed by athletes, just as it was by the early Inca explorers.
Maca contains no caffeine, no processed sugar and no pharmaceutical energy enhancers. What that means is that Maca boosts your energy in a balanced and sustained manner and that it never stresses your adrenal glands like the aforementioned energy enhancers.
#2 Hormone Balance & PMS and Menopause Symptom Relief
Maca Root is well known to help with hormone balance which often contributes to improving the symptoms of PMS and Menopause. Some women have used it to alleviate cramps, body pain, hot flashes, anxiety, mood swings, and depression.
#3 Fertility & Sexual Health
Maca has gained a lot of traction in recent years because people have come to understand that it can improve fertility in men and women and sexual health.this is the most well-documented health benefit of maca as it was used traditionally for increasing fertility both in humans and animals. Incan farmers used it 1000s of years ago to boost their populations of livestock. Black Maca in particular has shown to increase sperm count and volume. And Red Maca has been shown to balance female hormones and ovulation cycles.
Maca also has reported beneficial effects for sexual function could be due to its high concentration of proteins and vital nutrients; maca contains a chemical called p-methoxybenzyl isothiocyanate, which reputedly has aphrodisiac qualities.
#4 Reduces Anxiety & Stress
One of the most interesting traditional uses for Maca is that it was mixed in special teas during dance ceremonies to helps energize and relax participants. Recent studies have also shown that Maca’s positive effects on mood lead to a reduction in self perceived anxiety and stress. That makes Maca very unique, in the sense that it boosts energy without causing any sort of stress.
#5 Improved skin and hair
While not a lot of research has been done on this topic, maca has traditionally been used to increase hair growth and reduce hair loss.
Further, in cases where acne and other skin blemishes are caused by a hormone imbalance, maca can be very beneficial in reducing these skin problems. Since Maca is a food with no known side effects, it’s much easier for the body to process than chemically based acne drugs.
Sources: The Maca Team