MACA ROOT POWDER

Also Known As - Lepidium meyenii

Origin - Peru - Color of powder may very from off white to light brown/red.

Overview - Maca root (Lepidum Mayenil) is a tuber grown and originating in Peru, within the Andes mountains. Of growing popularity today, it was always considered a valuable resource, and was traded with other tropical foods and even considered a form of payment for the Spanish Imperial Taxes. Traditionally, the root was roasted fresh, though it can also be mashed or boiled, and was sometimes even used in the creation of a baking flour or a weak beer known as chichi de maca. Legends also speak of Inca warriors eating Maca before battle, using it to increase their strength and stamina.

Parts Used - The root is the only part used.

Medicinal Uses - Maca is used for “tired blood” (anemia); chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS); and enhancing energy, stamina, athletic performance, memory, and fertility. Women use maca for female hormone imbalance, menstrual problems, and symptoms of menopause. Maca is also used for weak bones (osteoporosis), depression, stomach cancer, leukemia, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, erectile dysfunction (ED), to arouse sexual desire, and to boost the immune system.

In foods, maca is eaten baked or roasted, prepared as a soup, and used for making a fermented drink called maca chicha.

In agriculture, it is used to increase fertility in livestock.

Maca is one of the world’s most nutritionally dense foods. It contains nearly all essential amino acids and free fatty acids, significant levels of vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, and C, and minerals iron, magnesium, zinc and calcium, a high concentration of bio-available protein and several glucosinolates. This alone makes Maca a nutritional powerhouse. But Maca powder also contains unique acids called macaenes and macamides, which are thought to play a key role in balancing hormones in both men and women. Finally Maca is also considered to be an “adaptogen,” or one of the rare species of plants that raise the overall life force energy of those who consume it.

1. Vitamins - Maca is rich in vitamin B vitamins, C, and E. It provides plenty of calcium, zinc, iron, magnesium, phosphorous and amino acids.

2. Sexual function - Maca is widely used to promote sexual function of both men and women. It serves as a boost to your libido and increases endurance. At the same time it balances your hormones and increases fertility.

3. Women’s health and mood - Maca relieves menstrual issues and menopause. It alleviates cramps, body pain, hot flashes, anxiety, mood swings, and depression. If you are pregnant or lactating you should avoid taking maca.

4. Energy - Within days of using maca your energy level may increase. It is also known for increasing stamina. Many athletes take maca for peak performance. If you find yourself tired most of the time, experiment with maca to see if it helps. Just a small amount could be exactly what you need for a boost!

5. General health - Maca helps your overall health in a number of ways. It supplies iron and helps restore red blood cells, which aids anemia and cardiovascular diseases. Maca keeps your bones and teeth healthy and allows you to heal from wounds more quickly. When used in conjunction with a good workout regime you will notice an increase in muscle mass.

But be very cautious if you have a cancer related to hormones like testicular and ovarian, among others. If you have liver issues or high blood pressure you should ask your doctor before taking maca.

6. Skin - Many people take maca for skin issues, as for some people it helps to clear acne and blemishes. Another benefit for your skin is that is decreases sensitivity. In hot or cold weather, maca may help your skin withstand extreme temperatures.

7. Mood balance - If you find yourself overcome with anxiety, stress, depression or mood swings, maca may help alleviate these symptoms, though of the evidence is anecdotal. Some have reported an increase in mental energy and focus.

Preparations - Maca Root Powder root has been used for thousands of years for its nutrients and healing. Now studies are confirming its positive effect on the endocrine system to increase stamina, boost libido, and combat fatigue. This nutrient-dense whole food packed with vitamins, essential minerals, and fatty and amino acids is easy to add to smoothies, shakes, tea, granola, cereal, and yogurt.

Suggested Use: Mix 1 teaspoon with juice, yogurt or in your favorite smoothie.

Precautions - Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of maca during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast cancer, uterine cancer,ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids: Extracts from maca might act like estrogen. If you have any condition that might be made worse by exposure to estrogen, do not use these extracts.

BEST PRACTICES FOR TAKING AND STORING MACA POWDER

Maca is a food and is safe, without any known side effects. Here are our recommendations for keeping and enjoying Maca Powder. Note, we have a video version of this article linked on the bottom of this page.

1. For freshness after opening, store Maca away from direct light and out of humidity. Maca Powder can be kept in the fridge or freezer to prolong shelf life, but it will keep just fine at room temperature also. It will keep very well for 24 months at room temperature and up to 2 1/2 years in the freezer.

2. The optimal amount of Maca for health and healing in most cases is , 1-3 teaspoons of powder per day.You can try more if you like. Listen to your body, it will tell you how much you should be taking. If you experience too much energy when taking Maca, simply use less. Please refer to our Maca dosage page for full details and for personalized Maca dosage recommendations based on your weight and lifestyle. 

3. Maca is a food and natives of Peru eat a lot of it (up to 100 g dried  Maca daily) with no adverse effects. You can take Maca all at once one time per day, (we like first thing in the morning the best) or spread it out several times during the day, it is up to you, whichever you prefer.

4. You can take maca with food or without food.

But if you have any digestive sensitivities or concerns, taking it with food is preferable. Avoid taking Maca after dinner unless you are prepared to stay awake. Also, if you notice any indigestion after taking Maca, we recommend to try taking Maca without fruit or fruit juice. This usually helps.  

5. Take a break from Maca every once in a while. After you've taken Maca daily for 4-6 weeks, we recommend taking one day off per week. An alternative is to take 5 days off in a row per month. The purpose of this is to give your body a chance to stabilize its hormones without the influence of the Maca. Plus, you’ll find that after taking a break, you’ll feel the effects of Maca to be stronger.

6. There are numerous ways to take Maca: in hot and cold cereals, smoothies, protein shakes, cooking, baking, salad dressings, soups, etc.  Some people like to take Maca with fruit juice to dilute it’s taste, but mixing Maca with fruit, or fruit juice sometimes causes gas and a little bit of stomach distress. It may not happen with you though, so feel free to check it out.

We’ve found that about 5% of our customers have a stomach sensitivity to Raw Maca Powders. They report minor gas, bloating or digestive issues when taking it. If this is an issue for you, then you should use Gelatinized Maca. All of the starch content of Maca Root is removed in the Gelatinization process and digestive upset is simply not an issue.  In the gelatinization process Maca roots are boiled and pressurized to dissolve most starch content.  The resulting Gelatinized Maca powder is easier to digest than Raw Maca powders.  However, all of the enzymes are destroyed and MOST of the nutrients are altered in the  process.  

7. There are all sorts of pleasant things that happen while taking maca, but none of them should be unpleasant or make you feel uncomfortable. If you experience anything which makes you feel unsure or anxious, please see your doctor to make sure it is all right for you to be taking Maca. All of the changes and effects which happen while taking Maca should be of the nature of “improvements, and beneficial.”

MACA DOSAGE

So what is the correct maca dosage? That’s one of the most common questions we receive and a good one.

There are several things to understand that will help you make the most of taking Maca yourself. Here we break them down and give you our complete recommendations based on over 15 years of experience with Maca.

7 THINGS TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT CORRECT MACA DOSAGE

1. Maca is a food – To begin with, it’s important to understand that pure maca powder, whether gelatinized or raw is a food. It comes from a turnip like root high in the Andes mountains and has been eaten for thousands of years by people and animals indigenous to the area. Maca is unlike other foods, though, in that it is a true nutritional powerhouse and an adaptogen. 

2. You can’t overdose, but… – In our experience it’s pretty much impossible to take too much Maca. (Since it’s a food and not a drug, herb or supplement). That said, some people report increased heart rate and nervous energy when they take too much. That’s why you should start with a conservative amount and work your way up slowly.

3. You must consider your body weight - When you’re starting with Maca, you need to consider how much you weigh as an important factor in determining your dosage. The dosage levels we recommend below are for people who weigh 160 pounds (75 KG). Bigger people can generally take more. Smaller people should start with a smaller amount.

4. You should also consider your overall health and age – After factoring in your weight, also reflect on your overall level of health and your age. A 30 year old athlete can start taking a higher Maca dosage than a 75 year old retiree. The younger and healthier you are the more you can start with.

5. Maca affects different people differently – Even factoring in age, health and body weight, it’s important to remember that Maca has different effects on different people. No two bodies are exactly alike and since Maca is an adaptogen it will act in your body to support what your body needs to balance – especially in terms of your hormonal system.

6. You can adjust quantities as needed – One thing that we do often hear is to adjust the amount of Maca we take depending on how much extra energy we want, or how far we have come along in our health goals. Sometimes we’ll even stop taking Maca for a few days, when we feel like a break – more on that in a minute.

7. Therapeutic Maca dosage is different than general health dosage – One final consideration is that recommended dosages of Maca for therapeutic purposes are generally higher than for general health. For example if you are taking Maca specifically to help with fertility, you will want to boost your intake over time..

OUR GENERAL MACA DOSAGE RECOMMENDATIONS - POWDER - CAPSULES - TINCTURES

These dosage levels are based on a 40 year old with generally good health and weighing 160 lbs. If you weigh more or less adjust the dosage accordingly.  Note:  1 measuring teaspoon of Maca powder weighs 3 grams.

Raw Maca – all colors including Red Maca, Black Maca and Yellow Maca / Daily Recommendations – 3-9 grams (1-3 teaspoons) or 2-8 capsules

Raw Premium Maca - Daily Recommendations – 3-6 grams (1-2 teaspoons) or 2-8 capsules

Gelatinized Maca – all colors including Red, Black and Yellow Maca (note: even though Gelatinized Maca is more concentrated, we recommend the same amount to make up for the fact that some nutrients have been destroyed by heating it).  Daily Recommendations – 3-9 grams (1-3 teaspoons) or 2-8 capsules

Gelatinized Premium Maca - Daily Recommendations – 3-6 grams (1-2 teaspoons) or 2-8 capsules

Maca Tinctures - Daily Recommendations – 2-4 droppersful (1/4-1/2 teaspoon)

We hope this guide to maca dosage has answered your questions, but if you do have any doubts please contact us and we’ll be glad to help.

Disclaimer - The information presented herein by Mountain Maus’ Remedies is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.