Maca a.k.a "Nature's Viagra"

Maca is a potent superfood with a 5,000+ year history yet has only been recently introduced to the Western world. Hailed as “Nature’s Viagra” and “Peruvian Ginseng” maca has a lot to offer both genders of all ages, as well as boasting a wide and impressive range of nutritional properties. Read on for more information about this wonder food and how you can bring its potency and multi-faceted health benefits into your diet.

What is maca?
Maca (Lepidium Meyenii) is a tuberous perennial plant that grows high in the Andean Mountains at altitudes of between 11,000 and 14,000 feet. Colour-wise it looks like a potato, but it is shaped like a large radish. It grows as a mat-like stem system. Its roots are the parts that are dried and stored and made into powder, which is how we buy it today.

Maca facts

• The maca plant is related to the radish.
• Maca is the only plant that can survive at this altitude because of the extreme weather conditions there – i.e. brutally hot temperatures by day and freezing cold temperatures by night.
• Maca is technically an herb but is eaten as a food.
• The root is approximately 8cm in diameter and of a pale white colour.
• Although it is perennial it is reproduced by seeds which require around 7-9 months for harvesting.

Maca history

• The Incas, a well-organised and developed Peruvian civilisation, would eat maca before battle for extra power and fierce strength. However, after battle they were prohibited from eating it to protect the conquered women from their powerful sexual impulses.
• The messengers and couriers had to walk vast distances throughout the huge Incan Empire – for their efforts they received maca from the Inca king.
• The Spanish became familiar with maca because of the conquest of the South American continent. They had found that their horses had become infertile due to the high altitude so the local population recommended that the Spaniards give mace to their horses – to excellent effect. Later they even collected their taxes in maca, which they transported back to Spain. For reasons unknown, maca fell into oblivion in Europe and only the Peruvians continued using maca - until recently.
• During the 1960’s and 70’s scientists carried out botanical research in Peru. They studied “the lost vegetation of the Andes” - one of these lost plants was maca. In 1998 Dr. Qun Yi Zheng and his colleagues conducted an in-depth analysis of maca, looking closely at maca’s nutritional properties (see later).
• Today maca’s popularity is on the increase. Acreage in Peru is increasing every year to meet demand and a number of scientists have turned their attention to the root. In Europe, the USA and Japan dietary supplements containing maca are gaining increasing numbers of fans.

Preparation

In Peru maca is consumed in different ways: raw, baked or dried. Peruvians make cookies, tarts, hot porridge, chips and beverages with maca.

In Europe and North America maca is mainly sold in dried powder form, which keeps safely and successfully for a number of years.

Standard Maca Powder vs. Maca Extract Extreme

Maca Extract Extreme is the most powerful form of maca currently available. It is produced by juicing freshly-harvested maca roots, and then drying the juice at low temperatures into a fine powder (More than twice the potency of regular maca!).

Standard maca is made by first sun drying the roots, then grinding these roots at a low temperature. During this drying and grinding process some active components are inevitably lost. In Maca Extract Extreme the process is enhanced. First the roots are washed with pure water, then juiced. Afterwards the juice is low-temperature dried in a proprietary process that retains nearly all of the actives present in the fresh root. And since it is dried at low temperatures the enzymes are retained as well. Once dried the powder is sifted so that only the finest particles make it through into the final product.

Uses
Maca is not a medicine but rather a very nutritious food with medicinal properties. It has been used as a food for thousands of years and is used primarily for:

• Energy and stamina
• Libido stimulation/enhancement
• Memory improvement
• Anemia and depression (the treatment of)
• Adrenal restoration
• Raise low blood pressure or lower high blood pressure

Research has shown that maca improves sexual functioning in many ways. It is said to improve sexual performance, the frequency with which people have sex and even to significantly increase sperm count! In men maca increases energy, athletic performance and stamina and regulates the hormonal balance and increases testosterone. It also acts as an aphrodisiac and fights erective dysfunctions and impotency. It can also ease the problems of male menopause. Older people say that they feel younger while taking maca. In women, maca increases lust or the sexual appetite and is also said to increase fertility.

Maca is well known as being a hormonal adaptogen, this means that in women the hormones are also regulated, leading to more stamina, vitality and the considerable easing of menopause and PMT (pre-menstrual tension). It is reported that Peruvian women never get hot flushes (or “flashes” as they are known stateside). Many women feel better after using maca for just one week – it is the ideal natural replacement for H.R.T (hormone replacement therapy) and I know one person who I know for sure has completely eradicated previously crippling period pains and sickness that she thought only surgery could remedy.

Nutritional properties

The soil in which it grows contains huge amounts of minerals which make the maca high in nutritional value. It is significantly high in potassium, calcium (higher levels than in milk), magnesium and iron.

Dried maca weighs in at about 60% carbohydrate, 9% fibre, and just over 10% protein. Its trace minerals include zinc, iodine, copper, selenium, bismuth, manganese and silica as well as B vitamins and an assortment of fatty acids.

This is just the basics; research is being carried out all the time. In modern times two groups of novel compounds have been discovered – the macamides and the macaenes. These agents are believed to be directly responsible for maca’s sex-boosting powers.

How to eat maca

As maca is a food it should be taken in decent sized quantities – in this case less is NOT more! To be consistent with Peruvian use the ideal “dosage” is 3000 – 5000 mg per day – but more is no bad idea. A tablespoon blended into a smoothie is the quickest and easiest way to get a good amount of maca into your daily diet. As it is a food and not a medicine, you cannot overdose. (Toxicity studies have been carried out in the US and have showed absolutely no toxicity and no adverse pharmalogic effects). Maca has a malty taste to it which is fairly strong, for this reason it is best taken in a capsule or taken as part of a drink or mixed into your food rather than taken alone.

Maca recipe

Maca has such a strong taste that it’s not always easy to find a way to take it in – but it’s so worth it! This is a drink that’s a great post breakfast drink or snack or one for late evening when it’s too late to eat.

Maca Milk
© Karen Knowler 2006
Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 1 cup almonds*
• 3 cups water
• 1 level Tablespoon maca powder*
• 2 Medjool dates OR 2 Tbsps agave nectar*

Directions:

1. Place almonds and water in a blender and blend on high speed until nuts are completely broken and almond milk is created.
2. Strain the almond milk through a fine sieve or nut milk bag into a bowl or jug. Save pulp for a dessert recipe, for dehydrating into almond flour, or compost.
3. Rinse blender and add back in the strained nut milk.
4. Add the maca powder and your chosen sweetener and blend.
5. Taste test for sweetness and add more maca or dates or agave if required.
6. Serve and savour!

*    *    *    *    *

Maca Powder and Maca Extract Extreme are available in the UK from The Fresh Network. Prices start from £10.99 for a 227g (8oz) bag. Call 0845 833 7017 to order or visit www.fresh-network.com.

* Denotes ingredients available from The Fresh Network.

Comments

[Karen Knowler]

Alan, yes, it's strong! You'd be better off blending it with something strong tasting like blackberries or passion fruit before adding to your cereal. Or you could try capsules so you don't have to taste it!

[Alan]

Hi Karen. Bought some Maca powder and added a couple of spoonfuls to my breakfast cereal. Ended up having to add yoghurt, banana and sugar before I could eat it. Is there anything that I can use to mask the taste? I was hoping to add a couple of spoonfuls to all our meals, but think that the wife will hate the taste. It really is very strong, or did I just put too much in my cereal?
Hopefully - Alan

[Matthew]

Is Maca sold in the U.S

[Cathy]

Hi Karen

Maca and endometriosis

I started having maca by accident as it was in a raw chocolate powder/maca smoothie blend I got and I definitely feel happier during that time of the month when I have one of these drinks (not sure if it is raw, or the drinks? or walking). I have often had pms and depressions during and before my time of the month.

I was thinking about women with endometriosis using it as I know someone with lots of trouble with this awful disease. One website I visited recomends it for endometriosis whereas lots of other sites say not to have it if you have endo or fybrocistic breast disease (fcbd) as it causes lumpy breasts. Some say that it adds to many ..

such as "The herb Maca is not recommended for women with endometriosis as it is rather potent in its action, and will affect levels of both estrogen as well as progesterone. The levels of estrogen need to be minimised in women with endometriosis as this is the hormone that feeds endometriosis. " from http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=515433

Here's a site that practically recommends it for endo "http://www.womenlivingnaturally.com/articlepage.php?id=163 "

I wonder if they are right though, if it is a food that adapts to your hormones, not replaces them, why should it cause a problem?
I would be really interested in your thoughts, knowledge on this. My friend has had operations and terrible pain from endo so I would love to be able to recommend something natural to her (not some of the awful drugs she has taken). Of course if it will be harmful I wouldn't want her to take it.

kind regards

Cathy

[Chris]

Thanks for the help Karen. Maca sound great and I will be trying it, but how would you recommend using some of the other natural Viagra alternatives like Ginseng, Yohimbe, etc. in conjunction with Maca?

[Chris]

Hi Karen,

After reading your article, I really look forward to trying Maca. I saw in another article on maca a recommendation of 1/4 teaspoon per day, increasing to 1 tsp per day, yet your recommended dosage is 1 tablespoon. What do you think is the right amount?

From Karen: Hi Chris. First of all maca is a food not something to be "dosed" with per se. (Just wanted to make that clear for the benefit of all!). It depends why people are taking it. if there is a real hormonal issue to be addressed then less than 1TBSP per day is unlikely to really make a difference; at least this has been the experience of those I know who have dabbled in this way. If it's for nutritional reasons, then anything is good providing someone has a positive reaction to it, so really it's about how much you *need* it. Hope this helps!

[ur dude]

Dear Karen
Please tell me where can i get maca in the UAE. Ur feature abt maca is soo gr8 that i feel to have a try on it. I just want to increase more to my libido...
Waiting Karen.....!!!!

[Irfan]

Can someone please tell me where to find maca in karachi, pakistan??

[Brian Walker]

Hi Karen!

Do you happen to know who manufactures the "Maca Extract Extreme". The product does not appear on the Fresh Network website. I have found a couple of other sites that claim to sell something like this but I cannot find the manufacturer anywhere! I consume huge amounts of raw Maca daily and would like to try this more highly concentrated product. Please help if you can.

Thanks, Brian

From Karen: Hi Brian, I used to get mine from www.rawfood.com. I'm not sure if they still do it but they were the originators. Good luck!

[Ken Horst]

In Southern Calif., Maca is available in just about all health food stores or on line:
David Wolfe has Maca, Goji's,etc.

[Leo A Blair II]

Hi Karen,
Started watching your videos on my computer thru YouTube.com I love all that I have seem so far.
After watching the Flax Cracker video. We are hooked and I make 8 or 9 trays weekly. Mmmmmm good. There are soooo many varieties one can come up with. Just imagine, A booklet just for making flax crackers. or one could call them..flat-flax crunchers. Great with soups(raw) and we love em with Kim Chi.
Keep up the wonderful education process. Do you ever come to the state? Would love to have you as a guest speaker at our Vegetarian Society. Thanks a million.

[Donna Snider]

I live in Ontario Canada and Maca has given me back my life after a hysterectomy

[Dawn Cartwright]

Hi! I've been using Maca for about 2 months now, with a break inbetween. I find that sometimes, when I take a small (1 teaspoon) amount of Maca, I feel very anxious. Seems that when I take the larger amount I feel luscious. When I take no Maca, I feel "neutral". Could it be possible that a small amount is worse than taking the full (2 tablespoons) dose? Thanks for any feedback! Has anyone else felt this anxious, over stimulated feeling? Dawn

[mitch]

Hi Karen

That is a wonderful article about maca. I have never heard of it. It sounds very intriguing.

I was looking for natural ways to improve sexual performance without viagara or the like and the best thing I have come across so far it this at erectile-dysfunction-treatment.info
but I am glad i found this page. The maca sounds soo natural. I would love to try some and learn more about it.

Do you know if it is available in the US in raw form? Yes.... I am a Yank, but my brother lives in the UK in Kent if that makes me any more tolerable.

OH, I love spiritual cinema circle and see it here.

Well then, thanks for your input raw food coach. Have a wonderful day.
:)

[KarenKnowler]

Hi Stephen

I am not sure about Ireland, but you can get it from a number of mail order suppliers in the UK.
Try www.freshnetworkshop.co.uk for starters.

Good luck!

[stephen lieg]

can anyone tell me where i can get maca in ireland i wish to give it a go,
thanks,,

[Ruth]

Thanks so much for this article - very informative and helpful. will pass it on to a couple of clients who have just recently started taking maca. thanks. x