Maca, scientifically classified as Lepedium meyenii, has been cultivated for more than two millennia. This plant grows only in specific regions of the Peruvian Andes at altitudes of 4,000 meters or more. The nutritional and therapeutic properties of maca were first documented in the mid-16th century and, since then, extracts of the plant have been exported around the world. Beginning in the 1980s, maca received the designation of “superfood” and its popularity and use skyrocketed. In 2010, more than $6 million worth of maca products and derivatives were shipped from Peru and distributed in the United States.
What are the health benefits of maca?
The health benefits of this powerful root are so numerous that its attributes can be classified into several different categories, such as sexual/reproductive health, mental health, disease protection, nutrition and stress elimination.
Sexual and Reproductive Benefits of Maca
Maca is said to improve both female and male sexual health and reproductive problems. Several scientific studies conducted illustrate how this substance affects women affected by postmenopausal sexual performance problems. Each review concluded that women who ingested maca in some form experienced improved sexual performance as well as increased libido.
Maca’s ability to provide sexual and reproductive benefits is not unique to women. Several studies have shown that this Peruvian root not only increases a man’s sexual appetite and promotes healthy sexual performance, but also improves sperm motility (the speed and strength at which sperm swim) and the overall physical quality of sperm. Sperm quality and motility are often two critical factors in male infertility.
Mental Health Attributes
Maca is packed with chemical compounds called flavonoids. These substances are believed to cause positive psychological effects, such as a reduction in anxiety, a decrease in depressive episodes in those suffering from some form of depression, and an improvement in the overall sense of mental well-being. Scientific studies have shown that the mental health benefits of maca are especially potent for menopausal and postmenopausal women. The root is also believed to promote mental clarity. Some people who have consumed maca claim that it improves concentration and mental acuity.
The Protective Benefits of maca
Maca contains a large amount of vital nutrients called antioxidants. Antioxidants play a vital role in maintaining a healthy immune system by fighting harmful substances known as free radicals. Free radicals can penetrate the body’s cells, tissues and organs and, if they accumulate in sufficient quantities, can precipitate inflammation, a condition that contributes to pain and can serve as a precursor to the development of various autoimmune disorders and other potentially dangerous, even life-threatening conditions. Antioxidants keep free radicals at bay and participate in cell and tissue repair.
The Nutritional Benefits of Maca
Maca contains abundant amounts of key vitamins and minerals, including several of the B-complex vitamins, vitamin C and vitamin E, as well as nutritionally beneficial concentrations of calcium, zinc and iron. However, maca’s greatest nutritional attribute may lie in the fact that the substance is rich in many different types of amino acids. Amino acids are proteins that are essential for the body to produce energy, grow and heal. Consuming foods rich in certain amino acids, such as maca, is also essential because the body does not produce certain types of these substances.
Ability to Relieve Stress
Stress negatively affects almost every part of the body, can exacerbate existing illnesses and precipitate various adverse manifestations such as headaches, loss of sleep, digestive disorders, mood disturbances, anxiety and high blood pressure. Maca is one of a group of substances scientifically referred to as adaptogens. Adaptogens possess chemical properties that cause biological reactions that help people adapt to their environment and circumstances, as well as making them more able to cope with any situation they encounter. Adaptogens help the body defend itself against stress by contributing to its ability to perform numerous functions, including balancing male and female hormonal systems, strengthening defenses against invaders, and regenerating brain cells.