Maca Root: Benefits Fertility, Stamina, Depression, Menstruation, Osteoporosis, and Libido.

I LOVE Maca Root! I first tried Maca Root two years ago and it changed my life. Then again a lot of supplements and herbs change my life but altogether this magnificent Maca Root is the bomb! The reason I first tried Maca Root also called Lepidium meyenii is because I read that it helped with regulating your menstrual cycle, helped with skin issues, and gave you energy. My cycle has never been abnormal so I can’t tell you much on that aspect but I can tell you that my mood was more even-keeled during it. Also, my skin slowly started to improve while taking it. I have always suffered from dry skin and acne so drinking some Maca tea in the morning really helps with my skin and having loads of energy throughout the day. I can definetly note that Maca has always giving me so much energy! I would suggest if your sensitive to caffeine like myself but you want an energy boost without a crash definitely try some Maca tea! It’s glorious! Alrighty, so now I have explained my little personal story on how much I adore my magnificent Maca Root so now I will share the history and some more benefits of Maca Root. 

red, black, and yellow maca root. 

yellow maca powder

Lepidium meyenii (maca) is a Peruvian plant of the Brassicaceae family cultivated for more than 2000 years, which grows exclusively in the central Andes between 4000 and 4500m altitude. Maca is used as a food supplement and also for its medicinal properties described traditionally. Experimental scientific evidence showed that maca has nutritional, energizer, and fertility-enhancer properties, and it acts on sexual dysfunctions, osteoporosis, benign prostatic hyperplasia, memory and learning, and protects skin against ultraviolet radiation. Clinical trials showed efficacy of maca on sexual dysfunctions as well as increasing sperm count and motility. Maca is a plant with great potential as an adaptogen and appears to be promising as a nutraceutical in the prevention of several diseases

(ncbi para 1). 

Father Cobo was the first to describe the name of maca and its properties in 1653. He stated that this plant grows in the harshest and coldest areas of the province of Chinchaycocha where no other plant for man’s sustenance could be grown. Cobo also referred to the use of maca for fertility. In the 18th century, Ruiz referred to the fertility-enhancing properties of maca and also its stimulant effect. I believe stimulant effect could be related to energizer effect or an effect on mood or well-being. 

(ncbi para 8). 

Traditionally, after being harvested maca is dried naturally and can thus be stored for many years [5]. The dried hypocotyls are hard as stone (Figure 1). After being naturally dried maca hypocotyls can be eating. Before eaten, the hypocotyls need to be boiled in water to obtain a soft product which can be consumed as juice, the most frequent form of use

(ncbi para 9). 

Their are three different kinds of Maca: Black, Red, and Yellow Maca. The benefits of Red Maca (the most rare type) is increased protection from prostate cancer and a strong protective effect on bone structure and density. The benefits of Black Maca is the ability to increase sperm count in men, as well as sperm motility. It also helps protect against stress better than other varieties, is the best of all maca types against fatigue and adrenal stress, inreases memory, and also acts as a natural anti-depressant. The benefits of Yellow Maca (which is the most common type in health food stores) is good for female fertility, the ability to control blood glucose levels, increased stamina, contains good amounts of amino acids/proteins, and has a nice amount of mineral content. (ALTHealthWorks).   

Where Should I Buy Maca Root?

I personally have bought my Maca Root powder from my local health food stores. I bought the Maca powder from the brand Now. I’m still using it and it seems to be working great. I also have bought Maca powder online from mountainroseherbs.com and I really enjoyed their Maca as well. I believe both of these Maca powders are the Yellow Maca’s. I have not tried the Black/Red Maca but I sure want too. ALTHealthWorks suggests buying Red Maca powder from amazon here: 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008A0PB7O/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B008A0PB7O&linkCode=as2&tag=al0b63-20#customerReviews

I’m not sure where to get Black Maca but I’m sure just search around on the wondrous web and I’m sure you will find something. 

If any of you radical readers have tried Red, Yellow, or Black Maca I would love to hear your thoughts on it and what brand you used? Thanks for reading!

Stay groovy!

Sincerely,

Radical Rose

http://radicalrose.wordpress.com

Resources:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3184420/

http://althealthworks.com/1085/the-health-benefits-of-red-yellow-and-black-maca/