Maca Powder - Lost crop of the Incas

It was not so long ago when I tried my first Maca Powder Shake - organic powder. I must tell you that it is a life changing nutritional supplement. To mention a few really positive reactions: increased stamina and sexual function (which is why it is known as natural viagra substitute, memory enhancement and many more...this is why this adaptogen specie really deserves a place at health-food-supplement.com

Interesting historical facts

Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is largely unknown crop found at higher altitudes than perhaps any other crop in the world - at the altitudes up to 4.300 metres in the northern Peruvian Puna near Lake Junin. The area where maca (pronounced mah-kah) is grown is and environment of intense sunlight, violent winds, and bone-chilling cold. This area is among the world's worst farmland, especially in its upper limits, with vast stretches of barren, rocky terrain. Daily temperature fluctuations are so great that at sunset temperatures often plummet from balmy 18 C to 10 C below freezing. Fierce winds evaporate more moisture that does the fierce sunlight, and carry away more soil than does the rain.

Maca is rich in sugars, starches, protein, and
essential minerals - particularly iron and iodine

Even Potato could not do it!

Actually, according to wikipedia, potato and many other closely related potato cultivated potato species were 'born' in the region of the Andes. Potatoes were first introduced outside the Andes region four centuries ago, and have become an integral part of much of the world's cuisine as we know it today.

In areas where not even potatoes could grow, maca makes agriculture possible. Its roots resemble those of its relative the radish, and are yellow, purple, or yellow with purple bands. They are rich in sugars, starches, protein, and essential minerals - particularly iron and iodine.

Nutrition

To Andean Indians, maca is a valuable commodity. Dried, the roots can be stored for years - maca powder. The sweet, spicy, dried root is considered a delicacy. Maca boiled in water is supposed to be sweeter than cocoa. However, from my personal experience I can not agree with the cocoa taste. To camouflague the bitter taste, I usually mix maca powder with my favourite morning fruit shake. Also, apple juice (best if fresh) is a really good for mixing maca powder.

It is important in the diet, as it has one of the highest nutritional values of any food crop grown in the areas of Puna. The dried roots are approximately 12-16% protein, and are rich in essential amino acids. The fresh roots contain unusually high amounts of iron and iodine, two nutrients that are often deficient in the highland diet.

Natural Viagra

If you have heard of maca before, than you know that its popularity comes from the fact that it is considered as best natural viagra supplement. It enhances fertility in both humans and livestock. Soon after the Conquest, the Spanish found that their livestock were reproducing poorly in the highlands, and Indians recommended maca. The results were so remarkable that they were noted by surprised Spanish chronicles. Colonial records of some 200 years ago indicate that tribute payments of roughly 9 tons of maca were demanded from the Junin area alone.

Energy Source

Maca has been famous for its medicinal advantages, often we can find in the literature that it was eaten by Inca imperial warriors as a preparations before battles.

Energy Source

Maca has been famous for its medicinal advantages, often we can find in the literature that it was eaten by Inca imperial warriors as a preparations before battles.

Usage

The fresh roots are baked or roasted in ashes. The dired roots are mainly boiled in milk or water to create a savory, fragrant porridge. It also make a popular sweet, fragrant, fermented drink (maca chicha) that is often mixed with hard liquor to make 'coctel de maca'.

It is the dried roots that are most used. After being dried at the sun, they become brown, soft, and sweet, with a musky flavour. It is reported that the flavour remains strong for two or even more years.

Known Maca Benefits

• A true adaptogen.
• One of the best natural ways to regulate and support endocrine health.
• Increases energy and endurance
• Increases stamina
• Increases sexual function in men and women
• Enhances fertility in people and animals
• Reduces hormonal dysfunction during menopause and andropause
• Can regulate hormonal imbalances
• Reduces anemia
• Enhances memory, learning and mental ability
• Improves skin
• Anticarcinogen and antioxidant
• Helps to build muscle, an alternative to anabolic steroids
• Not addictive
• Anti-aging benefits

Personal experience with Maca Powder

Maca as food supplement comes in a few different forms: powder, extracts and formulations, capsules and tablets, smoothies and others. However, my favourite is certainly Raw Organic Maca Powder. First, it is the cheapest. Second, I can blend it to my morning fruit shakes.

If you have never tried Maca before, I suggest to start with a smaller dosage of 1/4 of teaspoon twice a day (at breakfast and dinner) and after a while you will see yourself if you need to increase dosage. We are all different and each of us must find their own dose which is best for him.

If you have a simptoms that you would like to cure with maca, maybe you should increase your daily dosage. In any case total daily amount taken should not exceed three teaspoons.

I am taking 1/2 teaspoon of Maca Powder every morning. I don't take it at the evenings. If I do, I have trouble sleeping, because to me it is a sort of energy boost. This is why I like it in the morning.

Personally, I didn't have any negative side effects while taking Maca, however if any kind of negative effects are shown, you should immediately decrease your daily dosage and probably consult with your doctor.

Maca Powder Side Effects

If you ask me, almost every side effect has something to do with to high daily dosage or a bad combination with other drugs.

A few known side effects:

• Mood swings
• Diarrhea
• Gas
• Increased heart rate and insomnia

Again, if you would like to experience all the benefits of Maca Powder, you should slowly start introducing it to your body. Start with smaller daily dosage (app. 1/4 teaspoon twice a day). Maybe you will have trouble sleeping, so stop taking it at the evenings as I did. If you will start feeling comfortable taking Maca as your daily nutritional supplement, than you can increase daily dosage.

Related articles

• Panax Ginseng as Safe Herbal Supplement

References and Footnotes:

1) Lost crops of the Incas, 1989. National Academy Press, Washington DC.
2) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potato
3) www.macaroot.com/benefits/index.html
4) www.macadata.com/taking.php

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