January 29, 2024

Peruvian Maca: properties, benefits and uses

By My Store Admin

Peruvian Maca is an extraordinary plant, from its roots a powder is obtained which is defined as "Peruvian ginseng" due to its important capabilities tonic-adaptogenic.

Already in ancient times it was considered "a gift from the gods" for local populations and there are legends that say that Inca warriors consumed maca before fighting in battle because it was able to increase resistance and strength.

Today maca is not only appreciated by local populations, but is also known and appreciated by vegetarians, vegans, raw foodists, athletes and is becoming increasingly accessible to everyone.

Let's see in detail the characteristics of the plant and its beneficial properties.

The Maca plant

The Maca is a plant from the Brassicaceae, its botanical name is Lepidium meyenii and it originates in the Andes.

It is a small herbaceous plant, considered perennial due to its accumulation roots and is part of the cruciferous plants, such as cabbage, turnip, horseradish, radish etc...

It is grown as an annual plant and harvested approximately 7-9 months after being planted.

It develops mainly on the The Andes of Peru and Bolivia, at a considerable height, between 2500 and 5000 meters above sea level.

It finds its ideal habitat on hostile terrain, very poor and rocky and with little presence of oxygen.

It is able to adapt to adverse meteorological conditions, such as strong winds and significant temperature variations, intense sunlight during the day and very cold temperatures at night.

Its root, a tuber similar to a turnip of about 5-7 cm, is edible and is used above all for its numerous beneficial properties.

Peruvian maca: properties

As previously mentioned, Maca is known and appreciated above all as a tonic-adaptogen.

The maca root has a high nutritional value, which makes it effective as aadaptogenic remedy, therefore a tonic capable of counteracting physical and mental fatigue, of improving the body's non-specific resistance in response to external stress stimuli, both physical and psychic.

maca powder is in fact capable of increasing our organism's ability to adapt to stressful agents which can be of various kinds, physical, psychological, working, sporting etc...

Furthermore, thanks to the work of Gloria Chacon de Popovici a famous biologist from Peru, from 1980 maca also began to be studied for its effects on fertility, initially conducted on animals.

In fact, it seems that Maca can influence both male and female fertility and is able to reduce the symptoms of post menopause syndrome in women. Finally, it seems to act as a natural aphrodisiac, improving sexual desire.

How to take Maca

Maca can be found in the form of a powder or capsules.

The only difference between the two lies in the method of intake and dosage, the capsules are more practical to take as a supplement while the powder is more convenient for food use to add as a spice in recipes.

Maca powder has a very particular and pungent flavour, slightly malty sweetish, it oscillates between bitter and spicy, but can be easily disguised by mixing it with other ingredients.

Can be dissolved in smoothies, drinks or milk. It pairs perfectly with fruit juices, chocolate, yogurt and much more...

Furthermore, it can be used as aemulsifier in culinary preparations, added to savory recipes, to season salads and vegetables or in broths or soups.

Finally, you can also use it as an ingredient in homemade desserts, cakes, biscuits or bread dough.

Contraindications of Peruvian maca

Maca appears to be a safe food, its intake should be avoided in case of hypersensitivity ascertained towards its components.

In case of pathologies, pregnancy or breastfeeding it is always advisable to consult a doctor before introducing it into your diet.

Taking maca powder could cause side effects especially when it is exceeded in quantities, or used for long periods.

In fact, Peruvian maca should not be consumed constantly, it is recommended to interrupt one week of constant intake every month.

Some scientific studies on maca and its benefits:

Maca Guacamole

Preparation time: ~7 min

Ingredients

2-3 ripe guacamole
5 cherry tomatoes cut into cubes
½ chopped onion
3 teaspoons NaturaleBio maca powder
Juice of 1-2 organic lemons (or limes)
Salt to taste
1 crushed garlic (optional)

Preparation

With a fork, mash the pulp of the ripe avocados until you obtain a lump-free mixture. Add all the ingredients and mix. You can top it with toasted bread or serve it alongside tasty nachos!