Maca Root for Men and Women’s Health

Maca root is starting to make its presence known in the health industry although it’s actually been used for over 2,000 years!

The maca plant (also known as Peruvian ginseng) is native to the Peruvian highlands, exclusively in the Andean region.  It’s a member of the Brassicaceae family, or the broccoli family, which are known to have potent anticancer and antioxidant properties.

Maca is a nutritional powerhouse. Just 1 oz gelatinized maca powder contains 4g of protein, 20g carbs, 2g fiber, 1g fat, 133% of the recommended daily intake (RDI) of vitamin C, 23% of the RDI of iron, and many other vitamins and minerals. In fact, some scientific studies have shown that maca has energizing, fertility-enhancing properties and can also be used to help sexual dysfunction, osteoporosis, benign prostate hyperplasia, memory and learning, and can even prevent the skin from UV radiation. Sounds like a pretty impressive resume to me!

I heard about maca a few months ago, and decided I wanted to research the plant. What better way to test its supposed benefits than on myself? However, I will say I DO NOT recommend using yourself as a guinea pig.

I’ve been taking maca root powder for a few months now – since November 21 to be exact! And wow have I noticed a difference.

I watched a ton of maca reviews on Youtube from young females like myself, who claimed maca made them gain weight – specifically in their hips, rear, breasts, and lower tummy. Funny that traditionally, these are signs of a healthy, fertile woman! Yep, a big booty means something! This isn’t to say that skinnier women are unhealthy or not fertile – everyone’s body is unique and beautiful. Another common review from these girls was that maca increased their appetite, which could have led to the weight gain as well.

Maca affects our hormones, which is what increases libido and fertility in both men and women. Hormone imbalance is actually a HUGE epidemic today, that most of us don’t even realize! It’s why hormone related cancers, like breast cancer, rates are on the rise. It’s why as a society we’re becoming more and more obese (among other reasons). It’s why infertility is becoming such a crushing issue. Luckily, there are plants that can potentially help with this!

I’ve always had an inkling that my hormones were unbalanced, which is why my periods are so heavy and it’s almost impossible for me to lose this stubborn weight. I was hesitant to try maca because I didn’t want to gain even more! But in the name of science (and my burning curiosity), I tried it.

I simply add ½ tsp (yes, that’s all!) to my Greens+ juice every morning. On its own, maca has an odd small – almost like burnt caramel or butterscotch? I don’t know, that’s what it reminds me of. It definitely does NOT taste great in a tea or on its own, but I haven’t tried it in any baked goods – yet. But good, news is, the taste is masked pretty well in my Greens.

I noticed by day 2 or 3 that I had a LOT of energy. I was convinced this was a placebo effect, but a few months later and I still get a burst of energy as soon as I ingest it. I do want to mention that I take the Greens+ Extra Energy form Genuine Health, so there are energy boosting compounds in that. However, I’ve been taking these Greens for about 4 years now, so when I say I feel an extra energy boost, I’m talking about extra energy effects from the maca alone.

After about a week or two, I started to notice my waist shrinking. I hadn’t changed my eating habits or water intake. I also noticed my appetite was slightly increased, but nothing crazy. Other people started to notice my weight changes too. My clothes were starting to fit looser, my mindset was starting to improve, and even my skin was starting to even out!

2 months later, I’m still taking maca root every morning with my Greens. And I feel FANTASTIC! I have noticed my hips have rounded out more, and my waist is the smallest it’s ever been. My body is slowly progressing to its happy, healthy sweet spot in terms of weight distribution. I love this stuff!

Since maca affects your hormones – both male and female – it can increase your libido. Don’t be surprised if you and your partner notice things are getting steamier, if you know what I mean. Remember, Valentine’s Day is coming up *wink wink, hint hint*.

I do want to stress though, that if you are going to pick up some maca powder, get the GELATINIZED form. Many people take the raw form because they think it’s healthier and more natural, but not in this case. In its raw form, maca contains harmful chemicals that the plant uses to ward off predators. Ingesting these chemicals in raw maca usually causes GI upset. Nobody likes a crampy gut or frequent trips to the bathroom, so get the gelatinized form, trust me!

You can find the powder online, but if you’re in Canada check out Winners and HomeSense, or TJ Maxx and Marshalls in the US. I got a pretty big bag for only $12 at HomeSense! And keep in mind, you only need ½ tsp per day.

My final takeaway again is to talk to a licensed nutritionist or naturopathic doctor before self-prescribing. Although these are natural compounds, there are still health risks. But I believe this plant is definitely worth looking into! If you do decide to try this out, I’d love to hear about your experience!

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