So if my regular readers will indulge me, I'd like to share with you what I've learned from this fantastic herb (maca root) - and you might benefit from it too!
The info below was gleaned from a multitude of sources and obviously, I've not tested all of its benefits - for instance, the claim that it helps to cure cancer. But it's pretty amazing stuff, anyway!
Maca (Lepidium peruvianum Chacon) has an enormous number of benefits:
- Promotes deeper sleep
- Helps adapt to stress
- Balances moods
- Promotes mental clarity – enhances memory and brain function
- Improves physical and emotional well-being
- Increases energy levels, stamina & endurance (good for Chronic Fatigue)
- Nourishes glandular system
- Balances hormones
- Slows the aging process
- Prevents osteoporosis, (high calcium and vegetable protein)
- Gives menopausal relief (like HRT) - in women
- Improves libido and fertility
Regulating the Endocrine system: Maca is a potent herb that regulates the endocrine system (glands that produce hormones necessary for essential body functions). Maca increases energy levels, encourages cell growth and stimulates metabolic functions. Its nutrients fuel the system and encourage natural hormone production.
Supporting the adrenal glands: Maca is an adaptogen and so helps maintain whole body health. Its calcium, fatty acids and vitamins B1, B2, B12 content aids digestion while its phosphorus and vitamins B12 and B1 work on the nervous system. Also, its alkaloid content helps the body assimilate all the nutrients it needs.
Helping to fight cancer: Maca contains glucosinolate and fibres that help prevent some forms of cancer. Its fatty acids help improve the immune system. It also lessens the the chance of getting rickets, osteomalacia and other bone diseases.
Relieving pain: Maca contains terpenoids and saponins which relieve pain and act as expectorant, sedative and analgesic. Its analgesic effect works not just on specific organs but on the whole body.
How to take it:
Take it all at once, or twice a day. Whatever suits you best.
Dosage:
Start with 2-4 teasponfuls a day. You'll feel a noticeable difference within a day or two. Increase or decrease the dose at will. Whatever suits you best. People with major system imbalances, might want to gradually increase the dose by a teaspoonful a day until they feel a difference. You can decrease the dose by a teasponful a day until symptoms reappear to monitor what works best – but that’s entirely up to you.
The beneficial effects of Maca accumulate over time, although the amount required for optimal effect decreases over time for most people. E.g., a man starting on 6 teasponfuls a day might find that after 3-4 weeks he needs only 2-3 teasponfuls to achieve the same results. So, it’s best to take it for a period, cease for a period and so on, to maximise the body's response to it. E.g., on 12 weeks and off 1-4 weeks. If you like it too much to be without it for that long (!), take it 10-12 days on and 1-2 days off.
This allows the body to adjust to an improved level of functioning on its own.
Adaptogens:
Maca is an adaptogen. Russian Dr. Nicole Laserev discovered adaptogens during his study of a variety of plants that helped increase the body's natural resistance to environmental stresses - and named them “adaptogens”.
Adaptogens are easily absorbed, non-toxic, totally harmless, maintain whole-body function (balance) – they normalise it, regardless of physical, emotional or mental stresses.
Drugs usually have side effects, while adaptogens are of benefit and have no ill-effects.
General:
Maca is a wonderful dietary supplement. It doesn't replace hormones, but nourishes the hormonal system. You can start or stop taking it at any time.
Sportsmen take large doses (about 6-8 teasponfuls, 4-5 times a week) to increase stamina and performance naturally.
Where to buy:
I purchase mine from Plant Spirit.
Should you prefer to buy it in powder form, rather in capsule form, there are plenty of recipes which benefit from the sort of honey/nut flavour it has.You could sprinkle it on your muesli, mix it with fruit juices or green tea (although maca is more nutritious when unheated).
Or you might like to try these:
Delicious!
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21 comments:
Interesting!
I have chronic fatigue and am currently trying to find helps to get my body well again...
So far I've identified CQ010 and magnesium as potentially useful.
Will have a think about this thanks
It works for me, Jeanie!
Magnesium chloride, potassium chloride and bicarb are apparently three life-saving ingredients in a cocktail doctors serve in many emergency rooms to revive people who aren't doing too well.
I'd not heard of CQ010, so thanks for the tip!
I hope you feel better soon.
I always have doubts about wonder claims.
Even on a product as well tested as Creatine.
It has many proven benefits -
1. increased strength endurance (bursts)
2. better for treating loss of mental agility than may drugs made for that purpose.
It is often claimed that it has no side effects and is safe, the side effects are under reported as everyone wants to jump on the bandwagon of this new product.
The side effects can be quite serious -
1. headaches
2. serious cramps
3. extreme leg pain and long term damage.
Stick with a balanced healthy diet free from additives and avoid all medication (pain killers etc) when possible.
Yo Fausty,
Sounds like good stuff,I`ll get some.
Do they sell it in Tesco`s?
Quite so, @ 09:26
Except that maca is a foodstuff, not a drug. There are millions of foods, in forests which have medicinal properties. Humble garlic is one, ginger another. The pharmaceuticals extract components of these, passing them off as being better than the original, when it is just not so. Most often, they have nasty side-effects.
Big pharma created anti-biotics which determined microbeings defeat within 6 years. Not so with humble garlic. Its makeup is so complex that it has been defeating germs for thousands of years.
Used in conjunction with other foods, such as maca, ginger, turmeric, etc., we don't need big pharma's toxins.
Stan, I've just downed a delicious smoothie with my favourite fruits, coconut milk and maca. Yum! Go for it!
Fausty
You didn't tell us what noticeable effects that Maca is having on you!
"Except that maca is a foodstuff, not a drug."
So is creatine, an extract of a food stuff than can directly be obtained through food - meat.
Being a foodstuff does not render something as having no drug content, too many examples to list.
If something has powerful qualities it often has corresponding side effects.
"Used in conjunction with other foods, such as maca, ginger, turmeric, etc., we don't need big pharma's toxins."
Not so sure i would agree with you there, I don't think there is always a more natural cheap effective source or that the more natural source is more effective than something man made.
No doubt there are some examples but in total i doubt you would get too far at the hospital with your cloves of garlic etc.
Nice information! Good post....
Anon @ 11:28
I thought I might get away with that one!
The energy levels have become progressively better.
My memory's better & I think faster and can concentrate for longer without tiring.
My stress levels are non-existent.
I no longer have days when another few hours under the covers is preferable to getting on with things.
I sleep very well and wake up refreshed.
I've replaced my morning coffee with a morning maca and find that it wakes me up just as much, but without any hyperness. (OK, I do like a spoon to able to stand up in my espresso!
My skin has a softer texture.
Beyond that, I'm not saying! :P
Anon @ 11:28
I confess to not knowing much about creatine, but I'm not a fan of extracts.
There are complex relationships between the micro-components in meats and plants, which have a symbiotic relationship with each other. That relationship is most often the sum that is more than the parts, for a variety of reasons. Garlic is a case in point.
For instance, we might find that potassium is good for an ailment, and take it on its own. But if we take more than our bodies need, then it can deplete our retention of sodium to dangerously low levels. Same with Vitamins B2 and B6.
Another example is 'refined' foods, (e.g., white flour) and strained fruit juices. The skin of fruit and vegetables frequently house vital nutrients - as do the pips. What's more, we were designed to ingest the fruits whole - their various components being in balance, so to speak.
Anon @ 11:35
Put it this way, I'm more sceptical of man-made concoctions than of natural, whole foods, which have given thousands of years of benefit to mankind, than I am of big pharma's wares. And the former doesn't come with hype. It doesn't need to.
There are so many examples of lousy medical advice, I could spend all day listing instances, but here's one.
Around 1940/50, mothers were told that they were harming their babies if they breastfed them. How wrong they were - for dozens of reasons. Many children were harmed by the corporations' desire to sell their products - and famous names, like Dr Spock, went along with it.
Sure, doctors can treat ailments which perhaps can't be treated by good diet and the subsequent chance of have a greater chance of falling ill. But I'd always rather go the natural route first.
Thank you, Bridge design. It's a great little root!
"Fausty said...
Anon @ 11:28
I thought I might get away with that one!"
You make some good points in your reply though though you use a rather broad brush drawing your conclusions.
but a good read all the same, especially highlighting how some foods do work together as a whole. eggs is one such food, i believe the protein in eggs it utilised better by the body when the yoke is also consumed.
So in short we are back to the `dont stray to far from nature to achieve good health` evolution has already spent millions of years working most of the problems out!
But back to the root in question, i find all statements of its qualities interesting but i would like to see some indipendant blind testing with placebos added to the study before i buy into any `wonder food` claims.
plus a chemical study!
The placebo effect can be quite significant!
Such is the power of suggestion!
An independent, thorough study would be interesting. The only problem I have with that is all studies must have limits.
Someone picks the criteria for the test for the study - and its parameters. What if the most important criteria were left out of the study, due to the ignorance of the testers? For instance, some property which, working in conjunction with another, has implications far beyond the understanding of those who set up the study?
Honest studies are most often done, I believe, to learn more about something, which implies that we don't know everything about the subject.
Before my menstruation came, I had abdominal pain and my friend Linda told me to use maca powder. And this natural herbs surprised me, after using it no more pain before and after my period. Thanks to maca no more worries and goodbye to PMS.
I have been using maca for couple of years now and result is: banalnced hormones and lots of energy (I am 38, a mom) and no more sudden mood change.
As his term as ambassador comes to a close and he assumes his new duties, we take this opportunity to pay homage to a representative
of the Czech government who has conducted himself in a way to make us all proud to have known him.
As time goes by many people discover the good benefits of Maca on our health. Being a libido enhancer is what i like among these benefits.
I just started this today. A lady at this health food store I go to often told me about. I am starting out with 1 teaspoon in my smoothie. I have had many problems with my time of the month, cramps, heavy bleeding, and fatigue. I am anxious to see if this will help me out.
Wow all is very fantastic.
very good explanation about this subject
maca roots health
Congratulations it was a excellent piece of writing. I love Maca!
Maca Pulver
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