Meet your Royal Highness: The Maca Root from Peru

Let’s begin this article with a very common and simple question, what is maca? Well, Maca (Lepidium Meyenii, as is usually called by its botanical name) is a reserving root that grows only in the Andean highlander zones of Peru at altitudes of 14,000 ft., in a region of intense sunlight, winds and below freezing temperatures, where no other crops can survive. Maca is originally grown on the Junin Plateau, a huge, flat area in which Maca has learned to flourish under harsh growing conditions.

The plant is grown from seed and root maturation generally occurs within seven to eight months. Its appearance may be described as a shrub with a low-growing, mat-like stem arrangement, small, off-white flowers, and scalloped leaves similar to others in the mustard family. The root can be one of several colors (yellow, black or purple) and is of comparable shape to a turnip or radish – and it actually tastes like one!

Maca root is an extraordinary food, source of considerably amount of amino acids, complex carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals.
In addition to its rich supply of essential nutrients, Maca also contains an impressive array of bio-active components, some, if not all of which may be responsible for its numerous benefits.

So, what is Maca good for? We can summarize the benefits in three main aspects:

• Hormonal Balance
• Energy
• Overall Well Being

Hormonal Balance? Definitely yes, and on top of the list, but let’s be clear, Maca does not contain any hormones. So, how does it work? Very simple, the synergy of all the nutrients contained in the Maca root (naturally provided in the right proportion), work mainly in the hypothalamus and pituitary glands, assisting the body in the production of hormones, thus providing hormonal balance and all the benefits derived from it.

Energy? That’s a yes too, but first we have to understand the root of the problem. Due to the lack of nutrients in our food (not enough anyways), our body goes into a chronic fatigue stage, and even though we “eat well”, we are certainly not nourishing our body. A typical solution would be coffee or some sort of sugary energy drink, but, is it really going to help? We all know it will not, at least not in the way we want; it will most definitely be a temporary solution which in turn will crash our system and damage our adrenals putting too much stress on them. Coffee or ginseng, both commonly used as “energy providers”, combined with sugar, act as a drug with stimulant effects that will definitely affect your nervous system. Maca, by the contrary, provides energy in a different way, mainly by replenishing essential nutrients to the body as is required, plain and simple!

Maca is also considered an adaptogen plant by excellence (now we are talking Royal!). An adaptogen plant is a substance (food or nutritive herb), which brings the body to a heightened state of resistance to disease through physiological and emotional health.

The word ‘adaptogen’ was first used by the Russian scientist Dr. Nickolai Lazarev in 1947. His reports indicated that several indigenous plants were responsible to help increase the body’s natural resistance to environmental stress, assuming later the term “adaptogens” to refer to them. Plants classified as “adaptogens” are known to raise the non-specific resistance to disease, be capable of normalizing functions in the body, be non-toxic and harmless, and be safe for ingestion for long periods of time, as a nutritive for preventative purposes. Maca is one of the most powerful adaptogen plants known fulfilling all the above criteria. Maca effects on the body is two-fold, nourishes the endocrine system and assists normalizing the nervous and hormonal systems in the body when they are adversely affected by stress and aging changes.

As an adaptogen, Maca can help balance, strengthen and support any area of the body under compromise due to stress. Stress, either mental or physical, affects the hypothalamus, causing the adrenal glands to increase the production of Cortisol (also known as the “stress hormone”). We are definitely not designed to function under long term stress as this will have a detrimental effect upon our health. Cortisol has a negative effect on numerous areas in the body including digestion, glucose and fat metabolism (causing weight gain), sleep (keeps you awake) and memory (forgot something?). Stress also affects the sexual function, lack of libido, frigidity and fertility issues will arise for sure. When it comes to dealing with stress effectively Maca is the best… it is in fact the best natural answer for any hormonal deficiencies!

As an adaptogen plant, maca will work automatically in your system providing a wide range of nutrients that allows the body to be in balance and achieve many benefits out of it, issues like:

Energy
Physical and emotional well being
Mental clarity and memory
Stress
Physical condition and reflexes
Stamina and athletic performance
Muscularity
Vigor
Rejuvenation
Smoother looking skin
Bone health
Aches and pains
Occasional headaches
Hormonal Balance
Menopause (hot flashes)
PMS (mood swings)
Libido
Sexual health
Anemia
Sleeplessness
Blood pressure
Cholesterol
Immune system

… may be treated with Maca, isn’t this wonderful?

Remember, once your hormonal system works, everything works fine again!