Raw Food Ideas

Superfood maca is the world's highest altitude cultivated crop. It is widely known for it's libido enhancing powers and medicinal properties, but it has been a food product for thousands of years in South America.

Basic Information

Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is related to the turnip and beetroot. It grows underground, enduring extremes of temperature due to the altitude and proximity to the equator. A true superfood it is the only native vegetable in South America to be a member of the cruciferous family, sharing the cancer fighting properties of it's relatives. It is similar to a sweet potato but in the West we can buy raw organic maca in powdered form, keeping all of the nutritional benefits intact. Maca is an adaptogen - that is, a plant classified to have certain medicinal qualities that can fight stress and reduce many degenerative diseases. Maca supplements  are often marketed as a herb, although 'herbal maca' is actually a root vegetable.

Maca History

Maca holds a special place in Peruvian culture. It's dried roots have been treated as a delicacy for thousands of years. To the ancient natives of the Andes, maca was also reputed to restore the fertility of their livestock which often suffered in the high elevation. The Inca's used maca as an energy enhancing potion to give themselves more power before going into battle.

Maca has also been valued as trading commodity. Maca crops are often exchanged with communities at lower altitudes for other food staples such a rice. They were also traded with the Spanish conquistadors as a means of paying taxes. Maca has also been used as a herbal medicine believing to improve fertility, sexual desire , strength and endurance.

Maca Health And Nutrition 

Dried maca root contains high levels of nutrients, minerals and amino acids. It's nutritional value is comparable to wholegrains. Organic raw maca powder contains approximately:

• 60% carbohydrates
• 15% protein
• 9% fibre
• 2.5% fats

Maca is an iron rich food. It is also high in other essential minerals including iodine, calcium and magnesium. Perhaps because of the hardy environment in which it is grown, maca retains much of it's nutritional value during storage.

Maca Benefits For Women

Amongst maca's virtues are the health benefits to women in regulating hormonal balances. Whilst there are no existing clinical trials , research on animals suggests that maca has estrogen like effects. It may prevent menopause problems related to low estrogen, such as osteoporosis.

Maca is also gaining popularity as a PMS treatment. A leading cardiologist in Peru, Dr Hugo Malaspina has helped over 200 menopausal patients with a maca health treatment to regulate the pancreas and the pituary and adrenal glands. Other symptoms including hot flushes, mood swings and low energy levels are said to be treated effectively with maca supplements.

Increase Your Libido With Maca

Maca has been described as 'nature's Viagra' or Peruvian Ginseng . In a 12 week double-blind trial , it was shown that a dosage of maca of 1500mg or 3000mg increased male libido, sperm count and mobility and improved erectile dysfunction in some cases. Whilst the trial demonstrates an increase in sexual desire, it has not been demonstrated that sexual function, including impotence is affected in any way. .

Maca In A Raw Food Diet

Raw Maca Smoothie Recipe

Maca Supplements

Maca has been used as a food and as a medicinal herb for hundreds of years.In recent years the benefits of maca root or 'herb' have been recognized by the health supplement industry, spawning many varieties of herbal maca capsules, tablets and maca extract products.

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written by Jane, September 14, 2009

Maca gives health benefit to the person who eat or drink it. Maca can be drink with plain milk or even if you add chocolate.

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