Benefits of Maca

Maca, a root that belongs to the radish family, is most commonly available in powder form. Grown in the mountains of Peru, it has been called “Peruvian ginseng.” Maca’s benefits have been long valued, and has recently been popularized as a supplement and food ingredient. 


Maca Root for Health and Vitality. There are no serious known side effects of maca, but like any other supplement it shouldn’t be taken in large amounts. When you first start using maca, it’s best to begin by taking smaller amounts and building up; as little as 1/2 teaspoon is a good place to start. Just 1 tablespoon is an average daily dose. Rotating a few days on and a few days off is often recommended.


Highly Nutritious
Maca root powder is very nutritious, and is a great source of several important vitamins and minerals .

One ounce (28 grams) of maca root powder contains:

• Calories: 91
• Carbs: 20 grams
• Protein: 4 grams
• Fiber: 2 grams
• Fat: 1 gram
• Vitamin C: 133% of the RDI
• Copper: 85% of the RDI
• Iron: 23% of the RDI
• Potassium: 16% of the RDI
• Vitamin B6: 15% of the RDI
• Manganese: 10% of the RDI
• Maca root is a good source of carbs and protein, is low in fat and contains a fair amount of fiber. It’s also high in some essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C, copper and iron.

Furthermore, it contains various plant compounds, including glucosinolates and polyphenols.

Aid Male’s Testosterone Levels and Fertility
In clinical studies, serum levels of testosterone were not shown to be affected by maca. Black maca however, has been shown to have positive effects on sperm production, more than yellow maca and red maca.

Red maca has its own benefits for male hormonal health.  It has been shown to reduce prostate size in studies done on male rats. This points to the conclusion that maca may possibly help improve human prostate health as well.

In other studies, maca has also been shown to improve sperm production, mobility, and volume, all important factors of increasing fertility. 

In another 2010 report summarizing the results of 4 clinical trials carried out by BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, maca was able to show benefits related to improving sexual dysfunction and sexual libido in adult men and women. However the other two trials did not show the same positive results, so more formal research is still needed to determine the exact power of maca on fertility. =

Even though the studies haven’t yet show maca to naturally boost testosterone, there are other great natural alternatives that may help that you can find in this article on how to naturally increase testosterone.

Boost Antioxidants 
Maca root acts as a natural antioxidant, and boosts levels of glutathione and SOD (superoxide dismutase). These are two major disease fighters in the body. Results from recent studies demonstrate that maca root has the ability to help prevent the development of chronic human diseases that are characterized by high levels of “bad” cholesterol, high antioxidative states, and impaired glucose tolerance. 

And because maca root increases the glutathione levels in the body, it not only improves your immune system and disease resistance, but also it is helps balance proper levels of cholesterol in the body.  Plus, it significantly improves glucose tolerance, by lowering levels of glucose in blood.  This is especially important for those who need to worry about heart health and conditions like diabetes or metabolic syndrome.


While more research is still needed to reveal how exactly maca benefits the body’s hormonal and nervous systems, initial studies that have been completed have shown promising results for use of maca.

Relieve Symptoms of Menopause
Menopause is defined as the time in a woman’s life when her menstrual periods stop permanently.
The natural decline in estrogen that occurs during this time can cause a range of unpleasant symptoms.

These include hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings, sleep problems and irritability.

One review of four studies in menopausal women found that maca helped alleviate menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes and interrupted sleep.


Additionally, animal studies suggest that maca can help protect bone health. Women have a higher risk of osteoporosis after menopause.