What is maca?

Maca (Lepidium Meyenii) is a root that originally only grew at high altitudes in the Andes Mountains of Peru. It is a vegetable and has been eaten by the local people of Peru for centuries.  There are suspicions that Maca was already cultivated and consumed as early as 2000 BC. In addition to being a form of food, it was used as a medicinal herb.

Why is Maca a Superfood?

Maca falls within the 'superfood' category because it has a high nutritional value. It is very rich in minerals, amino acids and dietary fiber.

Maca works as an adaptogen

An adaptogen helps the body to achieve a better balance in all kinds of processes. In this way, adaptogens stimulate the correction of an imbalance in hormones.

Nutritional values ​​of Maca

Maca is a source of carbohydrates, proteins and minerals.

Below are the nutritional values ​​of QualiGreen Maca.

Maca Capsules Nutritional Value	Per 100 grams
Energy	325kcal
Fat	3.6 grams
Carbohydrates	71.4 grams
Of which sugars	31.1 grams
Of which dietary fiber	7.1 grams
Protein	14.3 grams

Amino acids in Maca

The amounts of fatty acids in Maca are very small. But this does not alter the fact that it contains 18 important amino acids.

Amino Acids Maca Capsules	Per 100 grams
Total proteins	14.3 grams
Aspartic acid	1.38 grams
Glutamic acid	2.23 grams
Serine	710 mg
Histidine	310mg
Glycine	970 mg
Arginine	1.42 grams
Threonine	470mg
Alanine	900 mg
Tyrosine	440mg
Phenylalanine	780 mg
Valine	1.13 grams
Methionine	400mg
Isoleucine	670 mg
Leucine	1.3 grams
Lysine	790 mg
HO-Proline	370mg
Proline	7 mg
Sarcosine	10 mg

Vitamins in Maca Capsules

Maca is rich in vitamins, the amounts below:

Vitamins in maca powder	Per 100 grams
Vitamin C	285 mg (475% DV)
Vitamin B1	1 mg (90% RDI)
Vitamin B2	0.4 mg (21% RDI)
Vitamin B2	5.7 mg (29% DV)
Vitamin B6	1.1 mg (57% DV)

Minerals in Maca Capsules

In addition to vitamins and amino acids, Maca is rich in minerals. Maca is a good source of calcium, potassium, iron and copper. Below are the quantities:

Minerals in Maca Capsules	Per 100 grams
Calcium	450 mg (45% RDI)
Potassium	2 grams (57% RDI)
Buyer	6 mg (300% RDI)
Magnesium	74 mg (21-25% male/female RDI)
Phosphorus	220 mg (37% DV)
Sodium	18 mg (1% RDA)
Iron	15 mg (100% RDI)
Zinc	12 mg (150% RDI)
Iodine	520 micrograms (34% RDI)

Health Benefits of Maca

We have selected for you which health benefits of Maca are scientifically substantiated. These are mentioned below.

1: Fertility men

To get straight to the point... This is one of the most important health claims of Maca. It can improve the fertility of men.

There is evidence that Maca improves male fertility. This study shows that after 12 weeks of using maca, the sperm concentration increased. This was a small-scale study among 20 volunteers.

In another small-scale study among 9 men who took maca tablets, the sperm count and sperm motility increased.

This meta-analysis of 5 different studies also concluded that maca improves male fertility. The quality of sperm improved in both healthy men and men with fertility problems.

2: Improve libido in men and women

As a person ages, the libido decreases. In men this is due to a decrease in testosterone. And in women this is due to the decline in estrogen production during menopause.

This meta-analysis of 17 databases found limited evidence that maca increases libido. Maca is also called the “natural Viagra”, which is an exaggeration given the studies. But overall, the evidence points to the fact that maca can indeed increase libido.

3: Maca gives you energy

Maca is very popular among top athletes because it gives you energy and improves your endurance.

In a small-scale study among 8 cyclists, participants improved their time on a 40 kilometer time trial after taking maca supplements for 14 days. The participants in the study also noticed that their libido had increased.

In these studies, the maca groups performed much better than the placebo groups. It is believed that this may have to do with the antioxidants that maca is rich in.

4: Good for your mood

Maca is associated with reduced anxiety and a reduction in symptoms of depression. Women in menopause and postmenopause in particular can benefit from maca.

In a study among postmenopausal women, participants who used maca were found to experience fewer symptoms of depression. Blood pressure also improved in the group that used maca.

In this study, maca also had a good effect on the mood of postmenopausal women.

5: Relief of menopausal symptoms

During menopause, estrogen levels drop, which can lead to all kinds of complaints.

Common menopausal symptoms include sleep problems, hot flashes, mood swings and vaginal dryness.

Maca helps relieve these menopausal symptoms. This was also shown by meta-analysis of 4 studies.

6: Good for the brain

Maca is good for the brain and improves the ability to learn and store information.

This effect of maca on the brain has been known to Peruvians for some time. There people traditionally used maca to improve the performance of children at school ( source ).

7: Relieves complaints with anti-depressants

SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are often prescribed for depression.

A side effect of SSRIs are sexual complaints such as reduced libido and erectile dysfunction.

Maca can reduce sexual complaints caused by SSRIs ( source ).

Conclusion

All in all , Maca brings many health benefits. This is substantiated by scientific articles. See what Maca can do for you!

Buy maca

Maca has become so popular for good reason. It is a true classic among superfoods. Would you like to buy Maca to see what it can do for your health? Order it via QualiGreen.

Maca allergy

If you have an allergy to cruciferous crops, it is better not to use maca.