7/10/10

Maca

The Wonders of Maca
A cruciferous vegetable of the mustard family, maca is related to radishes and turnips; maca grows at altitudes of 14,500 feet (4,420 metres) in the Andean mountains of Peru, where few other plants can survive.

Benefits of Maca:
•relieved hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms
•enhanced libido and imroved potency
•increased energy, stamina, and endurance
•relieved depression and reduced stress
•relieved premenstrual syndrome, or PMS
•improved athletic performance
•increased testosterone levels
•enhanced fertility

Maca: A Natural Secret
Maca is used to regulate hormonal functions and slow the decline of an aging hormonal system—for both women and men. Its action focuses on the root of all hormonal problems by nourishing and strengthening the hypothalamus/pituitary axis (HPA).

Maca may be used as an alternative to conventional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to help lessen the symptoms of menopause. Maca also regulates and balances the entire endocrine system, strengthening and toning the reproductive glands to promote a heightened sense of well-being and provide the body with greater energy and vitality.

When shopping for a maca supplement, look for a brand that uses pure, certified organic maca originating from the Peruvian highlands. Gelatinization of maca (the removal of starch from the root, producing a powder that is easier to digest) allows for greater potency and optimal absorption.

Maca is available in capsules, tablets, and powder. It has a pleasant, malty, butterscotch-like flavour, perfect for smoothies. Remember, maca is a food and less than 1,500 mg daily will likely not deliver desired results. The suggested intake is 1,500 to 5,000 mg daily in two doses.

More About Maca
In addition to sugars and proteins, maca contains uridine, malic acid and its benzoyl derivative, and the glucosinolates, glucotropaeolin and m-methoxyglucotropaeolin. The methanol extract of maca tuber also contained (1R, 3S)-1-methyltetrahydro-carboline-3-carboxylic acid, a molecule which is reported to exert many activities on the central nervous system. The nutritional value of dried maca root is high, similar to cereal grains such as rice and wheat. It contains 60% carbohydrates, 10% protein, 8.5% dietary fiber, and 2.2% fats. Maca is rich in essential minerals, especially selenium, calcium, magnesium, and iron, and includes fatty acids including linolenic acid, palmitic acid, and oleic acids, and 19 amino acids, as well as polysaccharides. Maca's reported beneficial effects for sexual function could be due to its high concentration of proteins and vital nutrients, though maca contains a chemical called p-methoxybenzyl isothiocyanate, which reputedly has aphrodisiac properties.

The growing demand of the supplement industry has been one of the primary reasons for maca's expansion. The prominent product is maca flour, which is ground from the hard, dried roots. In Peru, maca flour is used in baking as a base and a flavoring. The supplement industry uses both the dry roots and maca flour for different types of processing and concentrated extracts. A quick internet query will show dozens of different extracts available, each touting some enhanced efficaciousness for a traditional use or health claim. Another common form is maca which has undergone gelatinization. This is an extrusion process, sometimes used for other vegetables, which removes the fiber from the roots using slight heat and pressure. Maca is one of many root vegetables with a dense fiber matrix which can be gelatinized to create products with more efficient digestion. Gelatinized maca is many fold stronger than powdered root, and is employed for mainly for therapeutic, medicinal and supplement purposes. It can also be used like maca flour. There is also freeze-dried maca juice, which is a juice squeezed from the macerated fresh root, and subsequently freeze-dried.

Small-scale clinical trials performed in men have shown that maca extracts can heighten libido and improve semen quality, though no studies have been performed on men with sexual dysfunction or infertility. Maca does not affect sex hormone levels in humans, and has not been shown to act on hormones directly. It has been presumed that maca's hormone-normalizing effects may be due to the root's unique nutritional profile, which provides optimum levels of nutrients utilized by the body's endocrine system. In addition, maca has been shown to increase mating behavior in male mice and rats.