Hey beauties, today I want to share with you another great superfood which is BLACK MACA. Now, some of you may have heard of this root as it has been heavily marketed as being effective to support fertility and increase libido! While this claim is backed by research, that is not all it is suitable for.
For this post, I have partnered up with Nourishing Nutrients. They are one of my favorite companies for great Superfoods and adaptogens (which are herbs and plants that are high in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds), like their Black Maca.
Now before I get into the many benefits of Maca, I like to share with you “What the heck is maca”
What The Heck Is Maca?
This plant is native to Peru (sometimes referred to as Peruvian ginseng) and the root portion is what is editable and is generally dried and consumed in a powder form, liquid or pill.
A cool thing about this superfood that you may not know is it is a member of the cruciferous family of vegetables which includes broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, and turnips. However, it does not taste like any of the other family of vegetables. Instead, it is more earthy with a nutty taste, which is why it is excellent to add to oatmeal, cookies or smoothies.
For this post, I have partnered up with Nourishing Nutrients. They are one of my favorite companies for great Superfoods and adaptogens (which are herbs and plants that are high in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds), like their Black Maca.
Now before I get into the many benefits of Maca, I like to share with you “What the heck is maca”
What The Heck Is Maca?
This plant is native to Peru (sometimes referred to as Peruvian ginseng) and the root portion is what is editable and is generally dried and consumed in a powder form, liquid or pill.
A cool thing about this superfood that you may not know is it is a member of the cruciferous family of vegetables which includes broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, and turnips. However, it does not taste like any of the other family of vegetables. Instead, it is more earthy with a nutty taste, which is why it is excellent to add to oatmeal, cookies or smoothies.
If a powder isn’t your thing, then the Nourishing Nutrient capsule is perfect for you as the Maca powder is in a safe vegetarian capsule for ease of taking, unlike maca powder or liquid which, can have a robust taste, when consumed by itself.
So now that you know what the heck MACA is and where it comes from, I like to tell you why I love this superfood and why you should try it out yourself as it does have many more benefits than just helping with your sex drive!
The Many Benefits Of Nourishing Nutrients Black Maca
Maca is packed with nutrients, surprisingly I read that this root contains around 31 different minerals, including calcium, iron, iodine, zinc, potassium, and vitamin B, just to name a few. It also contains...
- High levels of protein, fiber, vitamins & minerals.
- A ton of different phytonutrients, a substance found in certain plants which are believed to be a beneficial natural remedy to human health and prevention of various diseases.
- Boosts over 20 amino acids and potassium.
Nourishing Nutrient Premium Organic Gelatinized Black Maca Root Vegan Capsules Are
- USDA Organic Black Maca
- No Fillers or Binders
- Vegan Capsules
- Gluten free
- Vegan & Paleo friendly
- Manufactured in an FDA facility
- NON-GMO
- Sugar-Free
- Gelatinized Maca is said to be the most potent as it removes useless starch for ease of digestion and leaves only the potent components of maca
Helps To Support The Endocrine System
Maca root powder is beneficial for the endocrine system. For those of you who may not know our endocrine system consists of the pituitary, adrenal, and thyroid glands. These glands produce hormones that regulate metabolism, growth and development, sexual function, reproduction, sleep, mood, and more! And studies have shown that Maca can aid these glands, all in which are involved in hormonal balance.
Reduce Your Cortisol Levels Caused By Stress
One thing I know that we may not always be great at managing is the stress in our lives from our work, children, on the go diets, and more.
These stress factors can cause women’s hormones to go into a frenzy, and when our hormones are out of whack, it can cause all kinds of issues.
Now I am not going to get too technical here, but for this post, I reached out to a friend of mine that works at a dermatologist office. And she explained that when women experience hormonal fluctuations due to stress, there is an increase in our cortisol levels, AKA stress hormone. This stress hormone gets broken down by our body into testosterone, and causes our skins oil production to skyrocket, causing a breakout! And if that wasn’t bad enough it can also break down collagen and elastin, ultimately leading to wrinkles! Oh, and I forgot that his evil hormone could also lead to weight gain!
WT? Enough to cause you to stress even more, which is why I was happy to find out that we can use Maca to help also to lower cortisol, balancing moods and helping with anxiety and stress!
Increased Libido
Us women over forty could all use this, right? Well all kidding aside, Maca can improve the libido and perk up a lowered sex drive for men and women! Think about it, a low libido can be caused by stress or even some anti-depressants and Maca can be the boost you need!
Peri-menopause
I am reaching the end of my forties, so when I hear peri-menopause, I realize how old I am getting. I remember my mom telling me about those horrible night sweats, hot flashes, sleepless nights, weight gain, and loss of libido, it can be depressing and even stressful (see how this all cycles together). And the thought of having to take hormone pills is scary, as I try to stay away from pharmaceutical drugs as much as I can. So, if you are like me, and want a non-hormonal boost, Maca root can be a significant boost of youth.
Other Benefits And Uses Of Maca Root
- An increase in antioxidant levels
- Helps with memory and focus
- Improves your energy levels
- Supports Fertility
- Helps to promote rapid muscle growth & endurance
- Boosts immunity
Somethings To Be Cautious Of When Using Maca
As I state many times, I am not a medical professional. The information I share on my blog is from my personal experiences and or research provided by the brands I work with. With that, there are some precautions you need to take when using MACA, see them below.
- Should not be used by those who are allergic to iodine
- If you have high blood pressure, please consult with a physician before use
- You should also be cautious with maca if you are androgen sensitive, in the case of some expressions of PCOS.
Want to try some of this yourself? Well, now you can! You can purchase this product on Amazon or right from Nourishing Nutrient website.
Until next time!
Author Barbie Ritzman
Want to see some reviews on Nourishing Nutrient products? Check them out below.