Superfood Type: Root
Maca root (Lepidium meyenii) is a superfood native to the mountains of Peru and is grown at elevations of up to 4,300 meters above sea level. It has been used for over 3,500 years and legend claims that during the height of the Inca empire, maca was consumed by warriors before going into battle to ensure superior strength and stamina. However, upon returning from battle, the Inca soldiers were forbidden to use maca to protect women from their insatiable sexual desires. Maca is known to provide strength, stamina, and increased libido.
So what is maca?
A member of the cruciferous tribe like kale and cabbage, maca is abundant in potassium, magnesium, calcium, sulfur, iron, sodium, and phosphorous and also contains trace elements including iodine, zinc, selenium, bismuth, copper, magnesium, tin and silicon. It is also rich in vitamins B1, B2, C and E.
Maca has the ability to stabilize and balance the glandular-hormonal system, the nervous system, the cardiovascular system and the body’s musculature. These factors make maca ideal for managing hormones, stress levels, thyroid function, and general mood.
According to superfood expert David Wolfe, maca is great if you suffer from:
- Anemia
- chronic fatigue
- Depression
- infertility and sterility
- lack of libido
- Malnutrition
- symptoms of menopause
- Discomfort and menstrual disorders
- Bad memory
- stomach cancer
- stress stress
- Tuberculosis
How to use it and where to buy it?
Due to its high-quality health benefits, maca can be used in larger amounts than other herbal medicines. It has also been found to be safe to use in the long term. You can buy it online or at most health food stores in dry, raw, and organic foods. To ensure the best quality product, it is important to buy maca only from the root of the plant and not from other components.
Use a scoop in smoothies, juices, nut milks, tea or coffee, or add it to your raw chocolate treats.
Here’s a recipe to get you started:
Maca and Chocolate Smoothie with Strawberries
serve two
Ingredients
- 1 cup cashew milk (or ½ cup soaked cashews and 1 cup water)
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 teaspoon of maca root powder
- 2 tablespoons raw cocoa powder
- 1 cup of fresh strawberries
- 2 small frozen bananas (broken into pieces)
- 1 vanilla pod
- 2 tablespoons of raw cacao nibs.
method
- Mix cashew milk, chia seeds, maca root powder, and raw cacao powder.
- Slice the vanilla bean and scrape the contents into the blender.
- Add strawberries and frozen banana, blend until smooth and creamy.
- Pour into two glasses and sprinkle with raw cacao nibs.