Maca the Babies… or just Maca Love

I don’t often use the term super food but this food can wear it with pride for what it delivers nutritionally & therapeutically.

The nutty-tasting plant -- Maca — which originates in the high altitudes of the mountains in Peru is an absolute hormone healer.
•Maca stimulates the hypothalamus and pituitary glands – two very important master controllers when it comes to regulating hormones.
•Maca increases sex drive in both men and women.
•Maca can increase sperm production and improve sperm quality, thereby enhancing fertility in men.
•Maca can improve symptoms of menopause including migraines, hot flashes and disrupted sleep at night.
•Maca is great for supporting mental clarity & energy levels.
•Maca gives skin a radiant glow, the benefits of hormonal stability.

Not all maca is equal, sadly some (popular brands) of Maca sold in NZ & Australia are cut with yam powder & it wont give you the therapeutic dose you need. The best maca powders will have standardised macamide levels and every batch will be tested to ensure quality. 
Raw maca is like a sponge for mould and the longer it sits in humid conditions the more mould it attracts. The problem with the type of mould that loves maca is that it produces highly toxic chemicals called aflatoxins. Aflatoxins are carcinogenic (cancer causing) and can have a serious long-term negative health effect on your body and gut bacteria, even in tiny doses. The only way to kill this mould and protect from the formation of toxins is by cooking maca to sanitise it, as the Inca have done for centuries.

It is for these reasons why I choose Seleno Health Maca, which is activated & free from mould. 
For best results take maca daily & then come back & tell me how wonderful you feel. 

I add it to my smoothies, hot cacao & take it in a supplement form. 

I have a special discount code to give you, type in GINA10 at the checkout

Maca Fudge

 Ingredients

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/4 cup almond butter

1/4 cup tahini

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon maca

1 tablespoon cacao powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon

pinch sea salt

Method

On a gentle heat warm the coconut oil, almond butter, tahini & honey in a medium saucepan.

Once wet ingredients are mixed together, add the dry ingredients to the saucepan and mix well.

Pour mixture into a lined baking dish & pop in the freezer.

Once solid, cut into slices & eat straight from the freezer, or let them sit a few minutes to soften.

These don’t hold their shape too long in summer so store in the fridge or freezer

Why Maca is so good for Women

Maca is a native Peruvian plant that has been used for centuries to manage and balance

hormones levels, helping women with conditions like PMS, PCOS, oestrogen dominance

and to help with improved fertility, libido and stress management. Maca is also used as a

menopausal treatment in women, helping to reduce symptoms of menopause like hot

flushes, mood fluctuations, anxiety and to return inner harmony and balance to their

hormones.

Maca root (Lepidium meyenii) is native vegetable from the central Peruvian Andes that

grows in harsh altitudes around 4000 meters above sea level. This radish like cruciferous

plant is traditionally sun-dried for 3 months and then boiled into teas or porridge and

consumed daily. It is believed that the resilience the plant builds to survive at such

altitudes provides strength and resilience to those who consume it. Maca is a powerful

antioxidant, protecting cells against oxidative stress. It is also known as an adaptogen,

this helps the body respond and adapt to stress. It provides resilience to the nervous

system and supports the master glands (hypothalamus and pituitary) that determine all

of our hormonal responses, this helps with PMS, PCOS and menopause symptoms.

Consumption of maca powder can help those struggling with stress related conditions to

rebalance their health, improve wellbeing and build resilience to stress in the future. 

How does Maca work?

Scientific analysis of maca has shown that many of its beneficial properties are due to the

fact that it works in our endocannabinoid system (ECS). The main bio-active components

of maca are called macamides. These metabolites are only found in maca and are

responsible for most of its adaptogenic activity. Macamides work to increase natural

levels of our own human cannabinoids like anandamide, known as our bliss molecule.

Higher levels of anandamide are linked to improvements in mood, mental health and

glandular function, perfect for women looking to find more balance and harmony in their

lives. Interestingly, scientific studies have now shown that the formation macamides

actually results from a biochemical reaction that occurs during the traditional

drying and heating of maca. For this reason, it is essential to ensure maca is cooked

before consumed and never eaten raw as not all maca is equal. It is important to

purchase pre-cooked maca known as activated maca or gelatinized maca, as eating raw

un-activated maca can have adverse effects on health.

What are the other health benefits of taking maca?

There are many clinical studies to show the benefits of maca powder including energy 1 ,

mood and mental health, 2 hormone balance including reducing symptoms of menopause

and PMS, 3 improving fertility, 4 metabolic function, 5 sexual dysfunction and libido 6   and in

reducing levels of inflammation. 7 Furthermore the different colours of maca have also been

shown to be unique in how they work. Red maca for example is most effective for

improving bone density 8 and female fertility 9 . In contrast black maca was shown to be the

most effective for improving memory function, learning ability, brain clarity 10 and athletic

performance. 11 Yellow maca is the most common form of maca and is considered neutral. It

is used for general balance, well-being, resilience to stress and improving thyroid function.

What mama is best for me?

For most women we recommend using a specially formulated blend of maca called Maca

for women. It is a scientific blend of the best of all three colours; red, yellow and black

Maca in ideal ratios to balance female hormones and health. Maca for women is effective

to treat and manage mild-moderate hormonal imbalances and can also be used to

naturally regulate menstrual cycles to improve female fertility. It is safe during pregnancy

and breast feeding and also can be used to help women struggling with post-natal

depression. For older women it can be taken daily to assist with transitioning

through menopause and improving bone density and circulation.

For women who struggling with more chronic conditions they can try concentrated red

maca, a high-dose pure concentrate made by extracting red maca 10:1 in natural plant

based alcohols. This process pulls all the available bioactives out of the root and produces a

fine grade, high-potency powder, ideal for more chronic health conditions. It can be used

during acute times of hormonal fluctuations, such as during specific days of the luteal

phase to assist acutely with PMS, with chronic anxiety, fatigue or severe menopausal

symptoms. It is also ideal for those with autoimmunity, adrenal fatigue and

osteoarthritis. Concentrated maca is 10x more potent than raw maca, has a softer

flavour, is more bio-available, meaning it is absorbed by the body faster.

How do I take maca?

Maca powder is very versatile and can be used in a range of beverages and baking, it has a

sweet and malt caramel flavor that combines well with spices, fruits and bitter foods like

cacao. It makes a great addition to your morning breakfast cereals, granola or porridge.

Maca is a fantastic way to add a nutritional hit to your smoothie, fruit juices or fresh fruit

salad. You can also have maca the traditional way by using it as a tea, infused with

cinnamon, cloves and dried fruit. As the macamides in maca are already active they will not

be destroyed by heat, making maca a great addition to baking muffins and cakes.

Ideally you want to consume a teaspoon per day for a minimum 6-12 weeks to get the full

health benefits. Check out some of our delicious recipes using maca. For those wanting the

benefits of maca without the hassle you can take maca in capsules as an alternative.

Where can you buy quality maca powder?

Making therapeutic grade Maca is a blend of tradition, art and science. There are so

many variables that can influence the quality during production and in turn alter the

taste, texture and therapeutic properties of the final powder. We recommend maca from

The Maca Experts - a small Wellington based family business run by Dr Corin Storkey and his

partner Sally Huapaya (Peru). They spend 3-4 months per year working directly with their

farmers and produce farm to table artisanal maca following the ancient traditions of

cultivation. They believe in superfood social responsibility and donate $2 per kg sold to a

fund to help the children of their farming community. They run retreats to Peru to connect

with both maca and cacao. Their maca research program in collaboration with the

University of Victoria in Wellington works to bring credible scientific evidence to support the

ancient Incan traditions surrounding maca and helps create premium and therapeutic

products for consumers. You can buy quality maca from The Maca Experts online here:

https://themacaexperts.com/products/

References

1 (a) Shin, S., et al., Gelatinized and fermented powders of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) improve physical stamina

and epididymal sperm counts in male mice. J. Emb. Trans, 2008. 23: p. 283-289.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/291889082_Gelatinizedand_fermented_powders_of_Lepidium_m

eyenii_Maca_improve_physical_stamina_and_epididymal_sperm_counts_in_male_mice (b) Choi, E.H., et al.,

Supplementation of standardised lipid-soluble extract from maca (Lepidium meyenii) increases swimming

endurance capacity in rats. Journal of Functional Foods, 2012. 4(2): p. 568-573.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464612000436

2 Brooks, N. A., Wilcox, G., Walker, K. Z., Ashton, J. F., Cox, M. B., & Stojanovska, L. (2008). Beneficial effects of

Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on psychological symptoms and measures of sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal

women are not related to estrogen or androgen content. Menopause, 15(6), 1157-1162.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18784609

3 Meissner, H. O., Mrozikiewicz, P., Bobkiewicz-Kozlowska, T., Mscisz, A., Kedzia, B., Lowicka, A., Reich-Bilinska

H, Kapczynski W & Barchia, I. (2006). Hormone-balancing effect of pre-gelatinized organic Maca (Lepidium

peruvianum Chacon):(I) biochemical and pharmacodynamic study on Maca using clinical laboratory model on

ovariectomized rats. International journal of biomedical science: IJBS, 2(3), 260.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23674989 (b) Meissner, H. O., Kedzia, B., Mrozikiewicz, P. M., &

Mscisz, A. (2006). Short and long-term physiological responses of male and female rats to two dietary levels of

pre-gelatinized Maca (Lepidium Peruvianum Chacon). International journal of biomedical science: IJBS, 2(1),

13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23674962 (c) Brooks, N. A., Wilcox, G., Walker, K. Z., Ashton, J. F.,

Cox, M. B., & Stojanovska, L. (2008). Beneficial effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on psychological symptoms

and measures of sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women are not related to estrogen or androgen

content. Menopause, 15(6), 1157-1162. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18784609

4 Zinaman, M. J., Brown, C. C., Selevan, S. G., & Clegg, E. D. (2000). Semen quality and human fertility: a

prospective study with healthy couples. Journal of Andrology, 21(1), 145- 153.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10670528. (b) Gonzales, G. F. (2015) Ethnobiology and

Ethnopharmacology of Lepidium meyenii (Maca), a Plant from the Peruvian Highlands. Evid Based Complement

Alternat Med. 2012;2012:193496. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21977053

5 Meissner, H. O., Reich-Bilinska, H., Mscisz, A., & Kedzia, B. (2006). Therapeutic Effects of Pre-Gelatinized Maca

(Lepidium peruvianum Chacon) used as a non-hormonal alternative to HRT in perimenopausal women-Clinical

Pilot Study. International journal of biomedical science: IJBS, 2(2), 143.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3614596/

6 Gonzales, G. F., Cordova, A., Vega, K., Chung, A., Villena, A., Góñez, C., & Castillo, S. (2002). Effect of Lepidium

meyenii (MACA) on sexual desire and its absent relationship with serum testosterone levels in adult healthy

men. Andrologia, 34(6), 367-372. (b) Zenico, T., Cicero, A. F. G., Valmorri, L., Mercuriali, M., & Bercovich, E.

(2009). Subjective effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) extract on well‐being and sexual performances in

patients with mild erectile dysfunction: a randomised, double‐blind clinical trial. Andrologia, 41(2), 95-

99.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19260845

7 Zheng, W., et al., Lepidium meyenii Walp Exhibits Anti-Inflammatory Activity against ConA-Induced Acute

Hepatitis. Mediators Inflamm, 2018. 2018: p. 8982756. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30647537

8 Gonzales C, Cárdenas-Valencia I, Leiva-Revilla J, Anza-Ramirez C, Rubio J, Gonzales GF. Effects of different

varieties of Maca (Lepidium meyenii) on bone structure in ovariectomized rats. Forsch Komplementmed.

2010;17(3):137-143. doi:10.1159/000315214. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20616517

9 Gonzales, G. F. (2015) Ethnobiology and Ethnopharmacology of Lepidium meyenii (Maca), a

Plant from the Peruvian Highlands. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:193496.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21977053

10 (a) Rubio J, Caldas M, Dávila S, Gasco M, Gonzales GF. Effect of three different cultivars of Lepidium meyenii

(Maca) on learning and depression in ovariectomized mice. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2006;6(1):23-27.

doi:10.1186/1472-6882-6-23. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1534053/ .(b) Rubio, J., et al.,

Aqueous Extract of Black Maca (Lepidium meyenii) on Memory Impairment Induced by Ovariectomy in Mice.

Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 2011. 2011: p. 253958-253958.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18955369

11 Wan, W., Li, H., Xiang, J., Yi, F., Xu, L., Jiang, B., & Xiao, P. (2018). Aqueous Extract of Black Maca Prevents

Metabolism Disorder via Regulating the Glycolysis/Gluconeogenesis-TCA Cycle and PPARα Signaling Activation

in Golden Hamsters Fed a High-Fat, High-Fructose Diet. Frontiers in pharmacology, 9, 333.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29681858