SuperFood Maca
Superfood enthusiasts know all about the incredible nutritional powers of maca.
This superfood, grown in the high Andes mountains in Peru, is packed
with vitamins, minerals, proteins, tannins, complex alkaloids and other
phytochemicals. It's one of the favorite powders to add to any smoothie,
and it's used by virtually all the raw foodies and superfood advocates.
If you visit Macchu Picchu and hiked there over a 7-day walk, clambering up
and down steep mountain sides your lungs heaving in the thin air. Spending
one entire day climbing UP through a pass at 14,000 feet. It was called
"Dead Woman's Pass".. The climb was grueling.
It was soon followed by
another entire day spent climbing DOWN, which turns out to be just as
brutal on the legs. Imagine walking down a flight of stairs that goes on
and on for eight hours... that's what this was like.
After seven
days of hiking and climbing, you'll arrived at a crest overlooking Macchu
Picchu, the "city in the sky" that was built by the Incas. And there, your
jaw just about dropped to the ground when you looked at the scene below
and saw the 20-ton boulders that had been dragged up the mountain side
by the thousands in order to build this ancient city.
You
would stood there, marveling at the magnificent scene below, you thought
to yourself "I just barely dragged myself up the mountain! How on earth
could
these Incas -- using virtually no technology -- lift 20-ton rocks up steep mountains and drop them into place as temple walls?"
Clearly, these folks weren't surviving on Big Macs and Diet Pepsi. They were eating quinoa, spirulina and maca root powder. They lived on superfoods.
What is maca?
Maca is the powdered root of the
Lepidium Meyenii plant. Known for its ability to support healthy energy levels, maca has been used by the Incas as a kind of "Incan
superfood" for thousands of years.
It was a central part of the Incan diet when they built Macchu Picchu, in fact.
As
we all know today, you can't build a city in the sky when you're living
on processed junk foods. And the metaphor is true in your own life:
Whatever mountain you are attempting to climb right now, superfood
nutrition can help you get there! Whether it's maca, or chlorella, or
hemp protein, these superfoods can help give your body (and your mind)
the level of nutritional support you need to
accomplish great things.
Try something new in your life!
Maca
is one of those life-changing superfoods. If you've never tried it
before, pick up a bag right now and blend a teaspoon of maca powder into
your morning smoothie. It goes great with chocolate smoothies, avocado
smoothies, and even strawberry and banana smoothies!
Maca tastes a
little like roasted chicory root, which tastes a little bit like
coffee. But it's not a caffeine stimulant like coffee. Rather, it's
considered an "adaptogenic" herb that supports healthy energy without
blasting your nervous system with chemical stimulants.
If you're
new to maca, try just 1 teaspoon at a time. Then notice the difference
in your awareness or energy levels. It's a subtle but very real effect,
and I believe maca is one of the superfoods that gave ancient Incas the
nutritional support to achieve great things in their own lives -- things
we continue to marvel at today.
The active constituents of maca
Dried
maca is approximately 60% carbohydrates (starches and sugars), 9%
fiber, and slightly more than 10% protein. It has a higher lipid (fat)
content than other root crops (2.2%), of which linoleic acid, palmitic
acid, and oleic acid are the primary fatty acids, respectively.
Maca
is also a rich source of plant sterols, including sitosterol,
campestrol, ergosterol, brassicasterol, and ergostadienol. From a
mineral standpoint, maca exceeds both potatoes and carrots in value, and
is a source of iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and iodine.
Find yourself depending on coffee for a boost in the
morning? Why not try maca instead? Maca is a root from Peru; it's a
tuber, like a potato, and offers an amazing energy boost for those with
low energy. Maca however, unlike coffee, offers energy in a
non-caffeinated way that supports the body.
Maca is a
nutritionally dense super-food that contains high amounts of minerals,
vitamins, enzymes and all of the essential amino acids. Maca root is
rich in B-vitamins, which are the energy vitamins, and maca is a
vegetarian source of B-12. To boot, maca has high levels of bioavailable
calcium and magnesium and is great for remineralization.
Maca
root helps balance our hormones and due to an over abundance of
environmental estrogens, most people's hormones are a bit out of whack.
Maca stimulates and nourishes the hypothalamus and pituitary glands
which are the "master glands" of the body. These glands actually
regulate the other glands, so when in balance they can bring balance to
the adrenal, thyroid, pancreas, ovarian and testicular glands.
Instead
of providing hormones to the body, maca works as an adaptogen which
means that it responds to different bodies' needs individually. If
you're producing too much of a particular hormone, maca will regulate
the production downward. However, if you're producing too little, it'll
regulate the production upward.
Hormones regulate many things
including mood, growth, sexual development, and tissue function.
Hormones also play a role in many diseases, like cancer and depression.
Maca
root has been shown to be beneficial for all sorts of hormonal problems
including PMS, menopause, and hot flashes. Maca's also a fertility
enhancer and is best known for improving libido and sexual function,
especially in men. For this reason, it's earned the nickname "nature's
Viagra."
Enjoy the Benefits of Maca as FoodMaca
has a light, nutty flavor and some easy, delicious ways to consume maca
powder as a food are to: Stir a teaspoon of maca in a bowl of vegetable
and lentil soup before serving; sea salt and maca root are a wonderful soup flavoring. Add a teaspoon to any herbal tea. Pour
maca powder over organic, non-microwaved popcorn and flavor with coconut
oil and sea salt. If you're not watching your sugar intake, mix a bit
of maca powder with
enough grade B maple syrup or honey to produce a wet paste, and enjoy
with a spoon. It's a delicious dessert-like treat, and it's great on
bananas too. If you're one who "needs" a sweet fix, this is delicious
and healthy way to do it.
It's recommended to start with a 1/2
teaspoon a day, and work up to a teaspoon or two a day over the course
of a few weeks. If you're taking it daily, it's best to take a day off
each week.
Maca is a food staple in Peru and there are no known
effects of toxicity. However, occasionally some people experience
adverse effects when they start taking maca, and these symptoms may
actually be detoxification.
This is because when a body more accustomed to consuming processed and
cooked foods starts taking in such a nutritionally dense supplement, the
body will absorb the superior nutrients it needs and "throw off" the
old junk it doesn't need for elimination. If this happens, you might
feel badly but it generally lasts just a few days. You may also want to
consider doing colon and liver cleansing before or while taking maca to
quickly remove some of the waste your body is trying to eliminate. Doing
so will help with many adverse symptoms.
High up in the Andes mountains grows a plant called lepidium peruvianum. The roots of this plant, also called maca, are prized by the local farmers and villagers for their utility as food and as a medicinal herb. For over two thousand years, the special qualities of the maca plant’s roots have been sought out, all the way to the time of the ancient Incan civilization. So prized was maca for its energy and libido enhancing abilities that its use was reserved for only the members of the royal court. After the Spanish conquistadores took over the area, maca was exported back to Spain and used by the Spanish royalty for the same purposes. As the years went on, maca and its special qualities was forgotten by all but the indigenous people of the Andes, who still grew the plant and enjoyed its benefits.
This all changed in the 1960’s and 80’s, when teams of scientists from Germany and America rediscovered this unique functional food and its unique properties. Under scientific analysis, maca’s roots have been shown to contain large amounts of protein, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, and essential fatty acids. They also contain abundant quantities of vitamins B1, B12, and C. It is rich in the minerals iron, calcium, selenium, and magnesium, containing almost 60 different phyto-nutrients. Maca also contains significant amounts of p-methoxybenzyl, a known aphrodisiac. Maca has been classified by scientists into what they call an adaptogen. Adaptogens are natural foods or plant products that were beneficial to a person’s overall health without having any negative side-effects. Maca’s status as an adaptogen is reputed to be one of the things that help the indigenous people of the Andes Mountains survive in high altitudes with minimal oxygen.
The health benefits of maca are well documented. Its high nutrient content and its unique ability to stabilize and regulate the endocrine system have been validated repeatedly by scientific research. The endocrine system is what control of our body’s hormonal levels, making it responsible for many aspects of our health. Maca has been shown to boost the energy levels of people suffering from deficiencies of their adrenal glands, a component of the endocrine system. In boosting the body’s endocrine functions, maca also works to enhance the immune system, and may be used to help treat a whole host of conditions and diseases. It is recognized as a natural method of relieving the symptoms of menopause, including mood swings, night sweating, and hot flashes. By normalizing the body’s chemistry, maca has also been shown to help people deal with stress better, and relieving the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Maca’s endocrine system regulation also helps people afflicted with ailments of the thyroid and thymus glands, and has been shown to have the capability of reducing enlarged prostates.
What maca is mainly known and prized for is as an aphrodisiac. Its chemical composition and its unique regulation of the endocrine system have been shown to improve sexual desire and fertility in people, regardless of their gender. Clinical trials have shown that a diet with maca can boost a man’s libido, along with his semen quality and sperm count. Women who take maca also experienced an increased libido, along with decreased incidences of vaginal dryness, menstrual cramps and other reproductive problems. It has been shown to help in cases of sexual dysfunction. Maca achieves all these effects without directly affecting the amount of hormones in the body. It simply makes the endocrine system more efficient in how it uses the hormones we already have. Because of this, maca is considered a safe, all natural alternative to controversial hormone replacement therapy.
Maca may be eaten raw, but in most cases it is cooked, as it is easy to integrate into meals. Dried maca roots may be ground up into powder, which can then be mixed with flour for use in baking any number of breads or treats. Maca’s complex fibrous structure also lends itself to gelatinization. Maca consumed with water will turn to gel in the digestive system, where its fiber-rich structure will work to clean the intestines, promoting better nutrient absorption.
Because of its sheer nutrient content and medicinal benefits, maca has been hailed as a super food. It is all natural, and its use has no known negative side effects. Our maca powder is of the highest quality, derived only from plants grown organically high up in Peru’s Altiplano.
My personal experience with Maca
by David Hidalgo
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| This stuff is awesome!! |
We've
been carrying maca for years and for so long i have believed in what it
can do because of what our customers have been saying. But the truth
is, it was only 2 months ago that i started using maca. I know... how
hypocritical of me. But let me tell you why today i can't let a weekday
go by without taking maca.
The
first time i tried it, i took a teaspoon of it and gulped it down with
water. It was hard. But i noticed the effects kicking in immediately - i
had more drive at work and i couldn't believe how high my energy level
went up!
To
me, having the motivation, the gusto, bravado - or whatever you wanna
call it - to take on the challenges at work with so much "GRRR" is more
than enough reason to take Maca everyday.
But there's another effect that fascinate me... It's effect on Endurance. While chia seeds has this endurance enhancing effect, the difference is like this:
Chia
is great for overall nutrition. When you work out, chia is definitely a
better partner than maca, no doubt about that. When you're running or
performing any cardio workout, what chia does is it allows you to get
what athletes call "second wind" faster and it lasts longer.
Maca
on the other hand, doesn't do as much in terms of nutrition, but you
will definitely feel the surge in overall power right away. And what i
noticed was that when i run, i don't need to get a second wind because i
DO NOT get tired.
What happened was this:
For
months, i made it a point to go to the gym to lift weights and then run
in place at home, on hard floor, wearing nothing but socks. Doing this
for the first time forces you to strike with the ball of your feet,
thereby activating muscles in your calves you never knew existed before.
They will hurt.
I
run as fast as i can to make sure that i'm out of breath within 30
minutes. But when i'm on Maca, while my body gradually heats up like
normal, i noticed that my breathing remains long and deep and my heart
rate is just a little faster than when i'm relaxed!! I was blown away
the first time i did it when i'd been running for 2 hours and my lungs
and heart are still the same and my muscles aren't getting sore!!
Everytime
i do it it's the same thing over and over again. I'm trying to figure
out a way to have a clinical trial done on this that doesn't involve me
plunking a lot of my own money. Because i think that if we can prove
that maca has this kind of powerful regulating effect on the respiratory
and cardiovascular systems, we can help a lot of people.
I
add 2 teaspoons of maca to my instant coffee powder and mix it BEFORE
adding water. Doing this prevents clumping. I only take maca
Monday-Friday because i work out on those days. If i take maca and i
don't use up the energy at the gym, i end up wanting to expend elsewhere
(if you know what i mean) ... and i have to be good on Sundays.
Anyway,
that's my story. If you've got a story to share on what Maca does for
you, let's hear it! If you want to write a long one like this, go ahead
and we may publish it in our weekly newsletter :)
To get your Organic Maca Powder, Text (0919) 2127190
We also sell it in bulk for those interested in
reselling it or using it as an ingredient in their products
Raw Choco-Chia "Munchkins"
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| You can make this in 5 minutes ! |
1 tablespoon Virgin Coconut Oil (or plain butter)
1/4 cup Coco Sugar
1 cup Rolled Oats
2 tablespoon Raw Cocoa Powder
2 tablespoon Maca Powder
1/4 cup whole Chia Seeds
2 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/4 cup Water
Anyway,
this treat is very easy to make, very surprisingly good. It's
chocolatey, crumbly, and very fun to chew on. And it's very filling too!
Three pieces and you're full. But that only means your guests are going
to take some home with them =)
Try it and tell us how it goes! We'd love to hear from you.
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Got questions? Comments? Suggestions?
Give us a call or shoot us an email. 890-9161
(0919) 2127190
healthspringph@yahoo.com
We especially love it when you leave product reviews and testimonials :)
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Boost your immune
system the fun way!
Bee Pollen is undoubtedly
one of the most beneficial super foods ever. It's both very healthy and
fun to eat! Mix it in ice-cold yogurt... It's awesome!
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Cacao Nibs for Nibbling!
Our Organic Cacao Nibs are fresh, delicious and the best priced
online! It's the natural healthy fix for your dark chocolate craving!
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Blueberry Chia Pudding
