Maca has been used since ancient times as food and medicine, and in recent decades it has become popular as one of the natural remedies used to treat some health problems and sexual problems such as decreased desire. In this article, we will learn in some detail about the roots of the maca herb, its benefits and harms.

What is maca?

Maca is scientifically known as Lepidium meyenii, and sometimes referred to as Peruvian ginseng. This herb is from the same family as kale, broccoli, and cauliflower, and is native to the Andes Mountains in Peru.

Maca has been known for thousands of years, and it is one of the plants that can withstand harsh conditions. It is considered a popular food in Peru, and its roots are used as a treatment for some health problems.

Despite these many uses and benefits, and the results of some promising studies, it still lacks research that gives final conclusions about the effectiveness of these benefits.

Maca root nutritional value

Maca root contains the following:

• Fiber, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
• Glucosinolates, macamides, macaridine, and alkaloids are thought to give maca its medicinal benefits.
• It contains proportions of carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and fat.

Benefits of maca herb

The benefits of maca are as follows:

Boost energy and stamina

Some athletes use dietary supplements containing maca root to enhance energy and athletic performance. In a 2009 pilot study, maca extract was used for 14 days to see how it affected the performance of cyclists for a distance of 40 km. However, the results of this study did not indicate that there were significant differences between Herb consumers, and those who took the placebo.

Mood improvement

Maca contains compounds called flavonoids, which are believed to be substances that help improve mood and reduce anxiety. These results were observed in a study of 14 postmenopausal women suffering from anxiety and depression.

In another study conducted in China in 2015 on 29 women who took 3.3 grams of the herb daily for 6 weeks, an improvement in postmenopausal depression symptoms was observed.

And in 2016, a study was conducted on 175 people living at lower and higher altitudes, and it was found that eating 3 grams of red or black maca for a period of 12 weeks improved mood and energy.

Other benefits

• May reduce blood pressure: In the same study in the previous paragraph on Chinese women, a decrease in blood pressure was observed after menopause.
• Memory improvement: There are suggestions that it has benefits for improving memory performance and learning, and researchers suggest it may be useful in treating problems associated with conditions such as Alzheimer’s.
• Protecting the skin from harmful sunlight: An animal study found that maca leaf extract may help prevent sunburn.
• Fighting free radicals: Maca helps boost the body’s natural antioxidants that work to fight free radicals that may cause cell damage, resulting in the prevention of some diseases.

Benefits of maca for men

There are many studies conducted on the benefits of maca for men, and we explain them to you as follows:

• Enhance sexual desire: In a study published in 2002 comparing men who took 1.5-3 grams of maca per day with another group of men who took a placebo, the results showed an increase in sexual desire in men who took the herb.
• erectile dysfunction: In a 2009 study published in men with mild erectile dysfunction, consuming 2.4 grams of maca root per day for 12 weeks may improve the sexual health of these men compared to those who took a placebo.
• Sperm count: A 2020 study was conducted on 69 men who were diagnosed with low sperm motility, or poor sperm motility. These men ate 2 grams of maca per day for 12 weeks. An improvement in semen concentration was noted, but there were no significant differences in sperm motility.

Despite these surprising results, there is a need for more studies supporting the intake of maca as a dietary supplement, and its explicit effect on male fertility.

Maca benefits for women

The sources indicate that there are benefits in promoting sexual health in women as well, and it also has other benefits, and here are the details:

• Enhance sexual desire: Studies have been conducted to see the effect of this herb on women’s sexual desire as well, and in a 2015 study of 45 women suffering from sexual problems associated with antidepressant medications, it showed that taking 3 grams of maca root per day helps in enhancing sexual desire, compared to a placebo.
• May help relieve postmenopausal symptoms: These symptoms include hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood changes, sleep problems, and irritability. There are some studies that suggest its benefits to relieve these symptoms, but there is a need for more.

How to use maca

Maca comes in many forms, and can be obtained as a powder, or as a dietary supplement in capsule form.

According to the sources, maca powder can be added to many diets such as baked goods, oatmeal, smoothies, etc. It also has a nutty taste so it may be used as a sweetener.

In general, there is no specific dose for maca, but the sources recommend eating 3 grams per day, as it is considered an appropriate amount, and you must follow the instructions attached to the nutritional supplement packages, and not exceed the recommended written dose.

Maca side effects

There are no health harms or known side effects related to eating maca in medium doses, but due to its effect on hormones, it is advised to avoid it from people suffering from thyroid diseases, and patients undergoing treatments that affect hormone levels such as patients with breast, ovarian, or uterine cancer. .

At the present time, it is not known how safe maca herb is for pregnancy or the lactation period, so it is recommended to consult a doctor first before consuming this herb.