There are a lot of “superfoods” out there that have quite a lot of hype, and some of them are overrated. But there are others that are so nutrient-dense and unique that you’d be remiss if you didn’t consider incorporating them into your healthy lifestyle. I bet you’ve already heard about chia seeds and goji berries, which are a great source of fiber, fatty acid and minerals.  Maca root is one of those legitimately powerful superfoods, and if you haven’t experienced the benefits it seems to provide, you should absolutely give it a try.

In this article, we’ll explain what maca is, some of the maca’s biggest benefits, and the best way to incorporate this amazing root vegetable into your diet.

Maca is a Nutritional Powerhouse

Firmly in the “superfood” category, maca root is absolutely bursting with nutrients. Maca powder, which is the best way to consume maca, is loaded with vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, zinc, calcium, and iron.

Pumpkin seeds could also become a natural source of energy, which can help you in your daily life. These seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Numerous studies showed that low levels of omega-3 fatty acids have been connected to increased inflammation and fatigue.

Maca May Boost Energy

Organic maca powder has become quite popular in the fitness, bodybuilding, and sports world for its apparent ability to boost energy. While there is not a large amount of scientific evidence for this, there have been some lab studies to indicate it’s effectiveness for boosting energy, and a small clinical study involving cyclists showed an improvement in performance after taking maca for 14 days prior to a long bike ride.

Maca May Increase Libido

Long regarded as an aphrodisiac, maca has actually been shown in clinical studies to support healthy libido and sexual function. The same effect is attributed to pistachios. According to naturopathic physician Laurie Steelsmith, they recharge the human libido and enhance sexual drive. Add some maca and pistachios into your regimen and spice up your love life!

Maca May Balance Hormones

Maca is classified as an adaptogen, which means that it helps boost your body’s own healthy response to stressors. In fact, studies have shown that maca can help with hormone balance, especially in post-menopausal women.

According to a study, published in PubMed, almonds also proved beneficial for our  endocrine system, which results in a lower level of cholesterol and consistent blood sugar level. Brazil nuts, on the other hand, are high in selenium, which is essential for thyroid hormone production. Grab a couple a day and have your hormones work for you.

Maca May Boost Male Fertility

Sperm quality and quantity are, of course, essential for male fertility. It turns out that maca may be able to have a positive impact on this aspect of male fertility, based on several studies. A recent review concluded that maca improves sperm quality in both healthy and infertile men. Most notably, one of the studies tracked healthy men consuming maca for four months, and an increase was detected in their sperm volume, count, and motility.

Another thing that may help with that issue – walnuts. Small study has shown that men who ate walnuts saw improvement in sperm vitality, movement, and shape. Furthermore, walnuts are said to reduce lipid peroxidation, a form of cell damage that interferes with sperm membranes and harms sperm cells.

Maca May Improve Memory

Long used by natives in Peru to help boost children’s performance in school, maca may have some certifiable benefits when it comes to brain function. While no clinical studies are available, it has been shown to improve learning and memory in several lab studies on rats.

Moreover, adding walnuts to your diet may improve performance on cognitive function tests, including those for memory, concentration, and information processing speed. In fact, walnuts rank second in a list containing over 1,000 foods with anti-oxidative properties.

How To Use Maca

Using maca powder may seem foreign at first, but you’ll soon realize it’s incredibly easy to work into your diet. Here are some of the best ways to successfully incorporate organic maca powder into your diet.

Smoothie

Maca powder can be added to just about any smoothie to give it a nutritional boost. Simply add one tablespoon of maca into your blender along with your other ingredients. To get you started, here’s a great recipe to try

Ingredients:

• • • 2/3 cup almond milk
    • 1 banana
    • 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
    • 1 tablespoon Maca powder
    •  1/2 tablespoon cacao powder
    • 5 ice cubes

Directions:

• • • Blend all ingredients in a blender and enjoy!

Matcha Maca Latte

You can also add maca to your coffee or matcha lattes to add a little nutty flavor with a superfood boost!

Ingredients:

• • • 2 teaspoons matcha powder
    • 8 ounces hot (but not boiling) water
    • 1 teaspoon Maca Powder
    • Frothed dairy or nondairy milk

Directions:

• • • Mix matcha powder and maca powder together in a small bowl.
    • Pour about 2 ounces of hot water into the bowl and whisk well.
    • Continue whisking as you add the rest of the water.
    • Add any milk or sweetener to taste and enjoy!

 

Overnight Oats

Love overnight oats? You can even add maca to your recipe so you have it ready to enjoy first thing in the morning! Here’s a quick recipe to try:

Ingredients:

• • • ½ cup rolled oats
    • 1 cup nut milk such as almond or cashew
    • 1 Tbsp nut butter
    • ¼ tsp cinnamon
    • 1-3 tsp organic maca root powder
    • ¼ cup fresh or frozen berries
    • 1 Tbsp chia seeds

Directions:

• • • Mix all ingredients in a container with lid and refrigerate overnight. When ready to eat, stir a little first then enjoy!

Maca can also be baked into cookies, muffins, brownies to add some superfood goodness to your (hopefully healthy-ish) sweets.

Conclusion

Maca, despite the hype, is one of the few superfoods that truly lives up to its reputation. Simply adding this one simple powder can boost your overall nutritional intake in a significant way, leading to a wide range of benefits in addition to the ones we’ve enumerated above.

The only problem is that maca can be either expensive or low in quality. Don’t worry, that’s where we come in. We take pride in sourcing the absolute best quality organic maca powder for the best possible price so that you can be sure you have a nutritionally powerful superfood available to you at all times. Time to try some maca today!