Let us MACA you a fan of this Peruvian superfood. Belonging to the mustard family, this cruciferous vegetable is grown deep in the Andes mountains, at an elevation of 14,000 feet so you can bet it packs a punch when it comes to delivering on nutrients. Storing its rich nutrients underground, this bulb-shaped plant is found to be dense in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, as well as Vitamins B2, B6, AND Niacin. The hardy root of this ancient remedy is also found to be packed full of iron, zinc, iodine, calcium, copper, magnesium and potassium. If this never-ending list of beneficial nutrients is not enough to cement MACA’s status as a superfood, then perhaps the benefits that come from its storage of sterols will do the job. Packed full of hormone loving fats, MACA has long been revered as a hormone balancing wonder. As a natural adaptogen, it may assist us with rebalancing our hormones and with protecting our body from external stressors in several ways. But just in case you needed an extra push to add more MACA into your morning smoothies, these 5 amazing facts may do the job.
FUN FACT: Did you know that every single Happy Way protein powder flavour also contains a superfood mix of chia seeds, psyllium husk and your happy hormones balancer, MACA. But just in case you wanted to give your endocrine system an added boost, you can always add an additional scoop of MACA to your smoothies, raw slices, protein balls and even to your pancake mix. Our singles packs mean that you can tailor your supplements to your individual needs with ease.
It’s an energy booster.
While MACA is nowadays referred to as a superfood, it’s energy-boosting powers have long revered by the Peruvians, with ancient warriors turning to the the MACA root for all their energy and stamina needs. In fact, the energy-boosting benefits of MACA were so profound that it was considered a currency for centuries with royals using the powder to boost their energy and clarity. Fast forward to the present day in which the root is still used to enhance vitality, vigour and stamina for athletes and individuals looking to get the most out of their day. So powerful is this hardworking “Peruvian ginseng” that a recent study found that cyclists were able to improve their 40km time trials after just two weeks of consumption. So forget that morning espresso and add a scoop of MACA into your morning smoothie for the kind of energy that will get you through the day with clarity and focus.
It will help fight burnout.
If you’re feeling a little stressed, under the weather or like you are being pulled in one too many directions, then you may need to focus on rebalancing your hormones. As one of those rare gems, MACA may be classified as a herbal adaptogen, which means that it can have a direct impact on your endocrine system and your body’s ability to process and handle stress. This becomes increasingly important if you are experiencing prolonged periods of stress, which may lead to chronic fatigue in several ways. While normal levels of stress such as running late for work and meeting a deadline are a part of daily life, prolonged bouts of stress may lead to burnout. This is due to the bodies constant release of stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline. Once our adrenal glands are run down, we may be faced with a multitude of side effects such as fluid retention, anxiety, a slow metabolism, lowered immunity and well, the list goes on really. By helping strengthen and balance your endocrine system, MACAmay assistin helping the body deal with stress by lowering levels of cortisol in the body before adrenal exhaustion kicks in.
It will give your libido and fertility a boost.
Forget the V pill because this Peruvian wonder has been used as a libido booster for centuries. Although the specific aphrodisiac effects of MACA have not been scientifically proven, this century-old remedy has been given the unofficial titles as ‘natures Viagra’. Having helped boost the libido’s and vitality of Peruvian men and women for centuries, MACA has managed to retain its role as a libido booster to this day. In fact, one Australian study found that women who consumed 3.5 grams of MACA per day for a period of six weeks reported less anxiety and depression and an increased sexual drive. This becomes increasingly beneficial for post-menopausal women or individuals taking certain medications, that may need a little helping hand in getting their libido back on track. And let’s be honest, not all of us are fans of oysters, so if a hot MACA tea or treat is on offer for that romantic date night, we will take it!
It will help balance your hormones during and pre-menopause.
For women going through pre-menopause or who may be in the midst of menopause, MACA may offer the most natural form of hormone replacement therapy HRT. The best news is that this superfood doesn’t try and mimic the production of estrogen, but actually aid’s the body in producing more estrogen, naturally. It goes beyond this to help alleviate the symptoms of menopause in several ways. On the one hand, it helps reduce the production of the stress hormone cortisol, thus helping alleviate feelings of anxiety. At the same time, MACA works to assist the body’s production of hormones progesterone and luteinizing, which work to stimulate ovary functioning. While it cannot stop menopause, what MACA can do is make the journey that little bit easier. This means reducing the severity of hot flushes, night sweats, insomnia and mood swings while helping boost energy levels and even concentration.
It will make PMS more bearable.
If you are wondering why your menstrual cycle is making you feel like you’re riding a wave of emotions, we’re here to remind you that some things in life you don’t have full control over. It all starts at the beginning of your menstrual cycle when your estrogen levels are their lowest. Let’s now fast forward to the middle of your cycle when your estrogen levels increase tenfold before they come crashing down again. That’s a lot of hormonal changes for a person to handle, we know! (Insert the rom com and ice cream). This is where MACA can come in to assist in rebalancing your hormones and alleviating some of unintended effects of PMS. As a natural herbal adaptogen MACA works to help rebalance your hormones, thus alleviating mood swings, fluid retention, anxiety, while also simultaneously helping boost fertility. This may be especially beneficial for women having trouble falling pregnant due to fertility issues such as PCOS and endometriosis.
