Peruvian poppy for women. Reviews, for what, how to take, contraindications

Maca is a common food in Peruvian cooking, giving dishes a mild nutty flavor. This is a root vegetable, which is often ground into powder and added to drinks, smoothies. Besides culinary uses, Peruvian maca is considered natural medicine, especially for women.

What is Maca?

Maca is a plant that grows in central Peru on the high plateaus of the Andean mountains, and is rare in parts of Bolivia and Brazil. It has been cultivated as a vegetable for at least 3000 years.

Maca is a root vegetable that looks like a radish, and has a smell reminiscent of butterscotch. The edible root is used not only as a food product and flavoring additive, but also as a raw material for the manufacture of various dietary supplements.

Its scientific name sounds like lepidium meyenii or Meijen's bug. Maca belongs to the same plant family as mustard and broccoli.

The plant has many local names:

• maca-maca;
• maino;
• ayak chichira;
• ayak willku.

It is also called Peruvian ginseng, which can be misleading (since maca is a root vegetable and ginseng is a herb). However, both of the above crops have a reputation for being natural energizers.

In cooking, maca is eaten baked or fried, made into a soup, and made into a fermented beverage called maca chicha. The roots are often dried for long-term storage, and then boiled with milk to prepare decoctions.

For medicinal use, the roots are dried and then ground into powder. In agriculture, the plant is used to increase the birth rate in animal husbandry by feeding it to animals.

There are currently 13 identified genetic phenotypes of maca. Visually, they all differ in the color of the root. The most common and widely used are only 3 varieties - yellow, red and black.

• It is believed that yellow maca has weak medicinal properties compared to other species. The root vegetable has a pronounced sweet taste, so it is most popular as a food product. However, yellow poppy seeds are still used to treat hormonal imbalances and are also taken as a plant-based steroid.
• Red poppy is considered to be more effective as a remedy for hormonal disorders. It is traditionally taken to improve the well-being during menstruation and to ease the course of menopause. Most herbalists, researchers, and herbalists recommend red poppy as a natural remedy for improving women's health. Men also take this plant because it is believed to be able to reduce the manifestations of prostatitis.
• Black poppy is considered the most potent. It is used as an aphrodisiac or energy supplement, including in professional sports. This root vegetable variety is also known as a remedy for lack of libido and sexual dysfunction. Since ancient times, it is the black poppy that has been a symbol of fertility and sexuality.

Peruvian maca for women has medicinal effects, regardless of its variety. However, it is important to know what color the root crop should be chosen to get a certain result. To do this, you need to have an idea of ​​the properties of each type of plant.

Peruvian poppies composition

Maca is a high-fiber root vegetable. Approximately ¼ of the root's solid nutrients come from fiber. Fiber is important for the regulation of the functions of the digestive tract, and its regular use will normalize digestion.

Maca is also very rich in vitamin C. Just 28 grams of crushed dry root contains 133% of the daily value of this compound.

In addition, it includes:

• Calcium: The recommended daily intake of this mineral for people with high physical activity is 1200 to 1500 mg per day. Maca root contains about 450 mg of calcium per 100 g of its own weight.
• Iron: its deficiency can cause anemia. Typically, plant-based foods rarely contain more than 10-15 mg iron per serving, however maca contains about 25 mg per 100 g.
• Magnesium: its low magnesium levels can cause seizures, nausea, fatigue, and an increased risk of osteoporosis and anemia. To avoid this, a person should consume between 350 and 800 mg of this micronutrient every day. Maca root has about 104 mg of magnesium per 100 g.
• Potassium: helps control fluid levels in the body and regulate muscle contractions. Its daily intake should be between 2000 mg and 5000 mg, depending on physical activity. 100 g of maca can provide the body with 1500 mg of potassium.
• Selenium: is necessary for the correct functioning of the immune system, the restoration of damaged cells and the neutralization of the effects of free radicals. An adult should consume about 55 mcg of selenium daily, and 100 g of maca root will provide 10% of this amount (5.5 mcg).
• Zinc: responsible for tissue repair and accelerating the conversion of food into energy, which increases immunity and endurance. 100 g of maca contains about 12 mg of this mineral, and its daily intake is 12-15 mg.

In addition, this plant contains significant amounts of thiamine, riboflavin, lignans, glucosinolates, phytosterols and alkaloids. The protein content of 100 g of the root is 14.3 g, and at the same time it is rich in carbohydrates (71 g) and fats (4 g). The calorie content of the root crop cannot be called small - it is 325 kcal.

However, maca is usually consumed in small amounts, even when used as a food. The root also contains adaptogens, substances that help the body deal with stress.

Properties

Maca contains polysaccharide compounds that can act as antioxidants, helping to protect cells from the harmful effects of free radicals. In theory, this could lower the risk of certain diseases, such as cancer, and perhaps even speed up the healing process. However, there is no scientifically proven link between antioxidants in the plant and improved health.

The main active ingredient in maca is the alkaloid macaridine. Until now, it has not been found in any other plant. Maca also contains macamides, which are unique fatty acids not found anywhere else. These compounds have an effect on the human endocrine system when the root is consumed.

Macamides increase the level of anandamide in the body, a chemical compound that acts on receptors in the brain and can cause feelings of happiness.

The non-unique active ingredients of the root vegetable are glucosinolates, which are found in all cruciferous vegetables and give them a bitter taste. However, there are ten times more of them in fresh poppy than in other related cultures.

Red maca has the most glucosinolates, followed by black and yellow. These plant compounds are being actively studied for their role in cancer prevention.

Peruvian poppy is an adaptogen - an extremely rare class of plants (there are only about 50 of them all over the world), which modulate the body's response and support all its systems, helping to cope with stress, anxiety and tiredness. It has been officially proven that adaptogenic cultures act on the adrenal glands, regulating the level of cortisol secreted.

This improves your well-being and gives you extra energy. However, there is currently no scientific evidence that adaptogens can regulate hormonal balance and affect sexual and psychological health. But animal studies indirectly support these arguments.

Health Benefits for Women

Peruvian Maca is especially beneficial for women.

The plant can improve well-being and even have a healing effect in such conditions:

• low libido or lack of it;
• hot flashes and other symptoms associated with menopause;
• painful periods;
• depression and so on.

In Peruvian folk medicine, maca is used to increase energy levels.

Menstrual cycle

There have been several studies that have confirmed the efficacy of maca in relieving the symptoms of painful menstruation when taken regularly with root powder.

Conception

Regular and long-term intake of maca root helps to increase fertility and rapid pregnancy. This is due to the improvement in the balance of hormones, which almost always occurs under the influence of this plant.

For example, estrogen helps make the uterus more receptive to a fertilized egg. As soon as this happens, the fetus easily attaches and begins to develop.

Peruvian Maca for women increases libido. The combination of two factors (an increase in sexual desire and stabilization of hormonal levels in the direction favorable for conception) helps to get pregnant faster.

Libido

Many women report an improvement in the quality of their sex life by regularly taking maca as a dietary supplement. After prolonged intake of root powder, women noticeably increase the desire for intimacy and the ability to arousal, and further research showed that the drug also reduced symptoms of decreased libido even in those suffering from anxiety and depression.

Powdered Maca, Used as a Dietary Supplement, Demonstrated Scientific and Informal Evidence that it enhances and improves sexual desire and function, and may even have some effect on overall fertility.

Egg and endometrium

An experiment carried out on rodents showed that the constant intake of Peruvian maca contributed to an increase in the number of offspring in animals. The plant is thought to have an effect that promotes the survival of the embryos and the secure anchoring of the fertilized egg.

At the same time, it was found that the use of red maca allows you to get the most noticeable results in comparison with other varieties.

Hormonal balance

Peruvian Maca for women can be useful for adapting the body to age-related hormonal changes. Many doctors and scientists have found that taking a powdered dietary supplement based on this root helps in relieving many of the symptoms of menopause.

The researchers found that women who regularly took maca during menopause had fewer hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and depression than others. In the same experiment, the root powder was found to reduce the level of hormonal imbalance in the female body. Due to this, there is a natural relief of the symptoms of menopause.

Thyroid

Maca contains a large amount of iodine. This can both positively and negatively affect the thyroid gland. In the presence of a number of diseases, taking the plant can lead to goiter, since it can contain much more iodine than the body needs.

Therefore, if you suspect any problems with the thyroid gland, it is necessary to undergo a medical examination and take dietary supplements with caution.

Mood

Consuming maca can improve the condition in people who struggle with persistent anxiety, are stressed, suffer from depression or mood swings. However, there is no official evidence for its effectiveness in alleviating these conditions, and the use of the plant should not replace professional treatment.

It is assumed that the stabilization of hormonal balance, which occurs after taking maca, is the main a factor in regulating sexual function, regulating mood, preventing disease and more another.

The plant's ability to balance hormones is explained by the fact that it stimulates the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. This is most likely due to the phytonutrients found in poppy seeds, which help balance the endocrine system.

Sun protection

Research in animals has shown that maca can help protect skin from UV damage. Another experiment, conducted later, suggested that extracts from the leaves of the plant could help prevent sunburn.

Memory and learning ability

A series of experiments conducted with rodents showed that subjects experienced significant improvements in memory when consuming maca. No detailed human study has been conducted, but there are statistics that supplementation is from black maca has been shown to improve mental performance even in severely impaired people memory.

These data show the prospect of developing a new drug for patients with Alzheimer's disease or dementia.

Energy, endurance

Many people experience an increase in energy levels within a few days of starting maca consumption. It also has the ability to improve endurance, which is why some athletes add root powder to their food and drink every day to maximize their potential.

Maca has long been used as a remedy for constant fatigue. However, in fact, it is not a stimulant and does not have the properties that other plants with stimulating effects (such as ephedra), providing a quick energy boost and increasing adrenaline levels and cortisol.

Maca does not cause a spasmodic reaction and will not help "turn off" the feeling of fatigue at a certain point. It will take 2-3 weeks from the start of the supplement to feel the energizing effect of the supplement.

Slimming

Peruvian maca for women causes a tangible effect with prolonged use. After starting to drink the supplement, some gradually notice an improvement in their figure, but the weight at the same time stays in place or even increases.

Maca is able to support healthy muscle tissue. Since muscle is heavier than fat, gaining muscle mass can lead to weight gain, even if it is healthy gain. If at the same time body fat has decreased, these changes become noticeable visually, but the weight is the same or increased due to the growth of muscle tissue.

When is it recommended to take Maca Peruvian preparations?

Preparations based on Peruvian maca are recommended for the following conditions:

• Sexual problems caused by taking antidepressants (drug-induced sexual dysfunction).
• Depression and anxiety.
• Not the onset of pregnancy within a year after an attempt to conceive in the absence of any pathologies.
• Health problems after the onset of menopause.
• Female hormonal imbalance.
• Menstrual problems.
• To increase sexual desire in healthy people.
• Chronic fatigue syndrome.
• To increase energy levels and improve athletic performance.
• To improve memory.

Are there health benefits for men?

Peruvian maca can also benefit men with erectile dysfunction. A small study from 2009 looked at the effect of consuming 2.4 g of the root per day for 12 weeks on the sexual health of participants.

Each of them had a mild form of erectile dysfunction. The group that took the maca root drug experienced greater increases in sexual well-being than the placebo group.

In addition, maca can increase fertility in men.

In one experiment in rodents, it was found that sperm counts in male rats increased significantly after just one day of root-based supplementation.

A later study in Peruvian men found that maca can actually help increase sperm count and motility, as well as the ability of sperm to move forward in the uterus women. Black poppy increases sperm production much better than red or yellow ones.

Contraindications and side effects

Maca is considered safe for most people, whether it is used as a dietary supplement or as a medicine. It is not recommended to just consume it raw, as its essential oils and alkaloids can irritate the stomach.

However, for some categories of people, poppy is highly discouraged:

• During pregnancy and breastfeeding. There is not enough reliable information on the safety of taking maca by pregnant and lactating women. Therefore, it is better to take precautions and refrain from taking medications.
• Hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast, uterine or ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids are a significant risk factor. Maca's active ingredients can act as estrogens and provoke further progression of the disease.
• Due to its effect on hormonal levels, maca is not recommended for people with thyroid problems.

Forms of preparations of Maca Peruvian

In the past, people used to eat maca raw or cooked. For the production of modern nutritional supplements, the root is usually ground into a yellow-brown powder. Then it is sold in this form or packaged in portioned capsules. There are also preparations in the form of a tincture.

Powder

Most often found on sale under the labels "raw unprocessed" and "ecological" product in packages weighing from 150 g to 500 g. You can find both yellow and red and black poppy seeds.

The packaging contains information about the beneficial properties of the product, as well as its effects on health. In some cases, health problems are listed for which it is recommended to consume the powder.

Advice to add the product to food (soup, custard, cake) or drink (juice, cocktail, milk drink) prevails as a method of consumption. Sometimes there are even short recipes for smoothies and shakes with maca root powder. According to some reviews, this food supplement tastes like salted caramel.

Tincture

Sold in glass bottles with a capacity of 100-200 ml. In addition to maca root powder, the additive contains ethyl alcohol, sometimes there is an additive in the form of fenugreek extract. The tincture has a sweet, pleasant taste. Likewise, the packaging contains information about the beneficial properties of the product, most often there is a list of indications for use.

Capsules

The packaging is labeled "ecological" product. The composition contains exclusively maca root powder, placed in gelatin capsules, the capacity of which ranges from 150 mg to 3100 mg. Packaging usually contains a list of useful properties and recommendations for use. One package contains from 90 to 300 capsules, depending on the manufacturer.

Instructions for use

Indications for use	Dosage	Method of use	Compound
Powder	Decreased libido and sexual dysfunction. Chronic tiredness and fatigue. Disorders of the hormonal system. Weakening of immunity. Deterioration of the psychological and physical condition during menopause.	More often, certain dosages are not indicated, it is recommended to use 1.5–5 g 1 time per day.	It is recommended that you add a scoop of the powder to your drink, dish, or smoothie.	100% Peruvian Maca Root Dry Powder
Capsules	Chronic fatigue and decreased performance. Decreased stamina and exposure to stress. Deterioration of the psychological and physical condition during menopause. Decreased sleep quality. Weakening of immunity.	1-2 capsules 1-3 times a day	Regardless of food intake, take with water	100% Peruvian Maca Root Dry Powder
Tincture	Decreased libido and fertility. Chronic tiredness and fatigue. Disorders of the hormonal system. Depression and anxiety. Deterioration of the psychological and physical condition during menopause and with various disorders. Prostatitis and erectile dysfunction.	5-10 ml with a frequency of 2-3 times a day	Mix with food or drink, or drink neat and wash down with water	Peruvian maca dry root powder, ethyl alcohol, fenugreek extract.

Duration of the course

Powders and capsules usually do not have instructions on the duration of the course of taking the supplement on the packaging.

Poppy needs to be consumed for a long time until the improvement begins to be noticeably felt. It is recommended to use the tincture throughout the week, and then take a weekly break, and then alternate the indicated periods of reception and "rest" until a noticeable effect appears.

Interaction with other drugs

Since Peruvian Maca Powder and Tincture are not drugs, there is no information about their interactions with anything. In fact, this is just a food supplement that has a number of beneficial properties, so the procedure for taking it is almost not regulated.

Storage and shelf life

Powders and capsules usually have a shelf life of 1-3 years, depending on the manufacturer. The recommended storage method is in a cool, dry place and in unopened containers. Cooling should only be used when the room temperature is over 27 degrees.

Tinctures have a shelf life of 2-3 years. It is recommended to store them in a cool, dark place.

Where to buy Peruvian Maca?

Peruvian maca supplements are available at most online retailers and health food outlets. This product is unlikely to appear in regular supermarkets and pharmacies.

Price

The most readily available type of Peruvian maca is powder in small soft packs. Prices for it start at 150 rubles. for 50 g. Tinctures are sold a little more expensive - from 200 rubles. for 100 ml. The most expensive type of product is capsules - the cost of 90 pieces starts from 600 rubles.

Considering the exceptional beneficial properties of Peruvian maca (especially for women), its prices can be considered budgetary.

Video about Peruvian poppy

How to choose Peruvian Maca in a pharmacy: