(Andes Aphrodisiac)
Latin name: Lepidium Meyenii
Superfood Type: Root
Health Benefits: A native of the Peruvian Andes of South America dating back 2,600 years. This high powered adaptogen is grown at 9,000-10,000 feet making maca the highest-altitude crop on earth. Maca is a member of the cruciferous family of plants that includes broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, turnips, and radishes. The benefits of maca are impressive; dried maca powder contains approximately 59 percent carbohydrates, 8.5 percent fiber, and about ten percent protein, dried maca powder contains twenty amino acids and seven essential amino-acids. Maca is a rich source of immune-enhancing sterols, including sitestoral, campestoral, ergosterol, brassicasterol, and ergostadienol. Maca is rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, sulfur, sodium, and iron and contains trace minerals including zinc, iodine, copper, selenium, bismuth, manganese, tin, and silicon. It’s also rich in vitamins B1, B2, C and E.
Maca is known to improve the following health conditions:
Lack of libido
- Anemia
- Chronic fatigue
- Depression
- Infertility
- Malnutrition
- Menopausal symptoms
- Menstrual discomfort
- Poor memory
- Stomach cancer
- Stress tension
- Tuberculosis
