Maca

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Maca / Lepidium meyenii / is a perennial herbaceous plant of the cruciferous family. It grows high in the mountain forests of Bolivia and Peru. It is also popular with the names maka maka, ayak chichira and maino.

Maca is in the family of turnips and radishes, which explains why it looks similar to them. Maca grows at an altitude of over 4000 meters above sea level, withstands very extreme weather conditions. Poppy root is the highest growing plant food in the world.

Maca is highly valued by local people, not only because of its nutritional value but also because of its valuable healing properties.

The plant was used by the ancient Peruvians, who noticed that animals that consumed it had better fertility than those that did not eat poppies.

This fact contributes to the development of later research that proves the ability of poppy to improve libido and fertility. When the Spaniards arrived in the local lands and learned about the qualities of the plant, they began to export it to Spain. In 1960, Peruvian scientists' interest in poppies revived.

Poppy composition

Maca contains a combination of tannins, alkaloids, saponins and sterols, which are believed to have a synergistic effect. It contains another 10-14% protein, 8.5% fiber, lipids, 60-75% carbohydrates, polypeptides, polysaccharides, oleic, linolenic and palmitic acid, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. Dark colored poppy roots contain a large amount of natural iodine.

Selection and storage of poppies

Maca is available on the market mainly in the form of powdered dried roots and concentrated extracts. Most often you will find poppies in herbal supplements to tone, improve libido or herbal formulas to stimulate hormones.

Cooking poppies

In Peru, maca is prepared in several ways, although traditionally the fresh part of the stem between the first leaves and the roots is always cooked and baked in a pit. Maca prepared in this way is considered a delicacy.

The fresh root poppy is crushed and boiled, then made into a sweet and thick liquid, dried and mixed with milk. From the resulting mixture is made porridge or mixed with other vegetables. Flour is also made, which can be used for baking. Poppy leaves are eaten raw in salads or boiled.

Benefits of poppies

Histidine and arginine in maca are active components that are responsible for increasing libido and improving sperm quality. Maca does not affect the levels of sex hormones in humans and has been shown to act directly on hormones.

As an adaptogen, poppy can provide more energy when needed, but without overstimulating. After pregnancy, it can help mothers to breastfeed successfully because it increases lactation.

Among the suggestions and as yet unproven claims are that maca improves the activity of the endocrine system, has antidepressant properties and has an estrogen-like effect in women.

Poppy is generally recommended for infertility and infertility, menstrual disorders and hormonal disorders, libido problems and menopausal symptoms, poor memory, depression and low self-esteem, fatigue and physical exhaustion. Maca is best known for its reputation as a superfood that has a good effect on libido and sexual pleasure.

At the roots of poppy contain a large amount of fiber, which significantly reduces the risk of colon cancer, stimulating its function to help the body eliminate toxins.

Daily doses of poppy

Usually most of the stand-alone forms of dry street extract from poppy are in doses of 500 mg per tablet. In Peru / the birthplace of poppy / it is recommended to take 3 to 5 grams per day.

Harm from poppies

To date, no side effects have been observed from the use of poppy. No adverse interactions with other preparations are known.