Lucuma is known in the Peruvian Andes and it is compared to a proud woman, it is a sensual shaped fruit and it has a woman’s breast like appearance.

It is also known under the name "lugma" or "semen" or "mamón"  and it is a beautiful and delicious fruit having a yellow-orange pulp, starchy, dry and very sweet taste, coming from the Lucumo tree (Pouteria lucuma) of the Sapotaceae family, and it grows in the Andean valleys (1.000 to 3.000 masl) in Peru.

LUCUMA’S PROPERTIES AND BENEFITS:

Lucuma is not only appreciated for being a gastronomic product but also for its high nutritious content. It is rich in fiber, iron and carotene, all these three substances are key for the proper functioning of the body:

-Presence of iron in this plant stimulates the immune system and physical endurance.

-Carotene decreases the chance of heart attack and it also improves the immune system.

-Its high niacin content makes it highly recommended for depression as it works effectively in the metabolism of proteins and in the body energy production process. It also helps reduce cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood.

-Latex from the lucumo tree is used for herpes and warts.
For marketing the Lucuma is offered in flour, in concentrated capsules and atomized extracts.

Because of its high starch content, the pulp is dried and prepared with flour that is very sweet and nutritious focusing on its composition the nutritional values set out in the table below.
  
Nutritional value of 100 gr. of Lucuma fresh pulp and flour.

Lucuma is known in the Peruvian Andes and it is compared to a proud woman, it is a sensual shaped fruit and it has a woman's breast like appearance.

It is also known under the name "lugma" or "semen" or "mamón"  and it is a beautiful and delicious fruit having a yellow-orange pulp, starchy, dry and very sweet taste, coming from the Lucumo tree (Pouteria lucuma) of the Sapotaceae family, and it grows in the Andean valleys (1.000 to 3.000 masl) in Peru.

LUCUMA'S PROPERTIES AND BENEFITS:

Lucuma is not only appreciated for being a gastronomic product but also for its high nutritious content. It is rich in fiber, iron and carotene, all these three substances are key for the proper functioning of the body:

-Presence of iron in this plant stimulates the immune system and physical endurance.

-Carotene decreases the chance of heart attack and it also improves the immune system.

-Its high niacin content makes it highly recommended for depression as it works effectively in the metabolism of proteins and in the body energy production process. It also helps reduce cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood.

-Latex from the lucumo tree is used for herpes and warts.
For marketing the Lucuma is offered in flour, in concentrated capsules and atomized extracts.

Because of its high starch content, the pulp is dried and prepared with flour that is very sweet and nutritious focusing on its composition the nutritional values set out in the table below.
  
Nutritional value of 100 gr. of Lucuma fresh pulp and flour.

Constituent                  Unit          Fresh pulp      Flour
Water                              g                  72.3            9.3
Energetic value           Cal                 99               329
Proteins                          g                  1.5              4
Fiber                               g                  1.3              2.3
Lipids                              g                  0.5              2.4
Ashes                              g                   0.7             2.3
Calcium                         Mg.                 16               92
Phosphorus                  Mg.                 26              186
Iron                                 Mg.                  0.4             4.6
Carotene                       Mg.                  2.3              0
Thiamine                       Mg.                  0.01           0.2
Niacin                            Mg.                  1.96            ----
Ascorbic Acid              Mg.                  2.2            11.6
Riboflavin                      Mg.                  0.14           0.3

Lucuma is known from the Pre-Inca times, it was the Moche culture that expressed in its huacos fascination with this fruit.

Purple corn grows in the Andes of Peru at 3000 m.a.s.l., the fruit is having a deep purple and intense coloration and this variety was originated from the species called “Kculli”.  It is known since pre-Inca time and it has been represented in different ceramic objects from the Mochica culture. Today, a drink and a highly prized and consumed porridge are well-known for their healing and nourishing properties, we are talking  about chicha morada (purple corn beverage) and mazamorra morada (purple corn pudding), which are not only appreciated for being very popular delicacies but also for its nutraceutical content.

Grain and cob, contains between 7.7 to 13% protein, oil 3.3%, and 61.7% starch.

It also contains phosphorus, iron, vitamin A, riboflavin, niacin, ascorbic acid and anthocyanins.

Studies conducted in Japan on the purple corn have found that the major benefits of purple corn is to be one of the world's most powerful antioxidant as it inhibits bad cholesterol and enhances circulation.

Its characteristic colorant the anthocyanin, cyanidin-3-b-glucose, is found both in the grains and on the cob. This natural colorant is a potential health benefit, because it is a rich antioxidant with proven medicinal properties worldwide, including:

• It promotes the reduction of cholesterol and low blood pressure
• It stabilizes and protects the capillary arteries
• It fights obesity and diabetes

Purple corn properties are varied and among them, we may find that:

• Its high content of anthocyanin - purple blue pigment - is a powerful natural antioxidant, which prevents the degeneration of some cells, therefore, helps in preventing cancer.
• Purple corn contains phytonutrients, which protect the body from the impact of the environment, they strengthen the body immunity and protect against carcinogens.
• When eating this corn, it also protects us from other degenerative diseases such as arteriosclerosis, diabetes and arthritis.
• It is also indicated to reduce blood pressure and blood cholesterol.

Purple Corn medicinal presentations to use:

• It is consumed in capsules that help regulate blood pressure without side effects, has antioxidant capacity and the effect of neutralizing free radicals.
• Concentrated purple corn, both cob and grain as micro pulverized powder.
• Extract derived from purple corn cob.
• It is offered whole purple corn in bags, cobs in bags and grains in bags, ready for consumption.

Wonderful maca grows in the most rugged and cold areas of the Andean region, it is considered since the ancient times as a gift from the gods for its qualities as a revitalizing, energizing and natural relaxing. It is also known as Peruvian gingseng because of its high nutritional value.

Maca is a herbaceous plant that is adapted to very cold environmental conditions, it grows in the Puna or Jalca region of the Andes up to 4400 masl, where perhaps other crop could not succeed, that is why its culture is an annual or bienal one.

MACA, THE PLANT OF FERTILITY
When the Spanish conquistadors found that in distant lands they were declining faint-hearted, not mated, or yielded offspring, the natives of ancient Peru recommended maca. Response was so effective that the bulb was positioned as a medicine for fertility and sexual union.

Turning aside its sensual and historical attributes and being estimated as a root which is benefactor for the genitals, maca has proven to be an excellent food for mental languor, as fertile creativity of the thinker, so it is  a main ingredient for students and teachers who are exposed to extended intellectual activity.

MACA, IDEAL NUTRACEUTICAL FOOD
Studies have shown that maca whose fruit is like a radish having pleasant and slightly sweet flavor in its chemical composition is similar to the essential chemical composition of the human being, so it is recognized as an ideal  nutraceutical food.

Agencies like NASA are using it in its nutritional program.  Maca is included by FAO in the list of foods needed to combat nutritional problems.
In Peru COPROBA (Flag Products Commission) declared maca as a flagship product of Peru as from July 28, 2004.

MACA PROPERTIES:
-In the diet is credited due to its high nutritional value because of its complete chemical composition, being recognized as an ideal nutraceutical      food ideal.

-Maca is a tuber which in 100 grams contains 15.3 grams of water, 314 calories, 11.8 grams protein, 1.6 grams of fat, 66.4 grams of carbohydrates and high in calcium, phosphorus and iron, calcium is 247 mg, Phosphorus 183 mg and 14.7 mg of iron and 2.5 mg of vitamin C.

-The tuber of maca has high protein content which is good source of essential amino acids and percentage of fat it contains, they are mostly essential fatty acids and not essentials as linolenic, oleic and palmitic acids and it also has sterols and alkaloids.

-In medicine, it is recognized as a stimulant of the thyroid in patients with hypothyroidism because they can take maca as a natural and effective replacement therapy for levothyroxine.

-It is acknowledged its stimulating effect on the pancreas which is very beneficial for diabetics who are insulin dependent

-It is attributed to maca to improve the quality of the immune system and reduce the risk of contracting SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome).

-It is considered a powerful mental-physical-sexual tonic because it is source of amino acids and vitamins B1, B2, B12, C, E, carotene and other minerals.

Maca presentation for marketing is flour, instant powdered maca, liqueurs, capsules, tonics, and extracts.

Buy the maca products

MORE INFORMATION.
For Dr. Sacha Barrio Halley in his book "The Smart Nutrition" Maca is considered an adaptogen food, he explains that "... these foods have the ability to increase the power of resistance to chemical, physical or biological attacks to our bodies.

An adaptogenic food  normalizes the physiological functions of health, whatever it may be  its origin, trauma, anxiety or fatigue in the body ... adaptogenic herbs favor homeostasis fields, they are able to balance endocrine hormones and the immune system; adaptogens uniform and balance the endocrine glands; those hyperactive glands are calmed down overactive those sedate, but the power of the hypoactive glands is enhanced.

Additionally, he recommends that when maca is consumed with the aim to increase libido in humans, it must be aware that the ecology of the endocrine system must correspond with another similar line in the plane of the affections.
It is important to consume maca taking into account such sensitivity as a crude and lewd intake of maca leaves doesn’t allow us to understand the mystery of plants and love.

Laboratory studies on a reduced scale have shown that maca extracts can increase libido and improve the quantity and quality of semen.
It also has a thyroid stimulating effect in patients with thyroid deficiency (hypothyroidism), especially if they should gradually leave replacement therapy with levothyroxine. It is recommended a dosage of  600 to 900 milligrams daily.

It also has pancreatic stimulant effect, so it is beneficial in diabetic patients with both non insulin-dependent diabetes type II and  insulin-dependent diabetes type I.
Out of  the different types of maca (red, black and yellow), according to previous studies conducted by students from the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (Lima, Peru), it has been found that red maca has a great medicinal power, such as:

1. Antioxidant. Red maca has vitamins C and E, which are important to slow aging.

2. It reduces the size of the prostate. Based on the studies of the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, red maca is beneficial in cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia and it shrinks prostatic epithelium.

3. It fights osteoporosis. As a source of phytoestrogens and being rich in minerals, maca is an optimal treatment for osteoporosis by estrogen deficiency.

4. It decreases levels of stress and anxiety.

Copaiba is also well known with other names like “aceite de palo”, “arbol de aceite”, “copai” or “copaibi”.

It is a tree of splendid size used by the American native Indians to treat some diseases, since ever it was specially used by native shamans to treat sexually transmitted diseases.

Copaiba belongs to the Copaifera genus, it is from the Amazon Region, and its height is 15 to 20 m. From the trunk, an oleoresin flows through an incision which is a pure balm of clear appearance, having aromatic and strong odor and bitter taste.

When it is mixed with turpentine or fatty oils, the appearance takes a milk emulsion consistency. This pure oleoresin is chemically composed of hydrogen and carbon and is highly appreciated for its medicinal and cosmetic properties.

For its cosmetic properties, it is used in the preparation of shampoos, soaps, oils, perfumes.

For its medicinal properties it is used as laxative, diuretic and stimulant. It is also used in inflammatory processes (hemorrhoids, cystitis). Because of its balsamic effect it is used to relieve flue and bronchitis symptoms

The Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Mayor de San Marcos recognizes some properties of Copaiba oleoresin that has been used for a long time as anti-inflammatory, antitumor, balsamic, urinary antiseptic, healing wounds and skin ulcers.

They state: "In an experimental study that was made like a cytoprotective in the rats' stomach it had very good results which were compared with the effects of omeprazole.

It concludes that it has a cytoprotective activity on the gastric mucosa due to the presence of sesquiterpenes and diterpenes in its composition.

Microbiology specialist Celso Vataru Nakamura (Professor of the Department of Microbiology of Universidad Estatal de Maringá in Brazil) in his research study, "The medicinal properties of Copaiba oil were well known by the Indians" explains: "There are twenty Copaifera genus in Brazil and each one produces different oils as per their different chemical composition".

"The results showed that oil martii Copaifera, Copaifera officinalis, Copaifera reticulata Genus have action on the type of bacteria responsible for nosocomial infections such as Staphylococcus aureus, a species highly resistant to bactericides.

These oils also worked to combat S. aureus, a bacterium resistant to treatment with traditional antibiotics. "

Medicinal use of Copaiba:

-Take 5-20 drops in ½ cup of water from one to three times per day, according to Medical instructions.

- In sitz baths, use 20 to 30 drops once or twice daily.

Tip:

Mix copaiba oil and sangre de grado evenly for best results.

Do not take Copaiba for long periods or in high doses because it can cause diarrhea or allergic skin reactions. Do not use in renal patients.