s 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.
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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 diab
etes 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.