Top 4 Health Benefits of Maca

Highlights:

People in Peru have used maca for thousands of years as food and natural medicine. It has become popular worldwide in the past few decades, particularly for its uses for fertility and libido
Maca may help boost sexual desire in some people. It may aid in the improvement of certain characteristics of sperm quality in men
According to preliminary research, maca may help alleviate some menopausal symptoms. Some data also suggest that maca can help boost energy and enhance mood

Maca is a plant that has been utilized as food and medicine by some Peruvian cultures for thousands of years. It has gained popularity in recent decades. This article defines maca root, lists four potential benefits, and discusses if it is safe to include in your diet.

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‘Maca is a key component in Peruvian cuisine, lending an earthy flavor to dishes. It has grown in favor in recent decades as a natural treatment for several health issues, including infertility and decreased sexual appetite.’

What is Maca?

The maca plant, formally known as Lepidium meyenii, is also known as Peruvian ginseng. Maca is a type of cruciferous vegetable, which includes broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and kale.

Maca is indigenous to the upper plateaus of Peru's Andes mountain range. The Andeans have been cultivating maca for 2,000 years. It's one of the few edible plants that can withstand extreme weather conditions in the Peruvian Andes above 4,000 meters (13,123 feet).

Traditionally, the Andeans consumed maca as a food, in the form of a fermented drink or porridge. Furthermore, the Andeans employed maca as a natural medication to cure a variety of health issues, including respiratory ailments and rheumatic disease.

Maca products have gained in popularity in recent years, owing to claims that the plant can boost libido and fertility.

Because of the increased global demand for maca, people have begun to mass-produce it in various places of the world, notably China's mountainous Yunnan province.

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Maca Improves Sexual Desire

Some research suggests that consuming concentrated maca supplements may help those who have reduced libido or sexual desire.

A 2015 research of 45 women with antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction discovered that consuming 3,000 mg of maca root per day for 12 weeks dramatically improved sexual function and libido when compared to a placebo.

A 2010 assessment of four high-quality studies including 131 participants discovered evidence that ingesting maca boosted sexual desire after at least 6 weeks. The researchers did warn, however, that the studies included in the review were tiny, and the evidence was insufficient to draw clear conclusions.

Despite this encouraging research, it is yet unknown whether maca provides any meaningful value for treating low libido or sexual dysfunction.

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Maca Improves Male Fertility

Taking maca supplements may assist persons with sperm and enhance various elements of their fertility.

Maca, for example, has been found in trials to boost sperm concentration or the quantity of sperm per milliliter of sperm. Male fertility is closely related to sperm concentration. In a 2020 trial, 69 males with modestly decreased sperm count or poor sperm motility were given maca. Sperm motility refers to the sperm's ability to swim appropriately.

Taking 2 grams of maca per day for 12 weeks enhanced sperm concentration much more than a placebo treatment. There was, however, no statistically significant change in sperm motility between the treatment and placebo groups.

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Maca Helps Relieve Menopausal Symptoms

Menopause occurs spontaneously in women who menstruate. It is the stage of life when menstrual cycles cease completely. The natural decrease in estrogen that occurs at this time might result in a variety of symptoms, some of which may be unpleasant. Hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings, sleep issues, and irritability are some of the symptoms.

According to several research, maca may benefit menopausal women by alleviating various symptoms such as hot flashes and sleep disruption. A 2011 assessment of four high-quality trials found some evidence that maca therapy improves menopausal symptoms.

The researchers did highlight, however, that there is insufficient evidence to assess the safety or usefulness of maca for treating menopause symptoms.

Maca Helps Improve Mood and Energy

In some populations, limited data suggest that maca may assist boost energy levels and mood. A 2016 research of 175 adults living at low or high altitudes found that ingesting 3 grams of red or black maca per day for 12 weeks enhanced mood and energy levels when compared to a placebo.

Furthermore, a 2015 research of 29 postmenopausal Chinese women found that 3.3 grams of maca per day for 6 weeks improved depressive symptoms when compared to a placebo treatment. Furthermore, prior research suggests that maca may be beneficial in lowering anxiety and depression symptoms in postmenopausal women. Although maca may have a positive influence on mood and energy levels, there is presently insufficient research to draw clear conclusions.

Source-Medindia