The Latin name recognized by the USDA is Lepidium meyenii (Maca) or "peruvianum" and it considered a more apt of the species.
It is a herbaceous biennial plant or annual plant which yields a radish-like root, analogous to a turnip.
Maca has been used for centuries as a daily food by the indigenous people and contains no non-natural ingredients, stabilizers or preservatives and independent scientific analysis in the US, South America and Italy have confirmed the root contains a minimum of 60% carbohydrates, 10% protein, 8.
5% dietary fibre and 2.
2% fats.
What Region in Peru Does Maca Come From? It is indigenous to the "Junín plateau, Central Andean region of Peru" and is traditionally used for its supposed aphrodisiac and/or fertility-enhancing properties.
It is grows best at altitudes between 13,500ft to 14,000ft above sea level and encounters very unforgiving extremes of cold, wind, rain and intense penetrating sunlight.
The acute amalgamation of extremes in diurnal temperature and altitude yields soils that are comparatively derisory in oxygen content and some say this may account for the high levels of trace minerals like calcium and potassium found within the root.
Maca Supplement - What Kinds Are There? The plant is adaptive and cultivated without the use pesticides or chemicals and there are three types of maca root, red, cream and black.
Various supplements have been produced from powder (dried and ground root) which can be sprinkled over a variety of foods or if you prefer encapsulated in gelatine capsules for more accurate quantity.
There is however, another form gelatinized maca, were the root has been boiled for the elimination of starch.
In some academic circles and independent scientific research, the heating process counteracts the enzymes contained within the root, which are supposed to offer healing virtues and that is why a number of people have a preference for capsules, but not all capsules are broken done by the stomachs digestive juices, and this can inhibit complete absorption.
Is Maca a Healthy Option? In a nutshell, yes, and in a CNN report, maca does not require FDA approval for use and toxicity studies have concluded no adverse pharmacologic effects, similar to Ginseng.
It has been sold in the US for a number of years as a supplement/herb in powder, tablet or capsules.
There are many health benefits ranging from, increased fertility, libido, sperm count, menopausal symptoms and increasing energy and physical endurance.
How Do You Take Maca Supplement? One of the essential paybacks is the herbs exceptional capacity to moderate the inherent and conventional hormonal aging with our body's steroid hormones; testosterone, progesterone and estrogens.
As we know maca is a Peruvian food and to be consistent and see perceptible differences you will have to take a bare minimum of 6 to 10 (500mg) capsules per day.
If your first choice is not capsules, then there is the powdered form which can be prepared in to a nutritional beverage which can be taken everyday just as the Peruvians.