- traditional Andean superfood for energy and balance: a world-class adaptogen (similar to Ginseng). Naturally supports the body's adaptation to stress.
- a balanced mixture of all three maca varietals: yellow, red, and black
- mildest flavor of our macas: butterscotch with mild notes of pepper
- perfect for daily smoothies, tonics, and teas, as well as superfood infused chocolates
- contains unique alkaloids—Macamides and Macaenes—believed to stimulate adaptogenic and aphrodisiac affects.
- nutritious root vegetable, with nutritional profile similar to rice: approximately 70% carbohydrates, 12% protein, 8.5% dietary fiber, and 2.2% fats
- contains 19 amino acids
- provides B vitamins, and Vitamins C and D
- rich in Glucosinolates, the compound in brocolli that may protect against certain forms of cancer.
- Contains beta-sitosterol, which may help lower cholesterol absorption from food.
- provides calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, and potassium
- traces of iron, iodine, copper, manganese, selenium and zinc
- provides fatty acids, including linolenic acid, palmitic acid, and oleic acids
Similar to ginseng and other adaptogenic foods, maca is traditionally known to support hormone balance, increase libido and energy. This amazing super-nutrient food comes from the hardy Maca plant, which thrives high in the rugged Andes Mountains. Maca has been a traditional health and vitality secret since the days of the ancient Inca and was even revered as a powerful aphrodisiac. Try a scoop in your smoothies, juices, and chocolate recipes.
Organic Maca
From the beautiful, pristine Junín valley of Peru comes one of the most exciting superfoods yet discovered. Essential Living Foods Raw Organic Maca is a pure, delicious form of the legendary adaptogenic herb that, amazingly enough, grows between 13,000 and 14,500 feet above sea level.
Maca has exploded in popularity in recent years for a variety of reasons. Some say it’s because of Maca’s potent nutritional content—with excellent amounts of protein, amino acids, fatty acids, plant sterols, antioxidants and more. Others feel that it’s one of the very best foods for increasing strength and endurance—which is how it was originally used in the days of the ancient Incas. And yet another group will point to the fact that Maca is an incredibly powerful aphrodisiac, one that most people feel within hours of taking it.
Whatever benefits most interests you; you’ve come to the right place. Essential Living Foods has a phenomenal track record in importing and wholesaling quality, organic Maca. We’ve sold this product to large, highly-respected supplement companies as well as multi-million dollar online retailers. Not a single client has ever been dissatisfied.
How It Is Created
First, the fresh Maca roots are carefully harvested at the peak of ripeness for maximum nutrition. Next, they are selected and graded. The prime roots are then collected and taken to a facility where the soil is washed off. After that, the whole roots are dried in a root cellar for approximately 30 days. Upon completion, the roots are then ground into a fine powder, sifted and packaged. No heat is ever used.
Few people know that root vegetables (like Maca) can pick up heavy metals from the soil if not rotated properly; which is why our partners carefully and systematically rotate the Maca fields, avoiding this issue entirely. Essential Living Foods’s partner is the only grower we know who’s doing this.
Functional Benefits
Fertilising effect and actions on the reproductive system: The clinical study carried out by Gonzales from Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (2001) demonstrates an 85% increase in the men’s total sperm count, as well as an increase in sperm motility and motile sperms quantity (over 100%) in men treated with Maca. This study has also proved that Maca treatment does not alter hormonal levels.
Effect on the sexual activity: The study performed by Zheng at Shenyang Medical College et al (2000) demonstrated an improvement of mice sexual function measured by the increase in number of complete intromissions of normal mice (4 times higher than the control group), increase in number of sperm-positive females (2.5 times higher than the control group) and the decrease of the latent period of erection (LPE) in rats with erectile dysfunction. The study conducted by Cicero et al from the University of Modena (2001) confirmed similar effects. Other studies also confirmed Macas’ effects with respect to the sexual activity, such as the increase of the rut occurrence in ovine livestock.
Anti-stress effect: The study performed by Tapia at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (1998) demonstrates a greater resistance against stress development induced by electric discharges in mice as well as better ability reducing stress in animals fed with portions of Maca.
Athletic performance: Maca provides 5 times more proteins and 4 times more fibre than the potato, having less fat. It has an excellent 0.76 ratio of saturated to unsaturated fat (40.1% saturated fats, 52.7% unsaturated fat). Maca contains two of three essential fatty acids (oleic and linoleic). It also has a surprising amino acids profile, a total of 18 amino acids, including 7 of the 9 essential amino acids. Maca also contains high levels of natural sterols that boost athletic performance and stamina.
Growth: Rainbow trout fed maca diets have exhibited significantly higher growth rate than the other groups not fed maca. Survival was significantly higher in groups fed maca meal diets than in the control. The findings indicated that maca meal increased fish appetite, enhanced growth rate, feed utilization and survival.
Nutritional Benefits
- Contains an abundance of unique plant sterols (like beta-sitasterol) that can assist in boosting hormone health in both men and women.
- Is a world-class adaptogen (just like Ginseng), which means it naturally helps your body adapt and improve its response to stress.
- Is filled with compounds called “Madamides” and “Macaenes” that are believed to be responsible for its powerful aphrodisiac properties.
- Unlike most herbs, Maca is incredibly easy to digest and assimilate—which means that regardless of your age, chances are high you’ll feel the benefits of Maca.
Primary metabolites: Maca is a highly protein rich food. It also has a large content of amino acids (18), carbohydrates (60-75%) and some vitamins (A, B1-thiamine, B2-riboflavin, B3, niacin, B6, B12, C, E, carotene), minerals and oligoelements including calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, magnesium, copper, sodium, potassium, selenium, boron, manganese and aluminium.
Secondary metabolites:- Alkaloids: Several alkaloids such as macaina, macaridina and macamides as well as Chacon alkaloids 1, 2, 3 and 4 have been identified
- Fatty acids: lauric, mysitic, plamitic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic, arachidic, behenic, nervonic, lignoceric, tridecanoic, 7-tridecanoic, pentadecanoic, 7-pentadecanoic, heptadecanoic, 9-heptadecanoic, nonadecanoic, 11-nonadecanoic, 15-eicosenoic
- Sterols: campesterol, stigmasterol, sitosterol, brassicasterol, ergosterol, ergostadienol
- Glucosinolates: benzyl Isothiocyanat, p- methoxybenzyl isothiocyanate.
- Steroid triterpenes and steroid type saponins
- Phenolic compounds: Tannins
- Flavonoids: Coumarins, Anthocyanins ß-ecdysone
