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Maca is also called "Peruvian
Ginseng", Maca is an exceptionally hardy root plant native to
the Andean mountain plateaus of Peru. Maca grows where no
other crops can survive, at altitudes of 14,000 feet in an
extreme climate of freezing cold fierce winds and intense
sunlight. Herbalists believe that resilient plants are
especially valuable from a medicinal perspective and in this
category, Maca knows no equal.
In spite of the poor volcanic soil and harsh environmental
conditions, Maca is amazingly rich in amino acids,
phytonutrients, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. Native
Peruvians have used Maca for thousands of years as food and
medicine to increase energy and stamina, deal with stress and
treat numerous sexual dysfunctions ranging from infertility to
impotence.
Maca is adaptogen:
Like ginseng, Maca is an adaptogen, which by definition is a
substance that raises the body's state of resistance to
disease through physiological and emotional health. Maca helps
support and rejuvenate tired and overwhelmed adrenal glands,
resulting in greater energy, stamina, mental clarity and the
ability to handle stress.
Maca as Hormonal regulator:
Maca is unique as a HRT - alternative because instead of
introducing foreign animal, plant or synthetic hormones into
the body, Maca regulates the hypothalamus/pituitary axis to
restore hormonal balance for both sexes in a gender-
appropriate manner. Maca optimizes
hormonal system function to
ensure ideal levels of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone,
DHEA and human growth hormone.
Benefits of Maca:
Today, scientists have discovered that the secret behind
Maca's effectiveness is its ability to regulate, support and
balance the hormonal systems of both women and men for optimal
function
Increase energy, stamina, and ability to handle stress
Relief from symptoms of menopause and andropause
Slowing-down or reversal of the aging process
Enhanced sexual desire and performance
Maca as Sexual Enhancer:
This perhaps the area for which Maca is most famous. Maca has
been hailed as "Viagra of the Herbal kingdom" and why not? In
a human clinical trial recently published in the peer-reviewed
medical journal, Asian Journal of Andrology, Maca increased
libido by 180% and sperm count by 200%. And in laboratory
studies with rodents, Maca increased mating frequency by 400%.
How much shall I take? What form does it come in?
The bottle is available in powder and can be mixed in a drink,
or made in a milkshake.
The bottle is also available in capsules for convenience.
Each capsule contains 750 mg. Take 2 - 4 capsules daily with
meals.
It is suggested to take 1,500-10,000mg daily, 2 cap in morning
with breakfast & two at dinner, it is a food.
Less than 1,500 does not deliver results, regulating your own
dosage to achieve your personal goals.
Stress Reduction
A dramatic noticeable benefit of Maca is stress reduction.
Maca, will balance and normalize the body's entire system.
For example, Maca can raise low blood pressure and lower high
blood pressure. It has a balancing effect on hormones, and
therefore, can positively effect any system in the body which
is out of balance. Many factors cause insomnia or sleep
problems, some nutritional, but most are related to stress.
Maca may provide raw materials needed for the body to produce
serotonin, which reates relaxation. As an adaptogen, it may
also help lower cortisol (the stress hormone) which interferes
with normal serotonin production. Normalizing cortisol will
help normalize serotonin levels.
Cholesterol lowering Effects
Maca is a rich source of sterols. Sterols have been shown to
reduce cholesterol.
Immune System
Maca is used as an immunostimulant for anemia, tuberculosis,
stomach cancer, as well as to enhance memory. There for it is
found to improve physical and mental capacities, strengthens
reproductive organs, and increases the strength of the immune
system.
Chronic Fatigue
Maca can help with chronic fatigue syndrome and general
fatigue brought on by aging and stress. It is helpful because
it raises DHEA and cortisol levels, which are depressed due to
the burden upon the adrenal glands from long-term stress. Most
people with CFS have adrenal fatigue, and Maca can assist in
rebuilding exhausted adrenal glands. This will take time
according to the degree of exhaustion of the adrenals. There
are noticeable increases in energy which occur within a
couple of weeks. Maca is also recommended by doctors to
increase vigor in elderly.
Hormone Balancing Effects
The benefits of Maca are to be for individuals of all ages.
The herb supports hormonal functioning in older and younger
adults, and athletes have reporting increased energy and
stamina in their workouts. Teenagers have also benefited from
its effects on hormone-balancing and acne. It has been known
to regulate the pancreas.
Female Hormonal Imbalances
Women are turning to Maca for help during peri-menopause,
menopause, and post-menopause. Women with menstrual
irregularities using Maca have experienced greater
consistency, while women with hot flashes, mood swings and
most associated peri-menopause and menopause symptoms have
diminished incredibly by using Maca.
Peri-menopausal women usually need smaller amounts of Maca
(about 1.500mg. daily) to help alleviate increased PMS and
other symptoms of hormonal imbalance. Estrogen dominance is a
common problem which Maca can help to correct. In addition,
women who begin using Maca during peri-menopause find that
they have a much easier time when they enter menopause.
Menopausal women who suffer from hot flashes, mood swings, and
other effects of rapidly dropping hormone levels, will find
Maca to be a safe and drug free alternative to HRT. Initially
women need higher doses, such as 6 - 12 capsules (500 mg.)
daily. Usually this dosage can be reduced after a month or
two.
Most women will notice a definite relief within one week, with
continued improvements during the next few weeks. In some cases
Maca will work where nothing else does.
Many women who have tried everything from prescription HRT to
phyto-estrogens without success, find that using Maca
literally gives them back their life.
Post-menopausal women do well on small to moderate doses of
Maca. Even if they have not been experiencing overt symptoms
of hormone deficiency, using Maca can help slow the aging
process, keeping skin youthful and preventing vaginal dryness
and atrophy. Maca can also be of benefit for bone health,
because its supportive mineral content. It is used in Peru and
elsewhere to treat and prevent osteoporosis.
Libido
Maca has the ability to help restore libido for men and women.
It has a beneficial effect on testosterone.
Maca provides a means of normalizing our steroid hormones like
testosterone, progesterone and estrogen.
In men, it restores a healthy functional status in which they
experience a more active libido.
Maca is often compared to the drug Viagra, it actually works
very
differently in regards to it's sexual effects. Viagra's
effects are more
circulatory, Maca's effects are more hormonal. As an
energizer, Maca
helps to create more vigor for sexual activity.
Maca also helps improve sexual activity and satisfaction by
increasing
vaginal lubrication in women as well as increasing seminal
volume
(ejaculate by 30% in men (Gonzales)
In men, it restores a healthy functional status in which they
experience
a more active libido.
How does Maca benefit andropause?
Andropause, also referred to as male menopause is a decline
in, or an inability to utilize testosterone. When levels of
this hormone become depleted in a man's body, the results can
be devastating - both physically and emotionally. Thankfully
Maca can restore the aging hormonal system back to that of
it's younger years by strengthening and toning the entire
endocrine system. Benefits can include an increase in libido,
sexual potency, fertility, energy and stamina.
Safety & Side Effects
Maca is a tremendously beneficial herb used for thousands of
years, consumed everyday as food and medicine by native
Peruvians for a wide spectrum of applications. Maca is
considered to be a "warming herb" according to
Chinese
medicine, and therefore should be used with caution by those
with high blood pressure. However, this has not been tested
scientifically. Toxicity studies conducted in at Product
Safety Labs of East Brunswick, N.J. showed absolutely no
toxicity, and no adverse pharmacological affects of Maca.
Based on its long history of use as a medicinal supplement and
as a food, Maca appears to be safe.
Increases energy, stamina, and mental clarity
Supports the thyroid
Supports normal sexual function
Promotes hormone balance
Native medicine practitioners and herbalists have recommended
Maca for:
*Treating menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, vaginal
dryness and depression, as an alternative to HRT
* Stimulating and regulating the endocrine system, including
the adrenals, thyroid, ovaries and testes.
*Regulating and normalizing menstrual cycles
*Stimulating fertility in both men and women and increasing
sexual desire (libido) by 180%
*Stimulating the immune system and a general sense of
well-being
*Increasing energy stamina and endurance, reducing chronic
fatigue.
* Enhancing libido, treating impotence
*Revitalizing seniors, mentally and physically
*Balance blood iron levels
*Increase adrenal androgens (adrenaline)
*Promotes glucose utilization for energy rather than being
processed into fat storage
Fertility
Fertility powers of Maca are prized by couples. Men and women
who fail to conceive a child eat Maca on a regular basis until
conception occurs.
Nutritional Value
Maca has approx:
Carbohydrates (starches and sugars) 59%
Protein (amino acids) 10.2%
Fiber 8.5%
Lipids (fatty acids) 2.2%
Maca has a rich nutritional content, and is so valuable for
the malnourished, elderly and sick. Maca is easy to digest
even for those with digestive problems.
Maca contains a significant amount of essential amino acids
and has a high fiber content that makes Maca an excellent food
to ward off constipation and promote regularity.
Maca Contains:
Potassium (1,00-2,00 mg./100 grams)
Calcium (350-500 mg/100 grams) higher than milk
Phosphorus (300-350 mg./ 100 grams)
Other traced minerals
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