You’ve probably seen maca powder for sale at your local health food store. Here’s your quick guide to that vitamin-dense powder!
When it comes to herbs and natural substances, I believe in using as natural of ingredients as possible. Since I’m all about using clean and natural ingredients, it’s no surprise that I came upon maca powder.
Maca may seem a little mysterious, but this trendy “exotic” supplement is anything but a trendy superfood. It’s been around forever—we’re just learning about it!
The Origins of Maca
Maca has been used for health purposes for hundreds of years. It grows in the Andes mountains of Peru, at incredible elevations. Most maca roots resemble turnips most closely, but they’re also related to mustard and rapeseed. Pretty tough plants! The people of Peru were using it as a stimulant and a fertility booster for generations before they encountered settlers.
There are several different types of maca, and they each have different strengths and benefits. The most common colors are red, black and yellow. It’s important to research what color of maca you’re buying before you buy it. They each benefit different parts of the body, and they all look they same in powder form!
What is Maca Powder Used For?
Maca powder provides all the benefits of maca without all the cooking necessary for processing raw maca. It’s a great way to get all the nutrition within the turnip-like plant without… well, cooking a turnip-like plant.
Here are maca’s most famous benefits:
- Adjusts hormones to correct imbalances, including those tied to depression. This is the biggest one!
- Great source of natural energy (and healthy carbohydrates).
- Provides amino acids
- Great source of fiber
- Provides key minerals
- Relief for chronic fatigue
- Aids in stress and anxiety relief
- Natural treatment for anemia
- Improves fertility and libido (for both sexes!)
- Boosts immunity
- May help with mental clarity
- Helps clear up skin blemishes
- Helps support healthy hair growth
- Some treatment for osteoporosis and help with general bone density
- Aids in building muscle, endurance and stamina (I’ve heard maca’s pretty popular with weightlifters…)
How To Use Maca Powder
There are lots of delicious recipes to be found containing maca powder. My favorite brand of maca powder comes in a lot of different forms. But powdered is my favorite version, because it’s the most versatile for cooking.
Maca is notably used in smoothies, but it also does fantastically when you mix it into baked goods. Even just mixing it up with some milk is a nice treat! I add maca powder to my Coconut Berry Bars and to my morning hormone balancing smoothie (recipe below).
Hormone Balancing Maca Smoothie Recipe
Makes 1 maca powder smoothie.
Ingredients:
- 1 Cup of Milk, coconut milk, coconut water or Orange Juice (I’ve tried all combos and I like coconut milk and orange juice the best)
- 1 Frozen Banana
- 1 Teaspoon of Red Maca Powder
Instructions:
- Blend all the ingredients together until smooth. Drink up!
Hormone Balancing Maca Powder Smoothie
- Yield: 1 1x
Ingredients
- 1 Cup of Milk, Coconut Milk, Coconut Water or Orange Juice (I’ve tried all combos and I like coconut milk and orange juice the best)
- 1 Frozen Banana
- 1 Teaspoon of Red Maca Powder
Instructions
- Blend all the ingredients together until smooth. Drink up!
However you choose to take maca, consult with your doctor first. Maca’s safe for mot people, but since it works with hormones it’s only safe to make sure it won’t interact with any medications you may be taking. I hope you all enjoy the same balancing effects from maca that I’ve enjoyed with my family!
Do you have a maca powder recipe to share? What has your experience been like taking maca powder? Share your experience in the comments below!
Last Updated on
Lori
March 6, 2019 at 2:36 pmThe recipe says to use red maca powder yet the pictures show yellow. Does it matter?
The Coconut Mama
March 8, 2019 at 1:35 pmBoth are great! I actually used red in the recipe, it just didn’t keep the red color in the smoothie.
Hannie
March 4, 2016 at 5:31 pmI was also told not to use it for a long time in a row, like use it a week and then a week not?
And one more importand question; das it help to keep your blood pressure low? Didn’t see that in your list.
Jana Phifer
January 22, 2016 at 8:43 pmI use Maca and love it. However I was told not to use it daily. I use it a few times a month.
I also make a smoothie
I use nut milk, 1 banana, dates almond butter spinach and Maca. SO yummy!
I have also used it in raw energy balls mixed with almond butter dates, kale and cocao nibs.
Carla S.
September 27, 2015 at 4:11 pmI bought mine at GNC
Alisha
September 26, 2015 at 7:04 amJust warning Maca can cause miscarriage.
Camille
September 19, 2015 at 8:51 amIm going through menopause now, and my hormone are all messed up. I was looking for something natural instead of stnthetic. Ill try the Maca powder and see how this works compared to other stuff ive already tried that didnt work.
Jennifer
September 18, 2015 at 3:01 pmWhy do you recommend the red? I’d like to know more about how the different color Maca powders affect the body. Thanks!
JT
September 17, 2015 at 12:56 amYou mentioned that it is a stimulant. Like caffiene? Reason I ask is caffiene makes me go a bit nutty, palpitations, etc. Do you think this will be an issue with Maca?
Michelle
September 16, 2015 at 7:35 pmI was struggling with getting pregnant for 18 months and tried nearly everything! Both me and my husband started maca and 2 cycles later I was pregnant! I’m now 34 weeks pregnant with a healthy baby boy and truly think it was the maca!
genny
September 16, 2015 at 5:30 pmSorry on the Website address. I hit the wrong buttom but where can I buy this Maca Powder?
genny
September 16, 2015 at 5:25 pmWhere can you buy the Maca Powder would like to try it in my smoothies..
Nikki
September 16, 2015 at 1:40 pmPerfect timing! I was just thinking the other day that I need to really look into finding ways to balance the hormones since I’m pretty sure I’m peri-menopausal. The other day, I just felt so sad and I kept thinking, “I just finished my cycle, I know I’m not PMS’ing!” I’ve been using YL’s Progessence, I understand they have another product good for the hormones. Do you have any suggestions?