Oct 21

Oct 21 Maca Powder Benefits

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Maca is something I have heard about for a while, but only something I recently began exploring. To be honest, I used to think maca and matcha were one in the same. They are not, but both are great! Read my whole post on matcha and its benefits here.

Keep reading for more on maca and its benefits!

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Several years ago, someone mentioned to me that they took maca root every day to help balance their hormones, but I didn’t really experiment with it myself until recently. I have been making the Minimalistic Baker Chocolate Banana Adaptogenic Shake which calls for maca powder and it is SO GOOD. I only use 1 banana and don’t have the reishi mushroom powder or He Shou Wu. I also add 1/2 tsp cinnamon.

Separate from the desire to make the yummy shake above, I went to see a doctor near the end of September and sure enough my hormones were / are still out of wack. I had been trying to balance them myself since quitting birth control early 2019. It hasn’t really worked, so now I’m seeking professional help. More on that another time, but I wanted to share that details, as that is kind of how I circled back to maca. I knew it was good for me, but only after making the shake did I remember that the friend told she took it for hormone balancing. Spoiler alert, I’m not taking it daily for hormone balancing, but I am enjoying it occasionally. I may start taking it daily in the future, but am just starting to take DIM and wanted to ease into a new supplement / not go too crazy and start another one. I also recently started weekly acupuncture. I’ve been taking Vitex / Chaste Berry since mid-June.

All that to say, let’s dive into Maca!

365 Whole Foods Maca Powder | Vejo Strawberry Banana Smoothie (read my Vejo review here) | Marble Pastry Slab | Slate Cheese Board

WHAT IS MACA?

Maca is an herbaceous root grown in Peru and ground into a powder. It is also what is known as an adaptogen. Adaptogens are herbal medicines that are supposed to create balance in the body should they be taken regularly.

WHAT DOES IT TASTE / SMELL LIKE?

I don’t really ever eat the powder on its own since I mix it in things; however, if I had to assign a taste, I might say it tastes carmel-like? Though not too sweet. It also kind of reminds me of malt balls or the flavor in a chocolate malt? Other than that it is pretty flavorless! It smells more malty than it does carmel-y though. In comparison to an adaptogen like Ashwagandha which smells super bitter and tastes somewhat like moth balls when taken alone, Maca is so much better… though you can’t taste Ashwagandha when it is blended with other things.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MACA?

Increases Energy
Improves Mood and Anxiety
Reduce Blood Pressure
Fights Free Radicals
Decrease Menopause Symptoms
Aids Memory
Balances Hormones
Boosts Fertility and Libido

WHAT MACA SHOULD I BUY?

When I purchased mine, I needed it quickly, so I just got it from Whole Foods. I love Now Foods though they have both a powder and pill option!

365 Whole Foods Maca Powder

Now Foods Maca Powder

Now Foods Maca Capsules

Do you take maca? Any recipes you like to include it in? I love making the chocolate shake I mentioned above, but during days where I have less time, I just pop a tsp of maca into my Vejo smoothie! Easy, yummy, and pretty much flavorless ;) Cheers to our health! XOXO