Maca Root Information
Maca root is a tuberous plant that grows in high altitudes and is highly revered for its medicinal attributes. Maca root is useful in many forms: fresh, dried, powdered and as a tea. If you are thinking about using Maca root as a dietary supplement, it is suggested by Natural News.com that you ease your body into a routine with the plant by gradually increasing your daily dose.
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Health Benefits
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Nutritionally Maca root is a superfood. A root is on average 10 percent protein and contains fiber, lipids, amino acids, carbohydrates, iron and calcium. Medicinally Maca root has been cultivated for thousands of years and is traditionally used to treat menstrual problems, anemia, tuberculosis, hormonal imbalances and male impotence. According to Macaroot.com it aids digestion, calms the stomach and supports the adrenal glands.
History
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Since the time of the Incas and possibly before that the indigenous people of Peru have used Maca root to stimulate energy and endurance. The plant was domesticated 2000 years ago and the people living on the mountain often brought it to lower elevations and traded it for staples such as rice and corn. When the Spaniards came they recognized the qualitites of the plant and exported it to Spain. Spanish royalty used the plant until their supply ran out. It is hard to cultivate because of its high elevation habitat. In the 1960s interest in Maca root was rekindled by scientists in Peru.
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Plant
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Maca root is a perennial plant that produces a root vegetable similar to a radish. It grows at very high altitudes with intense winds, winter freeze and intense sunlight. The leaves are scalloped and remain close to the ground. Maca also produces small white flowers. The root itself is shaped like a pear 3 inches in diameter; it is white, yellow and occasionally purple.
Culinary
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The Maca root as a food is much like a sweet potato. The roots are sometimes baked and mashed. The dried root is boiled in milk to make porridge, or used in jams and puddings. In Peru they even make a sweet fermented drink from Maca called maca chicha. The roots are tangy with a slight butterscotch flavor.
Supplement
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Maca root is ground and sold as a nutritional supplement in health and supplement stores. The most famous use of the Maca root is as an aphrodisiac and fertility enhancer. The Maca plant does not contain hormones but its nutrients nourish the endocrine system and stimulate the adrenal glands according to Natural News.com.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit plant image by Wiktor Osiecki from Fotolia.com
