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What is Maca?

Maca is a radish-like root that grows in the Andes Mountains, and is highly appreciated by Andean Indians and indigenous peoples not only for its nourishing properties and use in medicinal purposes.

Maca was utilized by ancient Peruvians since ancient pre-Incan times when it was discovered that animals fed with maca showed a better fertility than those who weren't. That fact contributed to studies that later proved the ability of maca to enhance fertility and sexual health.

The nutritional value of the maca root was one of the factors that made maca popular. Tribes traded maca for green vegetables, rice, corn and beans. Since maca is rich in sugars, protein, starches, and essential nutrients - especially iodine and iron - it became a main food for those areas.

In traditional Peruvian herbal medicine maca is used as a remedy for a variety of medical conditions: tuberculosis, anemia, menstrual disorders, menopause symptoms, sterility (and other reproductive and sexual disorders), stomach cancer and memory disorders. In today's market, maca is popular due to its energizing, fertility enhancement, hormonal balancing and aphrodisiac properties.

The nutritional value of maca is equal to those of cereal grains such as maize, wheat and rice. Elements that make up the nutritional value of the maca root are as follows:

• 60-75% carbohydrates
• 10-14% protein
• 8.5% fiber
• 2.2% lipids

Moreover, some of the maca chemicals discovered are known as cancer-preventive.

Arginine and histidine are maca active components responsible for increasing sperm production and motility, as well as more potent ejaculation and orgasm.

Maca favors the climate conditions Native to the high Andes of Peru. It is sowed in strips of land with bitter potatoes in the field that rested around 3 to 5 years. September to November is the time for harvesting maca. Maca produces small, self-fertile, off-white flowers typical of the mustard family to which it belongs.

Complete drying of the root requires the 4-month exposure to the sun and avoiding any exposure to freezing, which may lead to the degeneration of the root. After you have maca dried and ready for use, maca can be stored for more that 7 years.

There are different ways of preparing maca as food and supplement.

Raw:  Mix Maca leaves with other green and raw vegetables for a fresh salad. Use with your favorite dressing but vinaigrette will be a good match. Eating maca raw is the best preparation for the herb because you get all the vitamins and nutrients contained in the plant.

Boiled:  Maca root can be boiled and mashed. To maximize the benefits when boiling maca, boil it only for a few minutes. The resulting thick and watery meat can be mixed with milk and eaten as porridge. Mashed maca can also be mixed with other grains or vegetables and be made into baking flour. One tip is to slice maca thinly so that it gets cooked even with reduced boiling time.

Pan-frying:  Fry maca for variety but make sure to fry it lightly for no more than 3 minutes to minimize nutrient loss. Frying maca does offer a rich taste.

Steamed maca:  Steaming maca preserves 90% of its nutrients. Microwaving the maca is not the same as steaming it.

Stewed maca:  Stew maca to add variety to your cooking preparation. Stew maca for a few minutes only to avoid overcooking, which can reduce its vitamin content.

Maca as beverage or shake:  Combine your favorite fruits with powdered maca to create a refreshing and healthy shake. You can also prepare maca as tea.

Taking maca supplements in capsule form is the easiest way to get your daily dose of maca. However, if you have access to fresh maca then choose from the different ways of preparing maca as food.

MacaPure™ is the premier standardized maca product in the market. It is meticulously manufactured to provide all the naturally occurring components in a scientifically standardized extract.

Maca works to balance hormone levels in the body by supporting the pituitary gland, which in turn, helps the body produce more precursor hormones. As a result, estrogen, progesterone and testosterone levels are raised.

Contains No Added: sugar, salt, dairy, yeast, wheat, corn, soy, preservatives, artificial colors or flavors.

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