Parts used
and where grown: Maca is
a hardy perennial plant cultivated high in the Andean
Mountains at altitudes between 11,000 to 14,000
feet
above sea level. It
grows as a mat-like stem system as can be seen in
our growing fields.
Imperial Gold Maca™
leaves grow close
to the ground and the plant produces a small
self-fertile off-white flower typical to the mustard
family, which it belongs to. The part we are interested
in, is the pear-like tuberous root of about 8cm in
diameter
and of a pale-golden color. Although it is a perennial,
it is reproduced by seeds which require approximately 8-10
months for a
proper harvesting period at minimum.
The habitat
of Imperial Gold Maca™ is the inhospitable land of the high Andes
Mountains,
where in fact nothing else grows
anymore
except maca. The
land is exposed to intense sunlight, violent winds and an
extremely
rough climate of below freezing temperatures and overall conditions.
Due to the rocky ruff soil, it's extreme weather conditions,
this land belongs to the poorest and worst farmlands of
the world, but over the course of time the Maca plant
learned to grow under these conditions.
Historical
or Traditional Use:
Maca's
history as a powerful strength and stamina enhancer and
libido-fertility herb stretches back well over five
hundred years. Maca is a powerful adaptogen, which means it has the
ability to balance and stabilize the body's systems.
Maca has been known to
raise low blood pressure and lower high blood pressure.
Adaptogens also boost immunity and harmonize the body's
overall vitality. Rather than addressing a specific
symptom, Adaptogens are used to improve the overall
adaptability of the whole system.
During the height of the
Incan Empire, legend has it that Incan warriors would
consume maca before entering into battle. This would
make them fiercely strong. But after conquering a city
the Incan soldiers were prohibited from using maca, to
protect the conquered women from their powerful sexual
impulses. Thus from as far back as five hundred years
ago, Maca's reputation for enhancing strength, libido
and fertility was already well established in Peru and
other countries.
Active
constituents: Dried maca weighs in at about 60%
carbohydrates (starches and sugars), 9% fiber, and
slightly more than 10% protein. It has a higher lipid
(fat) content than other root crops (2.2%), of which
linoleic acid, palmitic acid, and oleic acid are the
primary fatty acids, respectively. Maca is also a rich
source of sterols, including sitosterol, campestrol,
ergosterol, brassicasterol, and ergostadienol. From a
mineral standpoint, maca exceeds both potatoes and
carrots in value, and is a good source of iron, magnesium, calcium,
potassium, and iodine
How much
should I take? Maca is a food. Its designation
as an herb imparting specific health benefits is also
true, but primarily maca is eaten as a food by very poor
people living in a harsh environment where there is
little else. Recommended dosages are three - four
600-milligram capsule of pure Maca capsules twice daily,
equal to 1800-3600 milligrams of Maca daily is not
unusual. Again, you can
take more or less, as Imperial Gold Maca is a very safe herb
food product.
Are there
any side effects or interactions? In toxicity
studies conducted in the U.S., maca showed absolutely no
toxicity and no adverse pharmacological effects. In
animal studies, the more maca animals consume, the
stronger and more sexually active they become.
Other reported
traditional uses: Archeological evidence has
been found, that Maca was domesticated over 2000 years
ago by the predecessors of the Incas and primitive
cultivars of Maca were even found in places dating back
to 1600 years before Christ.
For the
indigenous inhabitants of the Andes, Maca is a vital and
valuable commodity. Because so little grows in this
region, Maca is often used for trading against other
staple food like beans. rice, corn and sugar. It
had been used over the ages for its nutritious and
medical advantages. Maca is rich in sugar, proteins,
starches and important minerals, especially in iron and
iodine.
Maca can be
consumed fresh or dried. The fresh roots are considered
a treat and are roasted over fire or in ashes similar to
the preparation of the sweet potato (batata) Even a
fermented drink chicha is prepared in some
regions.
Research on Maca:
Peruvians claim that maca improves memory, combats
anemia, and fights depression. Some researchers note
that when the body is well-nourished, libido rises and
depression abates; Maca's nutrient value could explain
some of these purported actions. The root, which tastes
like butterscotch when it's roasted like a potato, can
also be prepared into jam, broth, puddings, and juices,
and contains five times more protein than a potato, four
times more fiber, and less fat. It contains linoleic and
oleic oils (two types of essential fatty acids) and
essential amino acids.
Maca's actions on sexual
function are better researched than its effects on mood
and memory. A 1961 study showed that maca increased
fertility in rats. Then came studies of guinea pigs,
rams, and cows, each of which corroborated Maca's
fertility-enhancing effects. For example, maca
significantly increased ram semen volume and sperm
count.
Researchers consider
plant sterols, isothiocyanates, and glucosinolates to be
Maca's active constituents. The sterols have been shown
to reduce cholesterol; this can positively affect
erectile response if erection is compromised by artery
clogging fats. And the isothiocyanate p-methyl benzyl
has been shown to increase fertility in humans. Advance
word has it that animal research will soon be published
in a major medical journal that identifies Maca's secret
agents of sexual desire and energy.
The actions of four
alkaloids from maca root may also serve to increase
animal fertility. One of the researchers heading current
studies on maca, Peruvian biologist Gloria Chacon de POPOVICI,
Ph.D., suggests that maca alkaloids act on the
hypothalamus-pituitary axis and the adrenals. These
areas of the body produce hormones as well as energizing
substances like adrenaline. The end result could be an
increase in energy, vitality, and virility. Still, no
studies of maca itself have been conducted on human
sexual response, despite physicians' claims that maca
positively affects ovarian function in women, and, as
mentioned previously, erectile function in men.
Today maca is becoming
increasingly popular in Peru among native and non-native
people, and the effects of maca are creating market
demand worldwide and the United States has a huge demand. Maca
cultivation is on the increase, a number of government
experts and agencies are actively promoting maca
agriculture and development, and maca is poised to be a
major botanical product on the international herbal
scene.
Imperial Gold Maca has
been available to more than 35 countries since 1999 and is a trusted and
respected brand that has above average credentials. It is the only maca
product that can be called The Peruvian Miracle™ You can use this
link to see the different choices available.
