I accidentally bought maca powder when I meant to buy matcha powder. Oops. Oh well! I know this mysterious maca is supposed to be a superfood so I decided to do a little research on it so it doesn’t go to waste. I am SO GLAD I accidentally bought this stuff because it’s benefits are pretty freakin’ awesome.
What is it?: Maca is a root vegetable grown in the Andes Mountains. Some say it’s close to a radish or a turnip. Who knew?
What does it do?
- Increases and sustains energy. And does so without stressing the adrenals like caffeine and sugar.
- Regulates hormones
- Improves thyroid function.
- High in iodine (which has a load of health benefits in itself)
- Reduces menopause symptoms
- Reduces Depression and Anxiety
- Improves memory
- Improves muscle gain and development
- Improves circulation
Maca contains nutritious vitamins such as B1, B2, C, D, and E as well as minerals such as calcium, potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, iron, copper, iodine, manganese and zinc. It also contains essential fatty acids and ameno acids which means it’s a good source of plant protein. Wikipedia has a much more in depth explanation than I can provide.
How do you incorporate it into your diet?
Since maca is usually found in powder form it can be easily incorporated into smoothies, which is probably the most common way to use it. However I find the rich nutty flavor to be a bit strong in a smoothie so I like to add it to oatmeal. Creative people out there are always coming up with ways to incorporate it into recipes such as puddings, brownies, protein bars, homemade ice cream, desserts, and so on.
So if you happen to be in the mood to try something new that you may not have heard of before, this versatile superfood may be fun to try out.
