Hailed for its therapeutic effects on mood and libido, maca is often consumed as herbal supplements. Ground maca is sometimes also added to smoothies, juices, coffee and oil. In Peru, the root itself makes for a healthful addition to soups, salads and oatmeal, as previously noted. Here Leslie Locklear, Food.news, reflects on the maca plant:

“This might sound like something straight out of an Indiana Jones movie, but high up in the Andes mountains of South America grows a root crop that might just give your early morning cup of joe a run for its money: the maca plant.

Also known as “Peruvian ginseng,” the maca plant, or Lepidium meyenii, is a cruciferous vegetable whose taproot was once extensively used by the Incas and other Andean peoples as a food source and as a component of traditional medicines and potions.

According to historians, the Incas — who were among the first to cultivate the plant 2,000 years ago — held maca in such high regard because they believed it could supply whoever ate its roots with the strength, endurance and vitality needed to survive the harsh Andean wilderness.

And as it turns out, maca does possess all of these properties, and they’re all thanks to its impressive nutrient stores.

The maca plant’s taproot is made up of 65 percent carbohydrates, 13 percent protein, 8.5 percent insoluble fiber and 2.2 percent fat. It also contains vitamins B1, B2, C and E, as well as minerals like iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc and phosphorus.

From a one-ounce serving of this potent superfood, you can get the following:

• 4 grams of protein
• 2 grams of fiber
• 85 percent of the Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) for copper
• 23 percent  of the RDI for iron
• 15 percent  of the RDI for potassium
• 10 percent  of the RDI for manganese
• 133 percent  of the RDI for vitamin C
• 15 percent of the RDI for vitamin B6

Maca root also contains large amounts of antioxidants, amino acids, free-form fatty acids and plant sterols. This, according to experts, is what makes maca root one of the world’s most potent superfoods.

Still not convinced? Here’s another fact: Because it is so nutritious, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) even included maca root in their advanced space menu in the early 1990s, upon the suggestion of Carlos Noriega, a Peruvian-American astronaut. How’s that for an endorsement?

What health benefits can I get from maca roots?

An ancient superfood in more ways than one, the maca root is chock-full of health-promoting nutrients and plant compounds, all of which unsurprisingly, have been linked to numerous health benefits.

Here are some of them:

Maca root can help increase your energy levels

Perhaps the closest thing the Ancient Incas had to energy bars or espresso shots, the maca root possesses impressive energy-boosting properties. It’s effects are so potent, in fact, that they surpass those of coffee and mass-market energy drinks without causing that nasty caffeine- and sugar-induced crash, of course.”

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Read More … Article Source: https://www.food.news/2020-08-13-experience-the-health-benefits-of-maca-root.html