Morlife Organic Maca

MorLife Organic Maca

Maca, also known as Peruvian Ginseng, is a root vegetable grown in Peru. It is a good source of essential vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and amino acids. It is unique in that it contains essential plants nutrients called sterols. It is particularly beneficial for those leading an active lifestyle.

The Wonders of Maca

Nutritional profile

Maca is still consumed as part of the Peruvian diet due to its nutrient levels. Due to the high altitude and barren environment Maca is beneficial for preventing nutrient deficiencies in native populations. The nutrient profile of Maca is similar to that of wheat, rice and corn.

MorLife Organic Maca contains

* 59% carbohydrates, 11% protein (including 19 amino acids), 8.5% dietary fibre and 2.2% fats.
* A number of unique alkalamides, alkaloids and glucosinolates1,2,3,4.
* Polysaccharides.
* Sterols, including campesterols (27.3%), ergosterol (13.6%), brassicasterol (9.1%) ergostadienol (4.5%) and sitosterol (45.5 %), the latter having phytoestrogen activity 5.
* Minerals, including Selenium, Calcium, Magnesium and Iron.
* Fatty acids including Linolenic acid (Omega 3), Palmitic acid and Oleic acid.

In 1961 Gloria Chacon de Popovici, a biologist at the University of San Marcos in Lima, Peru published her work on Maca. She isolated four alkaloids from the Maca root and then gave these alkaloids to female rats and noticed an increased maturation of egg follicles. When she gave these alkaloids to male rats she noted higher sperm counts and motility. Her research is currently only available in Spanish, but was instrumental in the emergence of studies into the health effects of Maca.

Other advocates of the benefits of Maca include Dr Jorge Malaspina, a respected cardiologist, who has been using maca in his practice in Lima, Peru for over a decade. He believes that "Maca does not cause the ovaries in women to atrophy, as conventional hormone replacement therapy does." This means that Maca may be discontinued at any time without danger. He adds, "Different medicinal plants work on the ovaries by stimulating them. With maca, though, we should say that it regulates the ovarian function"

Studies on the benefits of using Maca for menopausal symptoms are lacking however many women continue to tout the benefits for reducing hot flashes, regulating periods, increasing libido, decreasing fatigue and improving memory. There are however, many studies into the potential effects of Maca on improving fertility (and libido) in both males and females. This supports the traditional usage of Maca as a fertility tonic.