Maca, also known as Maca, is native to the Andes Mountains in South America. It is rich in amino acids, minerals, fatty acids, vitamins, and various active substances. So what are the benefits and effects of Maca?
Lowering blood lipids
The linoleic acid in Maca binds with cholesterol in the human body, making it easy to transport cholesterol to tissues outside the blood vessels, reducing the deposition of cholesterol in the blood vessels, and promoting the conversion of cholesterol into bile acids for excretion.
Anti-fatigue
Maca grows in a barren highland environment and contains abundant nutrients such as iron, protein, amino acids, minerals like zinc, and taurine. These nutrients play an important role in resisting fatigue, enhancing muscle endurance, relieving exercise-induced fatigue, strengthening the immune system, and improving immune function.
Improving sleep quality
Maca is considered a natural herb for relieving stress and anxiety in South America. It can improve anxiety and neurasthenia caused by stress and also has a regulating and improving effect on sleep for a large part of the population who often experience high work pressure and mental stress.
Resisting menopause
Maca contains a variety of alkaloids that can regulate endocrine glands such as the adrenal glands, pancreas, and ovaries to balance hormone levels in the body. In addition, taurine and protein in Maca can improve blood and promote the secretion of female hormones, which has the effect of regulating and repairing physiological functions, thus combating menopausal symptoms.
Enhancing male sexual function
The abundant nutrients in Maca, such as amino acids, polysaccharides, minerals, and its unique bioactive substances macamides and macaenes, can help male reproductive organs to quickly achieve erection and enhance hardness. It is mainly suitable for male friends with impotence and premature ejaculation.
Improving fertility
Maca contains rich alkaloids, arginine, and fructose alkaloids that can stimulate the reproductive system, promote the multiplication of egg cells and sperm, and arginine is an important component of amino acids in sperm, which can improve sperm activity. Fructose is an energy substance that provides power for sperm movement. The abundant nutrients in Maca can effectively enhance sperm activity, promote the combination of sperm and eggs, increase the vitality of reproductive cells, and improve the success rate of conception.
Anti-tumor
The lactones, polysaccharides, mustard oil, and benzyl isothiocyanate in Maca have a protective effect on virus-infected cells; polysaccharides have an inhibitory effect on virus replication; sinigrin and benzyl isothiocyanate have anti-cancer effects.
What is the nutritional value of Maca?
Maca has high nutritional value, including 16 amino acids (accounting for 14.67% of the content), 10 minerals, 12 fatty acids, 6 vitamins, as well as macamides and macaenes. These precious nutrients produce various effects in the body. The fat content is not high, but most of it consists of unsaturated fatty acids.
1. Comprehensive nutrients can enhance metabolism, regulate the nervous system and cardiovascular system to eliminate various fatigue symptoms.
2. The rich carbohydrates are the only energy source for the brain and nervous system.
3. Vitamins and minerals can maintain the function of the nervous system and resist depression.
4. Comprehensive nutrients, especially proteins and amino acids, can help strengthen the immune system, improve the body's resistance to diseases, and improve sub-health.
5. The abundant taurine and protein can regulate and repair the physiological functions of middle-aged men, resist various functional decline symptoms that are prone to occur during menopause, and restore vitality.
Who should avoid taking Maca?
1. Pregnant women. Eating Maca can enhance sexual desire and improve sexual performance, which is very unfavorable for maintaining pregnancy.
2. Infants and young children. Although Maca can be used as an energy supplement, it may increase the risk of precocious puberty in infants and young children if consumed.
3. Nursing women. Nursing women should not consume Maca as it may have an impact on the child.
4. People with colds. Maca has a warming nature, and consuming it when having a cold can worsen the condition and make it difficult to recover.
